Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb (Photo:Reuters)
Minister of Religious Endowments Mokhtar Gomaa decided on Monday to transfer the authority over Al-Azhar Mosque to Al-Azhar Institution, the oldest seat of Sunni Islam, reported Al-Ahram's Arabic news website.
The historic mosque, as all other mosques in Egypt, had hitherto operated under the authority of the Ministry of Religious Endowments.
Al-Azhar Mosque will henceforth follow Al-Azhar Institution theologically, administratively and financially.
Gomaa said in a conference for Islamic preachers, held under the auspices of Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb, that the ministry's committee for religious affairs met and took the decision in response to a letter sent by Al-Azhar Institution Deputy Imam Abbas Shuman.
Located in Islamic Cairo, Al-Azhar Mosque was constructed in the 10th century as per the Fatimid Caliphate's commission.
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