Sheikh Abdullah al-Sharqawi (Arabic: عبد الله الشرقاوي) (1737 – 1812) was an Egyptian writer and scholar of the Khalwati sufi order.
During Napoleon's exile at St. Helena, and when writing his diaries, he states that the Azhar University is as Equal if not more, than the Sorbonne in Paris.
Napoleon looked highly upon Al-Azhar Ulama as the elite of the educated class and as the leaders of the people.
When he first set foot in Cairo he formed a special council (diwan) to govern the capital.
The formation of this council stands as an evidences of the importance of Al-Azhar and the high status of its Imams.