Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi

Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi occupied the two most senior positions in Sunni Islam, a distinction few scholars ever achieve. As Grand Mufti of Egypt, he shaped national religious policy for a decade. As Grand Imam of al-Azhar, he led the world's oldest and most prestigious Islamic university, guiding the institution through a period of global change. His endorsement of the Amman Message helped define a mainstream consensus against extremism, and his participation in interfaith dialogue, including the inaugural MUIS Lecture in Singapore, extended his influence beyond the Muslim world.