A source from the Azhar's Senior Scholars Authority said that the next muftī who will succeed the current muftī of the Republic ‘Alī Jum’ah, whose term will end in March, will not be affiliated with any political trend or party.

The source added that the Senior Scholars Authority will meet in a few days to review the documents of 15 candidates being considered for the post.

The newspaper quoted sources as saying that ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-Bir, a professor at the Azhar University and leader in the Muslim Brotherhood, is among the three top names that will be suggested by the authority for President Muhammad Mursī to choose from. However, it is unlikely that al-Bir will be accepted, as he is not specialized in comparative fiqh or legislative studies being prerequisites for the position of Muftī to Dār al-Iftā’ (Khālid Mūsá, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Feb. 5, p. 2). Read original text in Arabic.