Grand Imam of Al Azhar asks to attend Parliament session to give opinion on draft law of Dar Al-Iftaa

CAIRO – 24 August 2020: Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb requested from Ali Abdel Aal, the speaker of the House of Representatives, to attend the parliament’s general session to discuss a bill that organizes Dar Al-Iftaa, the Islamic Sunni institution authorized to issues the Fatwas (Islamic decision).

In an official letter sent to Abdel Aal on Sunday, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb stated that he would express his vision regarding the new bill, which is seen unconstitutional by Al-Azhar, accroding to a statement by Al-Azhar Sheikhdom on Sunday.

“The draft law regulating the Dar al-Iftaa contradicts the Article 7 of the Constitution and the existing Al-Azhar law with its powers that had been fixed over hundreds of years through successive laws,” the statement read, noting that Tayeb’s speech would tackle the reasons of the Sheikhdom’s reservation regarding the draft law.

“Al-Azhar is an independent scientific Islamic institution, with exclusive competence over its own affairs. It is the main authority for religious sciences, and Islamic affairs. It is responsible for preaching Islam and disseminating the religious sciences and the Arabic language in Egypt and the world. The state shall provide enough financial allocations to achieve its purposes. Al-Azhar’s Grand Sheikh is independent and cannot be dismissed. The method of appointing the Grand Sheikh from among the members of the Council of Senior Scholars is to be determined by law,” the Article 7 of the Constitution stipulates.