Religion in Egypt

According to the constitution, any new legislation must implicitly agree with Islamic laws. Egypt is predominantly Muslim, covering about 94% of the population, most belong to the Sunni branch of Islam.

Christians represent about 6% of the population, primarily the Coptic denomination, though other Christian groups are present, including standard Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Orthodox, in Alexandria and Cairo, whose adherents are mainly descendants of Italian, Greek, and Armenian immigrants. There are also some few, small Jewish communities that are numbered as few as 300 Egyptians.

There are also many who consider themselves as atheists, agnostics, and skeptics, although their numbers can not be identified. The mainstream Hanafi school of Sunni Islam is largely organised by the state, through Wizaret Al-Awkaf (Ministry of Religious Affairs). Al-Awkaf controls all mosques and Muslim clerics. Imams are trained in Imam vocational schools and at Al-Azhar University. The department supports Sunni Islam and has commissions authorised to give Fatwa judgements on Islamic issues.

Egypt also hosts two major religious institutions. Al-Azhar University is the oldest Islamic institution for higher studies (founded around 970 CE), with its corresponding mosque Al-Azhar. Egypt also has a strong Christian heritage as it is the home of the Coptic Orthodox Church headed by the Patriarch of Alexandria, which has a following of approximately 50 million Christians worldwide.

Status of Religion in Egypt

According to the constitution, Islam is the official religion of Egypt. The egyptian people have a large sense of piety and are devout followers of their adhered religions. Egypt is predominantly Muslim, covering about 90% of the population, while Christians represent about 10% (official figures put it as low as 3%) of the population. Of the Ancient Egyptian religion no adherents still exists. A clear majority of the Muslim population is Sunni.

The Christians are mainly Copts, of which is divided into two groups, where one as tied close organization relations to the Roman Catholic Church. There are other small Christian groups, standard Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Orthodox, in Alexandria and Cairo, whose adherents are mainly descendants of Italian, Greek, and Armenian immigrants. There are also some few, small Jewish communities. Worship of the original Egyptian gods has all but disappeared.