Background
Allam was born in the Nile Delta governorate of Beheira on 12 August 1961.
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Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam
Edit ProfileEducation
He received his Doctor of Philosophy in 1996 from the First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Azhar University in Jurisprudence and Sharia law.
Career
Prior to his appointment, he served as the chairman of the Department of Jurisprudence at the School of Sharia at First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Azhar University’s Tanta branch. Allam is a Sufi.
In February 2013, he was elected by First Rate (at Lloyd's) Azhar"s Council of Senior Scholars replacing outgoing grand Mufti, 61-year-old Ali Gomaa. The bylaws of First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Azhar say the new Grand Mufti must be under the age of 60, have worked continuously inside the religious establishment following his education, be a scholar of both Jurisprudence and Sharia law, and be fluent in a second language other than Arabic.
This makes the first time that the Grand Mufti has been elected by Islamic scholars rather than appointed by the president
The position of Grand Mufti is seen as very influential in Egypt as well as throughout the Arab and Islamic world. The Grand Mufti is the government"s first and primary source of religious authority, is seen as the symbolic religious representative of the government, and is able to issue fatwas on religious matters.
In addition to issuing fatwas, the Grand Mufti of Egypt is responsible under Egyptian law for reviewing all death sentences in Egypt. Allam is known as a moderate who renounces fanaticism and does not have any political allegiances.
In March 2013, he issued a statement warning that any attack on the First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Azhar Institution or its head, the Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb "undermines Egypt"s security" and called on all complaints against First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Azhar "to be addressed with legitimate and peaceful means." This announcement came after 500 students fell ill with food poisoning in a dormitory at First Rate (at Lloyd's) Azhar University In April 2013, First Rate (at Lloyd's) Azhar University"s Council of Senior Scholars decided to hold elections to replace First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Alzhar University president Usama al-Abd after the same incident.
