Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad Al Tayeb was appointed as Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar in March 2010, after the passing of his predecessor, Dr Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi. Al Tayeb was formerly the president of the Al Azhar for seven years and prior to that, served for two years as the most powerful cleric in Egypt as its Grand Mufti. His scholarly influence as a leading intellectual of Sunni Islam spans the globe. He has served as the dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Aswan, and the theology faculty of the International Islamic University in Pakistan. He has also taught in universities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Advocate of Traditional Islam
Al Tayeb has emphasised his mission to promote traditional Islam since becoming Grand Sheikh. He has stressed the importance of teaching students about Islamic heritage – considering Al Azhar graduates as ambassadors of Islam to the world.
Spiritual Leader of the Al Azhar University
Sheikh Al Tayeb leads the second-oldest university in the world, where teaching has continued without interruption since 975 CE. Al Azhar represents the center of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence. It is a key institution that issues authoritative religious rulings and has provided extensive Islamic education to Egyptian and international students since its inception over a millennium ago. This history makes it a bastion of Sunni traditionalism. The university is considered one of the most prominent Islamic educational institutions, and the foremost center of Sunni Muslim scholarship worldwide.
Administers the Al Azhar Education Network
Al Azhar is the second oldest, and currently the largest university in the world, having risen from a group of three schools in the 1950s to its current state with 72 feeder schools, and close to 300,000 students studying there at any one time. Including schools that are part of Al Azhar waqf initiatives, there are close to 2 million students. This immense size and grounded respect make the head of Al Azhar an extraordinarily powerful and academically influential person. In spite of his huge workload as president and now as Grand Sheikh, Al Tayeb publishes regularly in numerous academic journals, dealing particularly with the reception of Islamic culture and philosophy in the Western world.
Al Tayeb is also a member of the Egyptian Society of Philosophy, the Supreme Court of Islamic Affairs and is the head of the Religious Committee at the Egyptian Radio and Television Union
ABU DHABI - The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyib, who was named the Cultural Personality of the Year by the 2013 Sheikh Zayed Book Award earlier this month, has arrived in Abu Dhabi starting a visit to the UAE. In statements ...
Morsi has met the the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayeb and, and the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawky Ibrahim Allam, to discuss developments in Sinai on Monday. The president's office vowed in a statement late on Sunday.that authorities would secure ...and more »
MUSCAT The Grand Imam Ahmed Mohammed Al Tayyib, Sheikh of Al Azhar Al Sharif spoke highly of the support extended by the Sultanate government to Al Azhar Al Sharif to perform its duties. The grand imam thanked His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said and the ...
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar Mosque, said “tens of channels” in the region are guilty of a “lack of professionalism” in airing the sometimes extreme edicts, which he said help spread hatred. Al-Tayeb said his biggest ...
Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday received the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Ahmad Mohammad Al Tayeb, who is currently on a visit to the UAE.and more »
Shaikh Ahmad Mohammad Al Tayeb, Grand Shaikh of Al Azhar, who also gave a keynote speech, emphasised the power of words and the key role the media plays in shaping society and preserving it. He added that the electronic revolution has made words ...and more »
The 12th edition of the Arab Media Forum (AMF) will begin on Tuesday (today) under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. ... The official opening ceremony ...and more »
(BNA) -- The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) hosted today Al Azhar Al Sharif Grand Imam Dr. Shaikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, who was accompanied by members of Egypt's Association of Senior Scholars. ... Al Khalifa, the Minister of Justice, Islamic ...and more »
WAM ABU DHABI: The Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, today hailed the orders by President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, yesterday to release 103 Egyptian prisoners, who were sentenced in different cases ...and more »
This came during the Easter celebrations of the Coptic Church in Abu Dhabi last night, in the presence of Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development; Mohammad Bin Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan; Ali Al ...and more »
A law was passed just before the Muslim Brotherhood took over which made Al-Azhar completely independent of the government.
He said, ‘We live at a time when hopes are high in guaranteeing freedom, democracy and the freedom of opinion. We reject any plots against the stance of Al-Azhar which supports freedom movements inside or outside Egypt. The religion of Islam acknowledges and defends the rights of people and supports nations in their legitimate right of justice, freedom and honourable living’.
Citizen of: Egypt
Birth: 1 January 1946 (Age: 67)
Source of Influence: Administration of Religious Affairs
Influence: Highest scholarly authority for a majority of Sunni Muslims, runs the foremost Sunni Islamic university with close to 400,000 students
School of Thought: Traditional Sunni
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