Sheikh Al-Azhar
His Eminence Grand Imam Prof. Dr. Ahmed At-Tayyeb
Birth and Growing up:
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Muhammed Ahmed At-Tayyeb was born in the village of Al-Qurna, Luxor, on the third of Safar 1365 A.H. (January 6, 1964) in a good ancient family. His father was a scholar and one of the righteous people.
He grew up in his village, and then he was educated at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. He memorized the Qur’ān and learnt the major scientific Islamic texts in the authentic Azhari method. Then, he joined the Department of Theology and Philosophy at the Faculty of Islamic Theology (Uṣul ud-Dīn) in Cairo and graduated from it with excellence in 1969.
Qualifications:
- His Eminence obtained Ph. D. degree from the Department of Theology and Philosophy, Al- Azhar
University in 1977.
- His Master’s degree from the Department of Theology and Philosophy, Al- Azhar University was in 1971.
- His Bachelor’s degree from the Department of Theology and Philosophy, Al- Azhar University was in 1969.
- His Eminence travelled to France for six months in an academic mission at Paris University from
December 1977 to 1978. His Eminence is fluent in French and he translates from it into Arabic.
Academic Degrees:
- Teaching Assistant in 1969
- Assistant Lecturer in 1971
- Lecturer in 1977
- Assistant Professor in 1982
- Professor in 1988
Positions:
- He was appointed as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Islamic Theology, Al-Azhar University on the 20th of Jumada II, 1389 A.H.
(September 2, 1969).
- He was appointed as a professor at the Faculty of Islamic Theology, Al-Azhar University on the 17th of Jumada I, 1408 A.H.
(January 1, 1988).
- He was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic and Arabic Studies for Boys in Qena Governorate since the 8th of Rabi II, 1411
A.H. (October 27, 1990) till the 21st of Safar, 1421 A.H. (August 31, 1991).
- He was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies for Boys in Aswan Governorate on the 22nd of Jumada II, 1416 A.H.
(November 15, 1995).
- He was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Theology, the International Islamic University in Pakistan, in the academic
year 1999/2000.
- He was appointed as the President of Al-Azhar University since the 1st of Sha‛bān, 1424 A.H. (September 28, 2003) till the 4th of
Rabi‛ II, 1431 A.H. (March 19, 2010).
- His Eminence founded the World Association of Al-Azhar Alumni and has been chairing its international conferences.
Universities where he worked outside Al-Azhar:
His Eminence worked at a number of universities in the Islamic world:
- Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud University, Riyadh
- Qatar University
- Emirates University
- Islamic International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Academic missions:
His Eminence participated in many Islamic and international conferences and meetings, including:
1- The 19th International Forum for Peace in France
2- The International Islamic Conference on The Reality of Islam and its Role in Contemporary Society, organized by the ᾿Ālu l-Bayt
Royal Academy for Islamic Thought, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
3- The Summit of Interreligious Respect, held in New York and Harvard University
4- A Conference on Religions and Cultures: The Courage of Modern Humanity, organized by Universita Perucia, Italy
5- A Conference on Culture and Religions in the Mediterranean Region, organized by the Third University, Rome.
6- The World Conference of Muslim Scholars in Indonesia under the slogan: "Raising the Banner of Islam is a Mercy for the Worlds"
7- He headed a delegation including press men and members of the Egyptian People's Assembly, to hold a dialogue with the German
Parliament, the media and the Council of Churches in Germany.
8- He undertook an academic mission to the University of Paris for six months.
9- He was the Chairman of the first, second and third forums of the World Association of Al-Azhar Alumni.
10- He traveled to Switzerland on an academic mission, invited by the University of Fribourg, for three weeks from
May 9, 1989 till May 31, 1989.
11- He is a member of the Egyptian Philosophical Society.
12- He is a member of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
13- He is a member of the Islamic Research Academy
14- He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Radio and Television Union.
15- He is the Chairman of the Religious Committee of the Union of Radio and Television.
16- He is the Rapporteur of the Committee for the Revision and Preparation of Educational Standards in the Ministry of Education.
17- He is a member of ᾿Ālu l-Bayt Royal Academy for Islamic Thought.
Orders and Medals of Honor:
- His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan granted His Eminence the Order of Independence of the First
Degree, and the Certificate of Membership in ᾿Ālu l-Bayt Royal Academy for Islamic Thought, in recognition of his Eminence's efforts
in explaining the true aspects of Islam and its moderation, during his participation in the International Islamic Conference held in
Jordan.
- He received the Islamic Personality Award that Al-Azhar University obtained from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid
Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai in 2003.
- The Dubai International Holy Qur’ān Award: "the Islamic Personality of the Year".
- He was selected as "the Person of the Year" in the State of Kuwait on the occasion of choosing it as the Capital of Islamic Culture
in 2015.
- He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Islamic University of Maulana Malik Ibrahim, Indonesia, in February 2016.
His Publications:
1- The Monetary Aspect in the Philosophy of Abu Al-Barakat Al-Baghdadi.
2- A Study of Existence and Identity in Kitāb ul-Mawāqif (the Book of Attitudes): A Presentation and Study, Cairo 1402 A.H. (1982).
3- The Concept of Movement between Muslim Philosophy and Marxism (a paper), Cairo, 1982.
4- Introduction to the Study of Old Logic, Cairo, 1407 A.H. (1987).
5- Investigations on Cause and Reason in Kitāb ul-Mawāqif (the Book of Attitudes): A Presentation and Study, Cairo, 1402 A.H. (1982).
6- Research in the Muslim Philosophy, in association with others, Qatar University, Doha, 1414 A.H. (1993).
7- Commentary on the Chapters on Divinity from Tahzīb ul-Kalām (The Book of Refined Speech) by At-Taftazāni, Cairo, 1997.
Research papers published in refereed academic journals:
- "Basics of the Discipline of Debate by Al-Ash‛ariy", published in the Yearbook of the Faculty of Islamic Theology Cairo, No. IV, 1987.
- "Heritage and Innovation: Discussions and Responses", published in the Yearbook of the College of Legislation, Law and Islamic
Studies, Qatar University, 11th Edition, 1414 A.H. (1993).
- "The Foundations of the Theory of Science by Al-Ash‛ariy", Cairo, 1407 A.H. ( 1982).
- "The Concept of Movement between the Muslim Philosophy and Marxism".
Published Editing Works:
“Authentic Evidence on the Nature of the Mind by Abu Al-Barakāt Al-Baghdādiy, with a French introduction", published at the Journal of the French Academic Institute in Cairo.
Translations:
- "French Introductions of the Indexed Dictionary of the Prophetic Hadith," published in the Journal of Research Center of the
Biography and Sunnah, University of Qatar, Issue 1, 1414 A.H. (1998).
- Osman Yahya, Histoire et classification de l'oeuvre d'Ibn Arabi, from French into Arabic, translated as: The writings of Ibn Arabi:
History and Classification, Cairo, 1413 A.H. (1992).
- Prophetie et saintete dans la doctrine d'Ibn Arabi, Chodkiewiez, from French into Arabic, translated as Sainthood and Prophecy
according to Sheikh Muḩyiddīn Ibn ‛Arabi, Dar ul-Qubbah Al-Zarqā᾿ for Publishing, Morocco, 1419 A.H. (1998).
Conference and Symposium Research Papers:
- "The French Studies on Ibn Al-‛Arabi", presented at the First International Conference on Muslim Philosophy, Faculty of Dar Al-‛Ulūm,
Cairo, April 20 -22, 1996, published in the conference proceedings.
- "Views on the Issue of Distortion of the Qur’ān attributed to the Shiite Imams", delivered at the Symposium of the Faculty of Islamic
Theology, Cairo, May 1, 1997.
- "Ibn ‛Arabi in the Classrooms of the Egyptian Universities", presented at the International Conference on Ibn ‛Arabi (May 7 -15, 1997)
in the city of Marrakesh, Morocco. Now, it is published in the Moroccan Journal ᾿Āfāq in French.
- "Defamed Sheikh Mustafa ‛Abdel Rāziq", Symposium of the Arab World Institute (LIMA) in Paris about Sufism in Egypt,
April 22- 29, 1998.
- "The Need for Renewal", the World Conference of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Cairo, May 31 - June 3, 2001.
His positions as the Mufti and then the Sheikh of Al-Azhar:
On Sunday, Dhul-Hijjah 26, 1423 A.H. ( March 10, 2010), former President Muhammed Hosni Mubarak issued a decree appointing Prof. Ahmed At-Tayyeb as the Mufti of the Egyptian Fatwa House, at the age of 56. His Eminence remained in this position until the first of Sha'ban 1424 A.H. (September 28, 2003), when a decree was issued appointing him as the President of Al-Azhar University. He issued 2,835 fatwas recorded in the archives of the Egyptian Fatwa House. On the fourth Friday of the month of Rabi II, 1431 A.H. (March 19, 2010), former President Hosni Mubarak issued decree No. 62 in 2010 appointing His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Muhammed At-Tayyeb as Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, succeeding the late Imam Prof. Muhammed Sayyed Ṭanṭāwi.
Currently, His Eminence continues to the commitment of fulfilling his duties as the Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. May Allah make him enjoy health and wellness and make him as asset for Islam and the Muslims!