Reviewed by: Mohamad Jamal Ali
This book is a serious study on scholars of al-Azhar and their social and political practices between 1961 and 1992. It deals with the influence of the law on Re-organising al-Azhar, which was passed in 1961. The law included the addition of knowledge and modern sciences to al-Azhar University in addition to the managerial organization of the institution. The study handles the effect of this law on the formation of Azhari characters and the formation of the institution, its changes and the nature of its position in the Egyptian State.
The findings presented by the researcher are of great importance, which may contribute to the maturity of debates that break out in Egypt every now and then regarding the reorganization of al-Azhar and Azhari education. Such debates put an accusing finger at Azhari education for the spread of extremist concepts. The study expands on analyzing the development of Azhari graduates since the reformations of 1961, which introduced modern sciences to Azhari education and weakened the level of sharia education. The survey deals with the role of this development in the formation of Azhari intellect. The book presents an analysis of the authority of Azhari institution in the intellectual and censorial fields pari passu the activities of its scholars in the public field. On the whole, the book presents a great contribution worthy of consideration and attention of those interested in religious affairs and institutions in Egypt and the Islamic World.
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