Al-Tayeb Ahmed

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, also known as Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, is a respectable prestigious Sunni Islam title and a prominent official title in Egypt, and is considered by some Muslims to be the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought and Islamic jurisprudence and holds a great influence on followers of the theological Ash'ari and Maturidi traditions world wide. 

The grand imam supervises on al-Azhar Mosque and by extension Al-Azhar University and is responsible for the official religious matter aside with the grand mufti of Egypt. The current Grand Imam of Al-Azhar is Mohamed Ahmed el-Tayeb. The title of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar was officially established in 1961, but since the 14th century the head of Al-Azhar, Al-Azhar University, the holder of that position was granted the title of Mushrif of Al-Azhar then later a Nazir of Al-Azhar and in Ottoman Empire the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar. Today the holder of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar title, also carries the title of the Grand Sheikh.