Grand Imam of al-Azhar: Difference between revisions
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The '''Grand Imam of al-Azhar''' ({{lang-ar|الإمام الأكبر}}), also known as '''Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar''' ({{lang-ar|links=no|شيخ الأزهر الشريف}}), currently [[Ahmed el-Tayeb]], is a prestigious and a prominent official title in [[Egypt]].<ref>{{harvnb|Beattie|2000|p=225}}</ref> He is considered by some Muslims to be the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought and [[Islamic jurisprudence]]<ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|2005|p=220}}</ref> and holds great influence on followers of the theological [[Ash'ari]] and [[Maturidi]] traditions worldwide. The Grand Imam heads the [[al-Azhar Mosque]], and by extension [[al-Azhar University]], and is responsible for official religious matters along with the [[Grand Mufti of Egypt]]. |
The '''Grand Imam of al-Azhar''' ({{lang-ar|الإمام الأكبر}}), also known as '''Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar''' ({{lang-ar|links=no|شيخ الأزهر الشريف}}), currently [[Ahmed el-Tayeb]], is a prestigious and a prominent official title in [[Egypt]].<ref>{{harvnb|Beattie|2000|p=225}}</ref> He is considered by some Muslims to be the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought and [[Islamic jurisprudence]]<ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|2005|p=220}}</ref> and holds great influence on followers of the theological [[Ash'ari]] and [[Maturidi]] traditions worldwide. The Grand Imam heads the [[Al-Azhar Al Sharif]], [[al-Azhar Mosque]], and by extension [[al-Azhar University]], and is responsible for official religious matters along with the [[Grand Mufti of Egypt]]. |
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==History of the title== |
==History of the title== |
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Revision as of 11:55, 11 October 2022
The Grand Imam of al-Azhar (Template:Lang-ar), also known as Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar (Template:Lang-ar), currently Ahmed el-Tayeb, is a prestigious and a prominent official title in Egypt.[1] He is considered by some Muslims to be the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought and Islamic jurisprudence[2] and holds great influence on followers of the theological Ash'ari and Maturidi traditions worldwide. The Grand Imam heads the Al-Azhar Al Sharif, al-Azhar Mosque, and by extension al-Azhar University, and is responsible for official religious matters along with the Grand Mufti of Egypt.
History of the title
The title of the Grand Imam of al-Azhar was officially established in 1961. In the 14th century the head of al-Azhar was granted the title of Mushrif of al-Azhar, then later Nazir of Al-Azhar[3] and, during the Ottoman Empire, the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar. Today the bearer of the title also carries the title of the Grand Sheikh.
See Also
List of Grand Imams of al-Azhar
References
- ^ Beattie 2000, p. 225
- ^ Bennett 2005, p. 220
- ^ Dodge 1961, p. 83
Further reading
- Dodge, Bayard (1961), Al-Azhar: A Millennium of Muslim learning, Middle East Institute
- Beattie, Kirk J. (2000), Egypt during the Sadat years, Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978-0-312-23246-7
- Bennett, Clinton (2005), Muslims and modernity: an introduction to the issues and debates, Continuum International Publishing Group, ISBN 978-0-8264-5481-2
