Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has issued a presidential decree appointing Dr. Nazir Mohamed Ayad, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy, as the new Grand Mufti of Egypt. Dr. Ayad will serve a four-year term, succeeding Dr. Shawki Allam. According to an official statement from Al-Azhar on Sunday evening, the appointment was made upon the recommendation of Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.