Ahmed El-Tayeb أحمد الطيب | |
|---|---|
 Ahmed El-Tayeb in 2025 | |
| Grand Imam of al-Azhar &Al-Azhar Al Sharif | |
| Assumed office 10 March 2010 | |
| President | Hosni Mubarak Mohamed Hussein Tantawy(Acting) Mohamed Morsi Abdel Fattah el-Sisi |
| Preceded by | Mohamed Sayed Tantawy |
| Succeeded by | Ali Gomaa |
TheGrand Imam of al-Azhar (Arabic:الإمام الأكبر), also known asGrand Sheikh of al-Azhar (Arabic:شيخ الأزهر الشريف), is a prestigious and a prominent official title inEgypt and the Islamic world.[1]Ahmed el-Tayeb assumed the role 10 March 2010.
The Grand Imam of al-Azhar is considered, by most Muslims, to be the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought andIslamic jurisprudence[2] and holds great influence on followers of the theologicalAsh'ari andMaturidi traditions worldwide. The Grand Imam heads theAl-Azhar Al Sharif,al-Azhar Mosque, and by extensional-Azhar University, and is responsible for official religious matters along with theGrand Mufti of Egypt.
The title of theGrand Imam of al-Azhar was officially established in 1961. In the 14th century the head of al-Azhar was granted the title ofMushrif of al-Azhar, then laterNazir of Al-Azhar[3] and, during theOttoman Empire, the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar. Today the bearer of the title also carries the title of the Grand Sheikh.
