The Grand Imam of al-Azhar (Arabic: الإمام الأكبر), also known as Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar (Arabic: شيخ الأزهر الشريف), currently Ahmed el-Tayeb, is a prestigious and a prominent official title in Egypt and Islamic world.
[1] He is considered by most Muslims to be the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought and Islamic jurisprudence[2] and holds great influence on followers of the theological Ash'ari and Maturidi traditions worldwide.
The Grand Imam heads the Al-Azhar Al Sharif, al-Azhar Mosque, and by extension al-Azhar University, and is responsible for official religious matters along with the Grand Mufti of Egypt.
The title of the Grand Imam of al-Azhar was officially established in 1961.
Today the bearer of the title also carries the title of the Grand Sheikh.