The Azhar's Senior Scholars Authority, headed by the Grand Shaykh Ahmed al-Tayyīb, is set on Monday, February 11, 2013 to nominate the three candidates for the position of the country's muftī. The new muftī will succeed the outgoing muftī, ‘Alī Jum'ah, who is set to retire at the age of 61 in March this year.

Out of seventeen nominees to date, the authority will choose three finalists candidates for the position and then hold a secret ballot to choose one name. The chosen name will be presented by the Azhar Grand Shaykh to the president to issue a decree to appoint him.

On the other hand, informed sources had disclosed that a number of Islamic scholars have recommended the renewal of ‘Alī Jum'ah. The sixty-one year old Shaykh had his term renewed last year in February (Lū'ay ‘Alī, al-Yāwm al-Sābi', Feb. 3, p. 3). Read original text in Arabic.