<P> In January 2013 when the Muslim Brotherhood was in power, Christian nonprofit organization Open Doors ranked Egypt as the 25th most difficult place to be a Christian, on their annual World Watch List . </P> <P> There are also a number of Egyptians who identify themselves as atheist and agnostic, but their numbers are largely unknown, as openly expressing such positions risks legal sanction on the basis of apostasy . In 2000, an openly atheist Egyptian writer, who called for the establishment of a local association for atheists, was tried on charges of insulting Islam in four of his books . </P> <P> Islam has been the state religion in Egypt since the amendment of the second article of the Egyptian constitution in the year 1980, before which Egypt was recognized as a secular country . The vast majority of Egyptian Muslims are Sunni, with a small Mu'tazila, Shia Twelvers and Ismailism communities making up the remainder . A significant number of Sunni Egyptians also follow native Sufi orders . Egypt hosts the most important Sunni institution in the world, Al - Azhar University . It is the oldest Islamic institution of higher studies (founded around 970 C.E.), and is considered by many to be the oldest extant university in the world . </P> <P> The Shia Ismaili caliphate of the Fatimids made Egypt their center, and made Cairo their capital . Egypt's various social groups and classes apply Islam differently in their daily lives . The literate theologians of Al - Azhar generally reject the popular version of Islam practised by religious preachers and peasants in the countryside, which is heavily Sufi - influenced . Sufism has flourished in Egypt since Islam was first adopted . Most upper - and middle - class Muslims believed either that religious expression is a private matter for each individual or that Islam should play a more dominant role in public life . Islamic religious revival movements, whose appeal cuts across class lines, have been present in most cities and in many villages for a long time . </P>

What is the leading religion in egypt today