An important relationship exists between Egypt’s political
parties (and especially the Muslim Brotherhood) and the na-
tion’s most important religious institution, al-Azhar University.
The university is one of the world’s oldest, having been founded
in a.d. 971 by the Fatimids. It is the most prestigious school in
the Muslim world and can be compared to Oxford or Harvard
in the Western world. Among the institution’s key objectives
is the promotion of Islamic teachings in the Arabic language.
Islamic scholars, or ulemas, manage the curriculum and are
responsible for the appropriate Islamic instructions. The role of
the ulemas is prescribed in the Qur’an (the holy book of Islam)
and calls for authorized Islamic leaders to deliver the words of
the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an. Another core objec-
tive of the Muslim Brotherhood is the spread of da’wa as an
important path toward Islamization and protection of the faith
in the changing Egyptian society. This, too, is a responsibility
vigorously promoted by al-Azhar University.