Insyirah: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa Arab dan Studi Islam
Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): December 2025

State Intervention Behind The Election of The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar: A Critical Discourse Analysis of The Film Boy from Heaven

Ismail Fahmi (Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University)
Muhammad Faisol (Maulana Malik Ibrahim State Islamic University)



Article Info

Publish Date
18 Dec 2025

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the forms of Egyptian state intervention in the religious institution of Al-Azhar, as represented in the film Boy from Heaven. The film portrays the state intelligence apparatus's involvement in the process of electing the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar as part of a political project aimed at controlling religious legitimacy. This study uses Norman Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis approach, which includes three dimensions: text, discursive practice, and socio-cultural practice. The results of the study found eight forms of intervention, including the production of dominant narratives, recruitment of informants, coalitions with extremist groups, intimidation, threats, legitimating narratives through murder, periodic monitoring, delegitimation politics, and arrests of candidates. These representations show the state's authoritarianism to obtain political interests and how language and narrative are used as tools of hegemony. These findings reflect the dynamics of political-religious relations in Egypt and expand the application of the critical discourse approach in studying language through fictional media.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

insyirah

Publisher

Subject

Religion Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Insyirah: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa Arab dan Studi Islam (Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies) is a refereed journal published by Universitas Ahmad Dahlan. It is a semi-annual journal published in June and December. The main objective of the publication is to create a platform to publish original ...