Egypt's top Muslim body Al-Azhar has challenged a recent decision by the government that requires preachers to read out standardised pre-written sermons, saying it unanimously rejects it. The Council of Senior Scholars, headed by Al-Azhar's Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, said the latest move amounts to "freezing religious discourse." The endowments ministry announced two weeks ago that Muslim clerics would be required to read from the same pre-written script during the weekly sermon at Friday prayers, a move aimed at pushing moderate Islamic ideology and combat extremism.