State intervention behind the election of The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar: A critical discourse analysis of The Film Boy from Heaven

Fahmi, Ismail and Faisol, M. (2025) State intervention behind the election of The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar: A critical discourse analysis of The Film Boy from Heaven. Insyirah: Jurnal ilmu Bahasa Arab dan Studi Islam, 8 (2). pp. 299-316. ISSN 2338-5367

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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.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	Critical discourse analysis, Film, State intervention.
Subjects:	20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2001 Communication and Media Studies > 200104 Media Studies
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities > Department of Arabic Language and Letters
Depositing User:	Muhamad Faisol Fatawi
Date Deposited:	29 May 2026 15:47

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