The grand imam of al-Azhar is the of al-Azhar University, Egypt, and is considered the highest authority in Sunni Islamic jurisprudence and holds great influence on followers of the theological Ash'ari and Maturidi traditions worldwide. The Grand Imam of al-Azhar is the most prominent official religious role in Egypt. Prior to the establishment of the post under the Ottoman Empire, the holder of that position was named Mushrif then later a Nazir. Between 1860 and 1864 a board of scholars served the role as Grand Imam.

Several of the Grand Imams served multiple terms; each term is listed separately. The original sources give the year based on the Islamic calendar, so the conversion to Gregorian years by later Western sources may not be precise.

List № Portrait Name Began End Madhhab Notes 1 Muhammad al-Kharashi () 1679 1690 Maliki al-Kharashi (1601–1690) was born in Abu Kharash, Beheira Governorate 2 Ibrahim al-Barmawi () 1690 1695 Shafii al-Barmawi (died 1695) was born in Barma, Gharbia Governorate 3 Muhammad al-Nasharti () 1695 1709 Maliki al-Nasharti (died 1709) was born in Nashart, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate 4 Abd al-Baqi al-Qalini () 1709 1709 Maliki al-Qalini was born in Qallin, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate 5 Muhammad Shanan () 1709 1720 Maliki Shanan (1656–1720) was born in Al Gadeyah, Beheira Governorate 6 Ibrahim al-Fayyumi () 1720 1724 Maliki al-Fayyumi (1652–1724) was born in Faiyum, Faiyum Governorate 7 Abdullah al-Shubrawi () 1724 1758 Shafii al-Shubrawi (1681–1758) was born in Cairo, Cairo Governorate 8 Muhammad al-Hiffnawi () 1758 1767 Shafii al-Hiffnawi (1688–1768) was born in Hiffna, Sharqia Governorate 9 Abd al-Rauf al-Sajini () 1767 1769 Shafii al-Sajini was born in Sagin Al Kom, Gharbia Governorate 10 Ahmed al-Damanhuri () 1769 1778 Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali al-Damanhuri was born in Damanhur, Beheira Governorate 11 Ahmed al-Arusi () 1778 1793 Shafii Ahmed al-Arusi (1720–1804) was born in Manyal Arous, Monufia Governorate. He was the father of #14 Muhammed al-Arusi, grandfather of #20 Mustafa al-Arusi. 12 Abdullah al-Sharqawi () 1793 1812 Shafii al-Sharqawi (1737–1812) was born in At Tawilah, Sharqia Governorate 13 Muhammed al-Shanawani () 1812 1818 Shafii al-Shanawani (died 1818) was born in Shanawan, Monufia Governorate 14 Muhammed al-Arusi () 1818 1829 Shafii Muhammed al-Arusi was the son of #11 Ahmed al-Arusi, father of #20 Mustafa al-Arusi. 15 Ahmed al-Damhuji () 1829 1830 Shafii al-Damhuji (1761–1831) was born in Damhuj, Monufia Governorate 16 Hasan al-Attar () 1830 1834 Shafii al-Attar (1766–1835) was born in Cairo, Cairo Governorate. He was of Moroccan origin. 17 Hasan al-Quwaysini () 1834 1838 Shafii al-Quwaysini (died 1838) was born in Quesna, Monufia Governorate 18 Ahmed al-Sa'im al-Safti () 1838 1847 Shafii al-Safti was born in Saft El Arfa, Beni Suef Governorate 19 Ibrahim al-Bajuri () 1847 1864 Shafii al-Bajuri (1784–1864) was born in El Bagour, Monufia Governorate 20 Mustafa al-Arusi () 1864 1870 Shafii Mustafa al-Arusi (1798–1876) was the son of #14 Muhammed al-Arusi, grandson of #11 Ahmed al-Arusi.21Muhammad al-Mahdi ()18701881Hanafial-Mahdi (1827–1897) was born in Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate22Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Imbabi ()18811882Shafiial-Imbabi (1824–1896) was born in Cairo, originally from Imbaba, Giza Governorate(21)Muhammad al-Mahdi ()18821886Hanafi(22)Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Imbabi ()18861895Shafii23Hassunah al-Nawawi ()18951899Hanafial-Nawawi (1839–1924) was born in Nawai, Asyut Governorate24Abd al-Rahman al-Qutb al-Nawawi ()18991899Hanafial-Nawawi (died 1909) was born in Nawai, Asyut Governorate25Salim al-Bishri ()18991903Malikial-Bishri (1832–1916) was born in Mahallat Bishr, Beheira Governorate26Ali al-Biblawi ()19031905Malikial-Biblawi (1835–1905) was born in Biblaw, Asyut Governorate27Abd al-Rahman al-Shirbini ()19051907Shafiial-Shirbini (died 1908) was probably born in Sherbin, Dakahlia Governorate(23)Hassanuh al-Nawawi ()19071909Hanafi(25)Salim al-Bishri ()19091917Maliki28Muhammad al-Jizawi ()19171927Malikial-Jizawi (1874–1927) was born in El-Warraq, Giza Governorate29Mustafa Al-Maraghi ()19271929Hanafial-Maraghi (1881–1945) was born in El Maragha, Sohag Governorate30Muhammad al-Zawahiri ()19291935Shafiial-Zawahiri (1878–1944) was born in Kafr Ash Sheikh Dhawahri, Sharqia Governorate. He was of Arab origin.(29)Mustafa Al-Maraghi ()19351945Hanafi 31 Mustafa Abd al-Rizq () 1945 1947 Hanafi Abd al-Rizq (1885–1947) was born in Abu Jirj, Minya Governorate 32 Muhammad Ma'mun al-Shinnawi () 1948 1950 Hanafi al-Shinnawi (1878–1950) was born in El Zarqa, Damietta Governorate33Abd al-Majid Salim ()19501951HanafiSalim (1882–1954) was born in Meet Shahala, Monufia Governorate 34 Ibrahim Hamrush () 1951 1952 Hanafi Hamrush (1880–1960) was born in Al Khawaled, Beheira Governorate(33)Abd al-Majid Sulaym ()19521952Hanafi 35 Muhammad al-Khadi Husayn () 1952 1954 Maliki Husayn (1876–1958) was born in Nefta, Tozeur Governorate, Tunisia. 36 Abd al-Rahman Taj () 1954 1958 Hanafi Taj (1896–1975) was born in Asyut, Asyut Governorate 37 Mahmud Shaltut () 1958 1963 Hanafi Shaltut (1893–1963) was born in Minyat Bani Mansur, Beheira Governorate 38 Hassan Mamoun () 1963 1969 Mamoun (1894–1973) was born in Cairo, Cairo Governorate 39 Muhammad al-Fahham () 1969 1973 al-Fahham (1894–1980) was born in Alexandria Governorate 40 Abdel Halim Mahmoud () 1973 1978 Maliki Mahmoud (1910–1978) was born in Al Salam, Sharqia Governorate 41 Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Bisar () 1979 1982 Bisar (1910–1982) was born in As Salmiyyah, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate 42 Gad al-Haq () 1982 1996 al-Haq (1917–1996) was born in Batra, Dakahlia Governorate 43 Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy () 1996 2010 Shafii Tantawy (1928–2010) was born in Selim ash-Sharqiyah, Tima municipality, Sohag Governorate 44 Ahmed El-Tayeb () 2010 present Maliki El-Tayeb (born 1946) was born in Kurna, Luxor Governorate

Footnotes

References