Part 1 Power and Legitimacy, 1.5 Religious Authorities and Constitutional Reform: The Case of Al-Azhar in Egypt

Al-Azhar does not only represent the oldest educational system of Egypt, it has also been an influential power in Egyptian politics since its founding in 972 ad. Regularly throughout Egyptian history, critics have been open with their skepticism toward Al-Azhar’s impact when they considered its two main functions, namely Islamic worship and education, being exceeded or misused. Today, Al-Azhar finds itself in an ambivalent position in post-revolutionary Egypt. It is drawn between regaining independence from a secular, military state on the one hand and acting as...