SINCE the death of Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantawi while visiting Saudi Arabia last week, the local press has been busy trying to predict the name of the new Sheikh of Al- Azhar (Sunni Islam's most prestigious institution in the world). But the media is only guessing, as the Egyptian President will appoint the new Sheikh, as has been the case since late President Sadat was in office. Sadat decided that, like the appointment of the Prime Minister, the appointment of the Sheikh of Al-Azhar would be a presidential one and that the Sheikh would remain in office till his death. But many things about this system need amending before the naming of the new Sheikh. The first problem is the differences that have apparently erupted between Al-Azhar's noted scholars over the fatwas (religious edicts) issued by their Sheikh. This has affected his position and subjected Al-Azhar as a whole to endless criticism from certain quarters. To preserve the global prestige of the Sheikh of Al-Azhar in thewhole world, pre-eminent clergymen should be the ones to choose their Sheikh, who should be a member of the Islamic Research Centre, an influential arm of Al-Azhar, and enjoy a good reputation and the respect of the public, so that Muslims here and in other countries will obey him. It might also be a good idea to end this governmental domination of Al-Azhar by cancelling the so-called position of Minister of Al-Azhar Affairs, a portfolio currently held by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif. This strange anomaly allows the Prime Minister to oppose any decision of the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, which makes the public treat Al-Azhar merely as a governmental department, underestimating its religious opinion in different fields. The weakening of the institution of Al-Azhar has gravely affected the moderate nature of Egyptian Muslims, causing fanaticism to spread. Reviving the old system for electing the Sheikh of Al-Azhar would reinvigorate our religious institution and preserve the moderate nature of Egyptian Muslims.
