Al-Azhar University and Its Role in Egypt's Social-Political Changes

Throughout its history, Al-Azhar University has undergone some changes. Before and after the recession in Ottoman era, with the rise of Mohammad Ali Pasha, this university entered a new phase. In this period, Al-Azhar became completely dependent on the government financially. Seyyed Jamal took important steps toward reforming this scientific center that were followed by Abdeh. Each of the mentioned reform projects had certain social-political consequences in Egypt society. Employing descriptive-analytical as well as historical sociology approach, this paper investigated the nature of Al-Azhar reform projects and their roles in social and political transformations in Egypt. It seems that due to the nature of sciences prevailing from Ayyubian era at Al-Azhar,content reforms of Seyyed Jamal and Abdeh were not continued and did not work well. Instead, the structural reforms of Mohammad Ali Pasha were effective at Al-Azhar and minimized the role of this university in the social and political changes of Egypt.