The post of Grand Imam of al-Azhar, or shaykh of al-Azhar, has been filled by a member of the ulema, the religious scholars, of Egypt. The position of Grand Imam is among the most prominent roles in Islam and is often considered to be the highest authority in Islamic jurisprudence. The Grand Imam of al-Azhar is the most prominent official religious role in Egypt. Prior to the establishment of the post under the Ottoman Empire, the holder of that position was named Mushrif then later a Nazir. Between 1860 and 1864 a board of scholars served the role as Grand Imam.
Several of the Grand Imams served multiple terms; each term is listed separately. The original sources give the year based on the Islamic calendar, so the conversion to Gregorian years by later Western sources may not be precise.
| Serving 1st term. | |
| Serving 2nd term. | |
| № | Portrait | Grand Imam | Began | End | Madhhab | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muhammad al-Kharashi (Arabic: محمد الخرشي) | 1679 | 1690 | Maliki | al-Kharashi (1601–1690) was born in Abu Kharash, Beheira Governorate | |
| 2 | Ibrahim al-Barmawi (Arabic: إبراهيم البرماوي) | 1690 | 1695 | al-Barmawi (died 1695) was born in Barma, Gharbia Governorate | ||
| 3 | Muhammad al-Nasharti (Arabic: محمد النشرتي) | 1695 | 1709 | Maliki | al-Nasharti (died 1709) was born in Nashart, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate | |
| 4 | Abd al-Baqi al-Qalini (Arabic: عبد الباقي القليني) | 1709 | 1709 | Maliki | al-Qalini was born in Qallin, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate | |
| 5 | Muhammad Shanan (Arabic: محمد شنن) | 1709 | 1720 | Maliki | Shanan (1656–1720) was born in Al Gadeyah, Beheira Governorate | |
| 6 | Ibrahim al-Fayyumi (Arabic: إبراهيم الفيومي) | 1720 | 1724 | Maliki | al-Fayyumi (1652–1724) was born in Faiyum, Faiyum Governorate | |
| 7 | Abdullah al-Shubrawi (Arabic: عبد الله الشبراوي) | 1724 | 1758 | Shafii | al-Shubrawi (1681–1758) was born in Cairo, Cairo Governorate | |
| 8 | Muhammad al-Hiffnawi (Arabic: محمد بن سالم الحفني) | 1758 | 1767 | Shafii | al-Hiffnawi (1688–1768) was born in Hiffna, Sharqia Governorate | |
| 9 | Abd al-Rauf al-Sajini (Arabic: عبد الرؤوف السجيني) | 1767 | 1769 | Shafii | al-Sajini was born in Sagin Al Kom, Gharbia Governorate | |
| 10 | Ahmed al-Damanhuri (Arabic: أحمد الدمنهوري) | 1769 | 1778 | Shafii | al-Damanhuri was born in Damanhur, Beheira Governorate | |
| 11 | Ahmed al-Arusi (Arabic: أحمد العروسي) | 1778 | 1793 | Shafii | Ahmed al-Arusi (1720–1804) was born in Manyal Arous, Monufia Governorate. He was the father of #14 Muhammed al-Arusi, grandfather of #20 Mustafa al-Arusi. | |
| 12 | Abdullah al-Sharqawi (Arabic: عبد الله الشرقاوي) | 1793 | 1812 | Shafii | al-Sharqawi (1737–1812) was born in At Tawilah, Sharqia Governorate | |
| 13 | Muhammed al-Shanawani (Arabic: محمد الشنواني) | 1812 | 1818 | Shafii | al-Shanawani (died 1818) was born in Shanawan, Monufia Governorate | |
| 14 | Muhammed al-Arusi (Arabic: محمد العروسي) | 1818 | 1829 | Shafii | Muhammed al-Arusi was the son of #11 Ahmed al-Arusi, father of #20 Mustafa al-Arusi. | |
| 15 | Ahmed al-Damhuji (Arabic: أحمد الدمهوجي) | 1829 | 1830 | Shafii | al-Damhuji (1761–1831) was born in Damhuj, Monufia Governorate | |
| 16 | Hasan al-Attar (Arabic: حسن العطار) | 1830 | 1834 | Shafii | al-Attar (1766–1835) was born in Cairo, Cairo Governorate. He was of Moroccan origin. | |
| 17 | Hasan al-Quwaysini (Arabic: حسن القويسني) | 1834 | 1838 | Shafii | al-Quwaysini (died 1838) was born in Quesna, Monufia Governorate | |
| 18 | Ahmed al-Sa'im al-Safti (Arabic: أحمد السفطي) | 1838 | 1847 | Shafii | al-Safti was born in Saft El Arfa, Beni Suef Governorate | |
| 19 | Ibrahim al-Bajuri (Arabic: إبراهيم الباجوري) | 1847 | 1864 | Shafii | al-Bajuri (1784–1864) was born in El Bagour, Monufia Governorate | |
| 20 | Mustafa al-Arusi (Arabic: مصطفى العروسي) | 1864 | 1870 | Shafii | Mustafa al-Arusi (1798–1876) was the son of #14 Muhammed al-Arusi, grandson of #11 Ahmed al-Arusi. | |
| 21 | Muhammad al-Mahdi (Arabic: محمد المهدي العباسي) | 1870 | 1881 | Hanafi | al-Mahdi (1827–1897) was born in Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate | |
| 22 | Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Imbabi (Arabic: شمس الدين الأنبابي) | 1881 | 1882 | Shafii | al-Imbabi (1824–1896) was born in Cairo, originally from Imbaba, Giza Governorate | |
| 23 | Muhammad al-Mahdi (Arabic: محمد المهدي العباسي) | 1882 | 1886 | Hanafi | ||
| 24 | Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Imbabi (Arabic: شمس الدين الأنبابي) | 1886 | 1895 | Shafii | ||
| 25 | Hassunah al-Nawawi (Arabic: حسونة النواوي) | 1895 | 1899 | Hanafi | al-Nawawi (1839–1924) was born in Nawai, Asyut Governorate | |
| 26 | Abd al-Rahman al-Qutb al-Nawawi (Arabic: عبد الرحمن القطب النواوي) | 1899 | 1899 | Hanafi | al-Nawawi (died 1909) was born in Nawai, Asyut Governorate | |
| 27 | Salim al-Bishri (Arabic: سليم البشري) | 1899 | 1903 | Maliki | al-Bishri (1832–1916) was born in Mahallat Bishr, Beheira Governorate | |
| 28 | Ali al-Biblawi (Arabic: علي الببلاوي) | 1903 | 1905 | Maliki | al-Biblawi (1835–1905) was born in Biblaw, Asyut Governorate | |
| 29 | Abd al-Rahman al-Shirbini (Arabic: عبد الرحمن الشربيني) | 1905 | 1907 | Shafii | al-Shirbini (died 1908) was probably born in Sherbin, Dakahlia Governorate | |
| 30 | Hassanuh al-Nawawi (Arabic: حسونة النواوي) | 1907 | 1909 | Hanafi | ||
| 31 | Salim al-Bishri (Arabic: سليم البشري) | 1909 | 1917 | Maliki | ||
| 32 | Muhammad al-Jizawi (Arabic: محمد أبو الفضل الجيزاوي) | 1917 | 1927 | Maliki | al-Jizawi (1874–1927) was born in El-Warraq, Giza Governorate | |
| 33 | Mustafa Al-Maraghi (Arabic: محمد مصطفى المراغي) | 1927 | 1929 | Hanafi | al-Maraghi (1881–1945) was born in El Maragha, Sohag Governorate | |
| 34 | Muhammad al-Zawahiri (Arabic: محمد الأحمدي الظواهري) | 1929 | 1935 | Shafii | al-Zawahiri (1878–1944) was born in Kafr Ash Sheikh Dhawahri, Sharqia Governorate. He was of Arab origin. | |
| 35 | Mustafa Al-Maraghi (Arabic: محمد مصطفى المراغي) | 1935 | 1945 | Hanafi | ||
| 36 | Mustafa Abd al-Rizq (Arabic: مصطفى عبد الرازق) | 1945 | 1947 | Hanafi | Abd al-Rizq (1885–1947) was born in Abu Jirj, Minya Governorate | |
| 37 | Muhammad Ma'mun al-Shinnawi (Arabic: محمد مأمون الشناوي) | 1948 | 1950 | Hanafi | al-Shinnawi (1878–1950) was born in El Zarqa, Damietta Governorate | |
| 38 | Abd al-Majid Salim (Arabic: عبد المجيد سليم) | 1950 | 1951 | Hanafi | Salim (1882–1954) was born in Meet Shahala, Monufia Governorate | |
| 39 | Ibrahim Hamrush (Arabic: إبراهيم حمروش) | 1951 | 1952 | Hanafi | Hamrush (1880–1960) was born in Al Khawaled, Beheira Governorate | |
| 40 | Abd al-Majid Sulaym (Arabic: عبد المجيد سليم) | 1952 | 1952 | Hanafi | ||
| 41 | Muhammad al-Khadi Husayn (Arabic: محمد الخضر حسين) | 1952 | 1954 | Maliki | Husayn (1876–1958) was born in Nefta, Tozeur Governorate, Tunisia. | |
| 42 | Abd al-Rahman Taj (Arabic: عبد الرحمن تاج) | 1954 | 1958 | Hanafi | Taj (1896–1975) was born in Asyut, Asyut Governorate | |
| 43 | Mahmud Shaltut (Arabic: محمود شلتوت) | 1958 | 1963 | Hanafi | Shaltut (1893–1963) was born in Minyat Bani Mansur, Beheira Governorate | |
| 44 | Hassan Mamoun (Arabic: حسن مأمون) | 1963 | 1969 | Mamoun (1894–1973) was born in Cairo, Cairo Governorate | ||
| 45 | Muhammad al-Fahham (Arabic: محمد الفحام) | 1969 | 1973 | al-Fahham (1894–1980) was born in Alexandria Governorate | ||
| 46 | Abdel Halim Mahmoud (Arabic: عبد الحليم محمود) | 1973 | 1978 | Maliki | Mahmoud (1910–1978) was born in Al Salam, Sharqia Governorate | |
| 47 | Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Bisar (Arabic: محمد عبد الرحمن بيصار) | 1979 | 1982 | Bisar (1910–1982) was born in As Salmiyyah, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate | ||
| 48 | Gad al-Haq (Arabic: جاد الحق علي جاد الحق) | 1982 | 1996 | al-Haq (1917–1996) was born in Batra, Dakahlia Governorate | ||
| 49 | Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy (Arabic: محمد سيد طنطاوي) | 1996 | 2010 | Shafii | Tantawy (1928–2010) was born in Selim ash-Sharqiyah, Tima municipality, Sohag Governorate | |
| 50 | Ahmed El-Tayeb (Arabic: أحمد الطيب) | 2010 | present | Maliki | El-Tayeb (born 1946) was born in Kurna, Luxor Governorate | |