A source from Al-Azhar's Senior Scholars Authority said that the next mufti who will succeed the current Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, whose term will end in March, will not be affiliated with any political trend or party.
The source added that the Senior Scholars Authority will meet in a few days to review the documents of 16 candidates being considered for the post.
On Monday, London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Abdel Rahman al-Bar, Muslim Brotherhood Guidance Bureau member, is one of the candidates nominated by Al-Azhar's Senior Scholars Authority to replace Gomaa, 61, who is expected to retire.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that Bar, a professor at Al-Azhar University who is also nicknamed "the Muslim Brotherhood Mufti," is among the three top names that will be suggested by the authority for President Mohamed Morsy to choose from.
Other candidates being considered for the same post are Saad Eddin al-Helaly and Mohamed al-Gebali, both professors at Al-Azhar University.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
