Al‐Azhar and the Salafis in Egypt: Contestation of two traditions.

Salafi I "ulama" i in Egypt dedicate sermons, lectures, religious rulings and publications to undermining Al-Azhar's religious credibility and commitment to what the Salafis consider to be "authentic" Islam. Al-Azhar's religious authority extends beyond Egypt to many parts of the Sunni world. This article finds that the Salafi-Azhari contestation revolves around three overlapping issues: Salafi disdain for Sufism, the I Ahl al- adith i -Ash'ari creedal divide, and socio-political contestation in modern Egypt. The perceived rise of Salafi popularity through Salafi satellite channels in the early 2000s, and the relentless criticism by Salafi clerics of the Azharis, contributed to an intense anti-Salafi counter-attack from al-Azhar. [Extracted from the article]