List of Grand Imams of al-Azhar
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.
List
| № | Portrait | Grand Imam | Began | End | Madhhab | Notes |
| 1 | Muhammad al-Kharashi | 1679 | 1690 | Maliki | al-Kharashi was born in Abu Kharash, Beheira Governorate | |
| 2 | Ibrahim al-Barmawi | 1690 | 1695 | Shafii | al-Barmawi was born in Barma, Gharbia Governorate | |
| 3 | Muhammad al-Nasharti | 1695 | 1709 | Maliki | al-Nasharti was born in Nashart, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate | |
| 4 | Abd al-Baqi al-Qalini | 1709 | 1709 | Maliki | al-Qalini was born in Qallin, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate | |
| 5 | Muhammad Shanan | 1709 | 1720 | Maliki | Shanan was born in Al Gadeyah, Beheira Governorate | |
| 6 | Ibrahim al-Fayyumi | 1720 | 1724 | Maliki | al-Fayyumi was born in Faiyum, Faiyum Governorate | |
| 7 | Abdullah al-Shubrawi | 1724 | 1758 | Shafii | al-Shubrawi was born in Cairo, Cairo Governorate | |
| 8 | Muhammad al-Hiffnawi | 1758 | 1767 | Shafii | al-Hiffnawi was born in Hiffna, Sharqia Governorate | |
| 9 | Abd al-Rauf al-Sajini | 1767 | 1769 | Shafii | al-Sajini was born in Sagin Al Kom, Gharbia Governorate | |
| 10 | Ahmed al-Damanhuri | 1769 | 1778 | Shafii | al-Damanhuri was born in Damanhur, Beheira Governorate | |
| 11 | Ahmed al-Arusi | 1778 | 1793 | Shafii | Ahmed al-Arusi 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 | 1793 | 1812 | Shafii | al-Sharqawi was born in At Tawilah, Sharqia Governorate | |
| 13 | Muhammed al-Shanawani | 1812 | 1818 | Shafii | al-Shanawani was born in Shanawan, Monufia Governorate | |
| 14 | Muhammed al-Arusi | 1818 | 1829 | Shafii | Muhammed al-Arusi was the son of #11 Ahmed al-Arusi, father of #20 Mustafa al-Arusi. | |
| 15 | Ahmed al-Damhuji | 1829 | 1830 | Shafii | al-Damhuji was born in Damhuj, Monufia Governorate | |
| 16 | Hasan al-Attar | 1830 | 1834 | Shafii | al-Attar was born in Cairo, Cairo Governorate. He was of Moroccan origin. | |
| 17 | Hasan al-Quwaysini | 1834 | 1838 | Shafii | al-Quwaysini was born in Quesna, Monufia Governorate | |
| 18 | Ahmed al-Sa'im al-Safti | 1838 | 1847 | Shafii | al-Safti was born in Saft El Arfa, Beni Suef Governorate | |
| 19 | Ibrahim al-Bajuri | 1847 | 1864 | Shafii | al-Bajuri was born in El Bagour, Monufia Governorate | |
| 20 | Mustafa al-Arusi | 1864 | 1870 | Shafii | Mustafa al-Arusi was the son of #14 Muhammed al-Arusi, grandson of #11 Ahmed al-Arusi. | |
| 21 | Muhammad al-Mahdi | 1870 | 1881 | Hanafi | al-Mahdi was born in Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate | |
| 22 | Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Imbabi | 1881 | 1882 | Shafii | al-Imbabi was born in Cairo, originally from Imbaba, Giza Governorate | |
| 23 | Muhammad al-Mahdi | 1882 | 1886 | Hanafi | ||
| 24 | Shams al-Din Muhammad al-Imbabi | 1886 | 1895 | Shafii | ||
| 25 | Hassunah al-Nawawi | 1895 | 1899 | Hanafi | al-Nawawi was born in Nawai, Asyut Governorate | |
| 26 | Abd al-Rahman al-Qutb al-Nawawi | 1899 | 1899 | Hanafi | al-Nawawi was born in Nawai, Asyut Governorate | |
| 27 | Salim al-Bishri | 1899 | 1903 | Maliki | al-Bishri was born in Mahallat Bishr, Beheira Governorate | |
| 28 | Ali al-Biblawi | 1903 | 1905 | Maliki | al-Biblawi was born in Biblaw, Asyut Governorate | |
| 29 | Abd al-Rahman al-Shirbini | 1905 | 1907 | Shafii | al-Shirbini was probably born in Sherbin, Dakahlia Governorate | |
| 30 | Hassanuh al-Nawawi | 1907 | 1909 | Hanafi | ||
| 31 | Salim al-Bishri | 1909 | 1917 | Maliki | ||
| 32 | Muhammad al-Jizawi | 1917 | 1927 | Maliki | al-Jizawi was born in El-Warraq, Giza Governorate | |
| 33 | Mustafa Al-Maraghi | 1927 | 1929 | Hanafi | al-Maraghi was born in El Maragha, Sohag Governorate | |
| 34 | Muhammad al-Zawahiri | 1929 | 1935 | Shafii | al-Zawahiri was born in Kafr Ash Sheikh Dhawahri, Sharqia Governorate. He was of Arab origin. | |
| 35 | Mustafa Al-Maraghi | 1935 | 1945 | Hanafi | ||
| 36 | Mustafa Abd al-Rizq | 1945 | 1947 | Hanafi | Abd al-Rizq was born in Abu Jirj, Minya Governorate | |
| 37 | Muhammad Ma'mun al-Shinnawi | 1948 | 1950 | Hanafi | al-Shinnawi was born in El Zarqa, Damietta Governorate | |
| 38 | Abd al-Majid Salim | 1950 | 1951 | Hanafi | Salim was born in Meet Shahala, Monufia Governorate | |
| 39 | Ibrahim Hamrush | 1951 | 1952 | Hanafi | Hamrush was born in Al Khawaled, Beheira Governorate | |
| 40 | Abd al-Majid Sulaym | 1952 | 1952 | Hanafi | ||
| 41 | Muhammad al-Khadi Husayn | 1952 | 1954 | Maliki | Husayn was born in Nefta, Tozeur Governorate, Tunisia. He was of Algerian origin. | |
| 42 | Abd al-Rahman Taj | 1954 | 1958 | Hanafi | Taj was born in Asyut, Asyut Governorate | |
| 43 | Mahmud Shaltut | 1958 | 1963 | Hanafi | Shaltut was born in Minyat Bani Mansur, Beheira Governorate | |
| 44 | Hassan Mamoun | 1963 | 1969 | Mamoun was born in Cairo, Cairo Governorate | ||
| 45 | Muhammad al-Fahham | 1969 | 1973 | al-Fahham was born in Alexandria Governorate | ||
| 46 | Abdel Halim Mahmoud | 1973 | 1978 | Maliki | Mahmoud was born in Al Salam, Sharqia Governorate | |
| 47 | Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Bisar | 1979 | 1982 | Bisar was born in As Salmiyyah, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate | ||
| 48 | Gad al-Haq | 1982 | 1996 | al-Haq was born in Batra, Dakahlia Governorate | ||
| 49 | Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy | 1996 | 2010 | Shafii | Tantawy was born in Selim ash-Sharqiyah, Tima municipality, Sohag Governorate | |
| 50 | Ahmed El-Tayeb | 2010 | present | Maliki | El-Tayeb was born in Kurna, Luxor Governorate |