Ahmed el-Tayeb

Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb

Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb is an Egyptian Islamic scholar and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, a position he has held since 2010. His earlier senior offices included Grand Mufti of Egypt and rector of Al-Azhar University, and he also chairs the Muslim Council of Elders. He co-signed the 2019 Document on Human Fraternity with Pope Francis.

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About Ahmed el-Tayeb

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Islamic scholar, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, University administrator · 3 affiliations

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Also known as: Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Ahmad At-Tayyeb
Known for: Islamic scholarship and Al-Azhar institutional leadership; Interfaith dialogue and human fraternity; Muslim Council of Elders leadership

Islamic scholar
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar
University administrator

At a glance

He has served as Grand Imam of Al-Azhar since March 19, 2010.
Before becoming Grand Imam, he served as Grand Mufti of Egypt and rector of Al-Azhar University.
He has chaired the Muslim Council of Elders since its establishment in 2014.
He and Pope Francis signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

Background and education

Current official English-language Al-Azhar materials state that El-Tayeb was born on January 6, 1946, in Al-Qurna, Luxor, Egypt. A separate official Arabic biography gives the year as 1936, leaving an unresolved conflict in the official record. He studied Creed and Philosophy at Al-Azhar University, completing a bachelor's degree in 1969, a master's degree in 1971 and a doctorate in 1977.

Senior religious and academic offices

El-Tayeb served as Grand Mufti of Egypt from March 2002 to September 2003 and then as rector of Al-Azhar University until March 2010. He became Grand Imam of Al-Azhar on March 19, 2010, succeeding Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi; Al-Azhar identifies him as its fiftieth Grand Imam. Official materials continued to identify him in the office as of August 22, 2026.

Interfaith and international engagement

El-Tayeb has chaired the Muslim Council of Elders since the organization was established in 2014. A central interfaith milestone of his tenure came on February 4, 2019, when he and Pope Francis signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together in Abu Dhabi.

Recognition and historical political context

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award named El-Tayeb its Cultural Personality of the Year for 2013. Contemporaneous reporting around his appointment as Grand Imam in March 2010 also identified him as a member of the ruling National Democratic Party's policy committee or politburo. The reviewed evidence does not establish a definitive account of when or whether that affiliation formally ended.

Affiliations

Al-Azhar Grand Imam 2010-03-19–present
Muslim Council of Elders Chair 2014-07-19–present
Al-Azhar University Rector 2003-09-28–2010-03-19

Timeline

1946-01-06 Born in Al-Qurna, Luxor, Egypt, according to current official English-language Al-Azhar materials; another official biography gives the year as 1936.
1969 Completed a bachelor's degree in Creed and Philosophy at Al-Azhar University.
2002-03-10 Assumed office as Grand Mufti of Egypt.
2003-09-28 Became rector of Al-Azhar University.
2010-03-19 Assumed office as Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, succeeding Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi.
2014-07-19 Began chairing the Muslim Council of Elders at its establishment.
2019-02-04 Co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together with Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi.

Additional verified details

Current context

Official Al-Azhar materials identify Ahmed El-Tayeb as the current Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. Official materials describe his tenure as continuing from 2010 to the present; the status should be rechecked at publication.
The Muslim Council of Elders identifies Ahmed El-Tayeb as its chair or president. The Council's official site identifies him in this role; the status should be rechecked at publication.

Biographical facts

Current official English-language Al-Azhar materials state that he was born on January 6, 1946, in Al-Qurna, Luxor, Egypt, although a separate official Arabic biography gives the year as 1936.
He completed a bachelor's degree in Creed and Philosophy at Al-Azhar University in 1969, a master's degree in 1971 and a doctorate in 1977.
He served as Grand Mufti of Egypt from March 10, 2002, to September 27, 2003.
Al-Azhar identifies him as its fiftieth Grand Imam and as the successor to Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi.
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award named him Cultural Personality of the Year for 2013.
Contemporaneous reporting in March 2010 identified him as a member of the ruling National Democratic Party's policy committee or politburo at the time of his appointment as Grand Imam.