Analyzing Al-Azhar’s Role in Egyptian Politics

A critical evaluation of the official stance of Shaykh Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Taayeb since the beginning of the protests on 25th January 2011 and until the military intervention on 30th of June 2013 merits particular attention. Al-Azhar did play an important political role in directing the revolutionary tide in Egypt based on its importance as the most ancient Islamic religious institution in Egypt. This paper addresses the political role of Al-Azhar from the establishment of the republic in 1952 until the Arab Spring in 2011 and the military intervention in 2013. It also sheds light on the relations between AlAzhar and Islamists, mainly the Muslim Brotherhood; that explains the behavior of Al-Azhar since 2011 until today. The study adopts a mixed research method: content analysis, critical discourse analysis, along with personal interviews. The study finds that Al-Azhar turns out to be a state institution committed to its political orientations. Al-Azhar found a threat to its interests and religious position during Mursi’s rule, therefore it endorsed the military intervention in June 2013 as it found a chance to protect itself from Muslim Brotherhood and Islamists.