AHMED el-Tayyeb, the newly appointed Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's most influential seat of learning, said on Saturday he would help develop the institution's role in spreading moderate Islam across the world. "Al-Azhar will continue to be a bastion for tolerance and moderationagainst extremism and fanaticism," el-Tayyeb said. President Hosni Mubarak on Friday named el-Tayyeb as the new head of Al-Azhar, which includes a university and a research centre. He has presided over Al-Azhar's University since 2003 and will succeed Sheikh Mohamed Sayyed Tantawi, who died of a heart attack in Saudi Arabia on March 10. "All possible means, including the latest technology, will be used to spread moderate Islam across the world, ," el- Tayyeb said. He added that a website for the Al- Azhar would be used for this aim. "Also the expatriate students who come to study here, then travel back home could also have a crucial role in helping spread values of tolerance and accepting the other," 64-year-old el-Tayyeb said. Tayyeb was Egypt's Grand Mufti for 18 months between 2002 and 2003. He is considered to be one of the more enlightened Egyptian Sunni clerics, as he speaks fluent English and French and has a PhD in Islamic philosophy from France's Sorbonne University. He is known for his moderate and progressive opinions and was previously criticised by some Al-Azhar clerics and professors for preferring modern suits to the traditional cloaks worn by nearly all Al-Azhar leaders. "Through his work as head of Al-Azhar University, el-Tayyeb has proved and shown that he is well capable of being Al Azhar's top cleric," Gamal Awad, a professor at Al-Azhar's Sharia college told The Times of London. "The man has full understanding of the religion without any complications, and he made some great efforts in making Al-Azhar reach out to Muslims and non-Muslims from all nationalities, and that's exactly what Al-Azhar needs." Tayyeb is known for his tough stance against the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's banned-yet-largest opposition group. In 2006, he condemned a militarystyle parade by Brotherhood students at Al-Azhar University, in which they wore black facemasks "like Hamas, Hizbollah and the Republican Guard in Iran", he said at the time. He was congratulated yesterday by Pope Shenouda III, Egypt's Coptic Christian Patriarch, and Mohamed Badei, the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood. Tayyeb, who heads Al-Azhar University's religious dialogue committee, is also a member of the ruling chaired by the president's son Gamal Mubarak. Despite his efforts to maintain a low profile and distancing himself from religious or political controversies, Tayyeb has appeared in the media spotlight on a few occasions.
