CAIRO: The death of al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi this week has fueled demands by opposition leaders in the country have called on the posting to be filled by a vote of scholars. The Muslim Brotherhood – the country's most popular and strongest opposition group – asked that the next shiekh of al-Azhar be voted on by a body of Islamic scholars and not by the Egyptian president. “We demand that the sheikh of al-Azhar be elected by Azhar scholars and not appointed by the president,†said Hamdi Hassan, spokesman of the Muslim Brotherhood's Parliamentary bloc. “Unfortunately, the status of al-Azhar has deteriorated, and it is no longer playing its role for Egypt, Arabs and Muslims,†he said. “It’s very essential that al-Azhar reclaim its role, and this won’t happen while a government employee is at its head.” Since 1961, the Egyptian president has appointed the Grand Mufti and Sheikh of al-Azhar. President Hosni Mubarak, who appointed Sheikh Tantawi in 1996, issued a statement on Wednesday, mourning “one of the respected scholars of Islam and one of the defenders of Islam’s enlightenment and tolerance.†The independent member of Parliament Mustafa Bakri and others complained, however, that Sheikh Tantawi ignored essential issues. Opposition leader Ayman Nour wrote in the daily al-Dostour: “May God have mercy on Sheikh Tantawi for his religious knowledge, and forgive him for working in politics. “We hope that a respected scholar would come to lead al-Azhar, modernize its role and regain its status,†added Nour. Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, the head of Dar al-Iftaa, or the religious decree house, is considered to be a likely nominee to replace Sheikh Tantawi. For the time being, Mohammed Abdel Aziz Wassel, the deputy of al-Azhar, will assume Sheikh Tantawi’s duties. Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, who is running the government until Mubarak returns from Germany, did not publicize a state of mourning. However, Friday prayers across Egypt will be dedicated to Sheikh Tantawi and official condolences will be accepted at Omar Makram Mosque in Cairo on Friday evening. BM
