Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayyeb announced Thursday the possibility of choosing his future successor from outside Egypt. Al-Tayyeb said in statements to reporters that he decided to restore the senior clerics association, which was responsible for the election of Al-Azhar grand sheikh till 1961. “We are considering these days the possibility of restoring the senior clerics association in order to guarantee setting strict rules for the qualifications of Al-Azhar grand sheikh and to ensure his eligibility for the position,” said al-Tayyeb. He said that the clerics will consider clerics and thinkers from Egypt and the Islamic world. “But Al-Azhar is an institution that is embraced by Egypt, so it is preferable that Al-Azhar's grand sheikh be Egyptian,” he added. Al-Tayyeb said that the senior clerics will choose Al-Azhar's next grand sheikh, whether by election or appointment. He pointed out that a reform program, in accordance with the requirements of the new phase, will be applied to Al-Azhar in order to achieve the independence of Al-Azhar as an institution. Al-Azhar is considered to be the most prestigious Islamic institute not just in Egypt but in the entire Muslim Sunni world. The position of grand sheikh was first created in 1690. So far, 43 sheikhs have held the post. After the 1952 revolution, it was decided that the Al-Azhar's role should be diminished. In 1961, new legislation was created to limit most of the grand sheikh's powers, and subsequently the senior clerics association was abolished.
