Biography:

Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb (6th January 1946: 3 safar 1365 hijri) is the current Grand Imam of al-Azhar (48th Imam) since 19th march 2010, former president of al-Azhar University, and former Egypt’s grand Mufti.

He is a professor in Islamic faith, bilingual speaker of English and French, translated some of French references to Arabic, and worked as university lecturer for a while in France also.

He has a lot of writings in jurisprudence, Sharia science and Sufism.

El- Tayeb is from Qena Governorate in Upper Egypt, and he belongs to a Sufi family.

Birth and education

He was born in Elmsrashda District ,Qena Governorate in  Upper Egypt in an extended family line related to Imam El- Hassan bin Ali bin Abi Talib.

He joined Al Azhar university and had bachelor in Doctrine and Philosophy in 1969, after that he had a Master's degree and Ph.D. in Islamic philosophy in 1971 and 1977 respectively.

 Scientific Degrees

- Al Azhar Sheikh since 19th March 2010 till now.

- Head of Al-Azhar University (28th September 2003- 19th March 2010).

- Egypt’s Grand Mufti (10th March 2002- 27th September 2003).

- He was named dean of Faculty of Fundamentals of Religion at international Islamic university in Pakistan.

- He was assigned dean of faculty of Islamic and Arabic studies for boys in Qena Governorate.

- He worked as instructor, assistant teacher, teacher, and assistant Professor of Doctrine and Philosophy at Al Azhar university, and a professor of Doctrine and Philosophy at the same university.

Sheikh Al Azhar position

On 19th March 2010, previous president mohamed hosni Mubarak issued a decision to assign him Sheikh Al-Azhar as successor of Dr. Mohamed Sayed Tantawy.

Previous universities:

- Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud

- Islamic University in Riyadh

- Qatar University

- UAE University

- International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Writings:

El-Tayeb wrote many writings in Islamic Doctrine and Philosophy, he also has some of studies and researches in that field, he speaks English fluently besides his Arabic mother tongue.

His writings:

Scientific books:

- Critical aspect in the philosophy of Abu Barakat al-Baghdadi.

- Commentary on the Divinity section of speech cultivate book for “Taftazani”.

-Research in Islamic culture, in partnership with others.

- Introduction to the study of ancient logic.

- The concept of movement between Islamic philosophy and Marxist philosophy (research).

- The origins of the theory of science at Ash'ari (research).

- Investigations cause and effect of “ Al mawakef” book: presentation and study.