Egypt’s Parliament avoids showdown with Al Azhar over role in religion

Dr Ahmed Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, rejects proposal that would water down institution's authority

An Egyptian boy plays at Al Azhar mosque following the Friday weekly prayer in the capital Cairo's Islamic quarter, on October 2, 2015. AFP

To Muslims the world over, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar is a deeply revered spiritual leader whose influence transcends politics, race and borders.

In his native Egypt, most of the mainly Muslim 100 million people regard Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb as the contemporary face of moderate Islam and wait on his every word.

This week, Dr Al Tayeb publicly stated his opposition to a draft bill sponsored by more than 60 legislators.

If adopted, it would create religious bodies that the Grand Imam considered would undermine Al Azhar’s primacy as the highest seat of learning for Muslims, which it has held for centuries.

In an unusual move, a powerful Al Azhar body of which Dr Al Tayeb is chairman wrote a publicised letter to the Speaker of Parliament, the strongly pro-government advocate Ali Abdel Aal.

It told Mr Abdel Aal that the draft legislation breached Egypt’s 2014 constitution, which includes Al Azhar's standing as the country’s foremost and only authority on matters pertaining to Islam.

Dr Al Tayeb’s show of authority – something that he rarely does – was without fanfare or hint of self-aggrandisement.

It followed times in recent years when he has been at odds with the government over its efforts to moderate Islam’s discourse.

It also came about two years after some legislators unsuccessfully tried to pass bills to limit the Grand Imam’s authority.

“The constitutional violations of the draft legislation don’t just stop at encroaching on the mandate of Al Azhar, attempting to create a body parallel to it that seeks to replace it in both substance and objective,” the letter read.

“The danger lies in the attempt to break up the mission of Al Azhar and undermine its independence, which are the backbone of its centrist and moderate ideology.”

In another letter, Dr Al Tayeb told Mr Abdel Aal that he would personally attend the House’s debate on the proposed law to argue the case against it.

That debate was scheduled for Monday and his intention to attend piqued the interest of millions of Egyptians who anticipated a heated dispute between Dr Al Tayeb and a parliament packed with government supporters.

Social media was abuzz with speculation on the outcome, while a discussion ensued on whether the government was really trying to weaken the Grand Imam's authority.

Monday’s showdown was avoided at the last minute when Mr Abdel Aal sent the draft back to the chamber’s religious committee to review reservations from a senior judicial body.

Consequently, Dr Al Tayeb never went to Parliament, but the episode appeared to point to differences between Al Azhar and parts of the state.

That the dispute was avoided may have been beneficial to the government at a time when the working and middle classes are struggling to make ends meet after shockwaves from the coronavirus epidemic.

A handful of unpopular decisions did not help, including a surge in the price of electricity in July and this month’s 18 per cent reduction in weight of state-subsidised loaves of bread.

Apparently seeking to dismiss the notion that parliament backed down to Al Azhar, several pro-government legislators told local media that the draft bill was not on Monday’s agenda.

And one of them claimed that the Grand Imam never formally informed the house of his intention to attend Monday’s hearing.

Dr Al Tayeb’s views are appreciated and understood, said religious committee member Amany Aziz.

“But the state has a vision that’s far-sighted and is in the interest of the nation and the citizens,” Mr Aziz said.

Another legislator, Mohammed Abu Hamed, implicitly stated his opposition to Dr Al Tayeb attending Monday’s hearing.

Mr Abu Hamed said Al Azhar representatives routinely attended sessions when the topic of discussion was relevant, suggesting that Dr Al Tayeb's presence would have been unnecessary.

It is not likely that the draft legislation will resurface any time soon.

Monday’s hearing was the last in the house’s five-year term. Elections for a new chamber are expected this year.

The 1,000-year-old Al Azhar in Cairo attracts thousands of foreign students from places as far away as Indonesia, Senegal, Russia and South Africa, and its own scholars teach Islam across much of the world.

Al Azhar has recently been accused of a rigid discourse and resisting calls to modernise to encourage moderation.

Dr Al Tayeb has led the defence of the institution, arguing at times that what he was being asked to do amounted to abandoning the basic tenets of Islamic teaching.

While frequently criticised by pro-government social media users for allowing Al Azhar’s “antiquated” views to endure, he surprised many last month when he came out strongly against Egyptians who say women’s clothing is to blame for the growing cases of sexual harassment and assault.

Dr Al Tayeb's comments were warmly welcomed by women’s rights activists campaigning against the country’s pervasive problem of sexual harassment and demanding justice for its victims.