This report offers a first-of-its kind insight into the curriculum taught at the influential Al-Azhar religious seminary in Egypt. The institute operates a separate K-12 school system that publishes its own textbooks and teaches them alongside those of the Egyptian national curriculum, which IMPACT-se researched in April. The study evaluated 63 textbooks across grades 7–12, spanning many genres of classical Islamic literature: Qur’an commentary, hadith, jurisprudence, Islamic history and culture, grammar, and rhetoric. Our findings reveal a strong emphasis on combating radical Islam, while still promoting adherence to traditional Islamic beliefs and texts. The report promotes a moderate form of Islam which rejects extremism, and demonizes Islamist terror groups. The attitude toward Jews is largely ambivalent, whereas Christians are portrayed in a positive light. Lessons on gender equality reveal conservative views. When addressed, international issues reflect an anti-Western perspective. Israel and Zionism are approached from a hostile standpoint. The report focuses on seven thematic categories: combating radical Islam; fighting disbelief; gender issues; treatment of Jews and Christians; Zionism and Israel; Islamic sects; and international relations.
