Sheikh Ali Gomaa was appointed Grand Mufti of Egypt in 2003. Before his appointment as Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Ali was Professor of Juristic Methodologies at al-Azhar University. Since taking on the position he has revolutionized the process of issuing fatwas in Egypt. This has transformed Dar al-Ifta from an institution that was the extension of one individual (the Grand Mufti) to a modern institution with a fatwa council and a system of checks and balances. Sheikh Ali has been an advocate working to show the relevance of Islam for people living in the 21st century.