1. Introduction
Egypt, this ancient and mysterious land, carries a brilliant civilization history and has left a significant mark in the development process of the Islamic world. It has a unique strategic position, rich historical and cultural heritage, and profound religious heritage. However, in today’s era, Egypt is difficult to become a leader in the Islamic world. As an expert in Middle Eastern Islamic studies, in-depth analysis of the reasons behind it is of great significance for a comprehensive understanding of Egypt’s development status and the pattern of the Islamic world.
2、 The interweaving of historical baggage and current difficulties
（1） The glory and heavy burden of history Egypt once shone brightly on the stage of Islamic history. During the Middle Ages, Egypt under the rule of the Fatimid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk dynasties had strong political and military influence and was one of the political centers of the Islamic world. As an important institution of Islamic scholarship, Al Azhar University has made indelible contributions to the dissemination and development of Islamic culture, cultivating a large number of Islamic scholars and giving Egypt a high status in the field of religious culture. However, the glorious history has also brought heavy burdens. The glory of history has made it difficult for Egypt to break free from the constraints of tradition in its development process. When facing changes in modern society, it often falls into nostalgia for the past and confusion about reality. （2） The tortuous development of modern times has led to Egypt suffering from colonial aggression by Western powers, serious infringement of national sovereignty, and significant limitations on economic development. Although Egypt has made certain achievements in the process of striving for national independence, the long-standing historical legacy issues have posed many challenges in politics, economy, society, and other aspects. These historical factors and current issues are intertwined, making it difficult for Egypt to quickly adapt to the development needs of modern society and setting numerous obstacles for it to become a leader in the Islamic world.
3、 The turbulent domestic political situation
（1） The frequent and unstable political changes have plunged Egypt’s political situation into sustained turmoil since the outbreak of the Arab Spring in 2011. After the overthrow of the Mubarak regime, Egypt experienced a brief period of democratic experimentation, but then faced military intervention and frequent regime changes after Morsi came to power. This political instability leads to a lack of continuity and stability in national policies, seriously affecting the normal development of the country. The government’s difficulty in formulating and implementing long-term development strategies has led to unclear national development directions, chaotic social order, and a decrease in public trust in the government. （2） The intensification of social contradictions and the threat of terrorism have intensified political turmoil. High unemployment rates and economic difficulties have led to a decline in people’s living standards, widening wealth gaps, and ongoing conflicts of interest between different social classes and groups. At the same time, terrorist activities are frequent, and extremist organizations have launched a series of attacks within Egypt, posing a serious threat to social security. Terrorist attacks not only cause a large number of casualties and property losses, but also disrupt social security and order, affect the country’s image and investment environment, and further hinder the country’s economic development and social progress.
4、 The fragility of economic structure and the dilemma of development
（1） The economic structure of Egypt is relatively single, overly reliant on a few industries such as oil, tourism, remittances, and the Suez Canal. The oil industry is greatly affected by fluctuations in international oil prices, and when international oil prices fall, Egypt’s oil revenue will significantly decrease. The tourism industry has also been severely impacted by safety issues, political turmoil, and other factors, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of tourists. Although remittance income has alleviated Egypt’s economic pressure to some extent, it is uncertain. The revenue of the Suez Canal is also influenced by the global trade situation and shipping market. This single economic structure weakens Egypt’s ability to resist risks and makes it difficult to achieve sustainable economic development. （2） In addition to the single economic structure, Egypt’s economic development also faces many bottlenecks and challenges. The industrialization process is slow, the development of manufacturing is lagging behind, the technological level is low, and there is a lack of competitiveness. Although agriculture to some extent supports the country’s economy, its production efficiency is low and greatly influenced by natural conditions. In addition, the serious problem of inflation and currency depreciation has led to an increase in import costs and rising prices of essential goods, bringing enormous pressure to people’s lives. The debt crisis is becoming increasingly severe, with the government borrowing a large amount of foreign debt and facing heavy debt repayment pressure, which limits the government’s fiscal space and affects the sustainable development of the national economy.
5、 The complex contradiction between religion and society
（1） The conflicts between religious factions in Egypt are diverse, with Muslims and Coptic Christians being the main religious groups. The contradictions between religious factions are quite prominent, with many differences between the two sides on issues such as church construction, cross religious marriage, and religious changes. These contradictions can easily trigger social conflicts and affect the harmony and stability of society. For example, church construction issues often lead to conflicts between Muslims and Coptic Christians, and cross religious marriages are often subjected to immense pressure from families and society, resulting in the intensification of social conflicts. （2） The conflict between secularization and religious conservatism has emerged in Egypt with the modernization process of society. Some people advocate secularization, hoping to separate religion from politics, law, and other fields, emphasizing individual freedom and democratic rule of law; Religious conservative forces, on the other hand, adhere to traditional religious values and oppose the influence of secularization, believing that secularization will weaken the status and influence of religion. This conflict is reflected in multiple fields such as politics, law, and culture, such as women’s rights and education systems. There are significant differences between secularization and conservative religious views, which further exacerbate social division and instability.
6、 The impact of regional and international environment
（1） The intensification of regional competition In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Türkiye and other countries are actively striving for regional influence, forming a complex pattern of regional competition. Saudi Arabia has significant influence in the Islamic world due to its abundant oil resources and status as a religious holy site; Iran, as the stronghold of Shia Muslims, also plays an important role in regional affairs; Türkiye has actively expanded its influence in the Islamic world in political, economic, cultural and other aspects. Egypt is facing enormous pressure under the competition of these countries, making it difficult to play a leading role in regional affairs. （2） The constraints of international factors also have a significant impact on Egypt’s development. Western countries intervene in Egypt’s politics and economy in an attempt to influence its development direction. Meanwhile, external factors such as fluctuations in international oil prices and changes in global trade conditions have also had a significant impact on Egypt’s economy. In addition, the unstable regional security situation, such as the Syrian civil war and the Yemen conflict, also poses a certain threat to Egypt’s security and development.
7、 Shortcomings in leadership and influence
（1） The lack of internal cohesion in Egypt’s domestic political situation, the intensification of social conflicts, and the difficulties in economic development have led to insufficient internal cohesion within the country. The conflicts of interest between different political factions and social groups are difficult to reconcile, and the public’s sense of identity and belonging to the country is reduced, making it difficult to form a strong internal force to promote the development of the country. The lack of internal cohesion makes it difficult for Egypt to play a leadership role in the Islamic world and effectively unite and lead other Islamic countries to develop together. （2） The external influence of Egypt in the Islamic world is also limited to a certain extent. Although Egypt was once a leader in the Arab world in history, its international status and influence are gradually declining in the current situation. Egypt’s voice in regional affairs has weakened, making it difficult to have a significant impact on other Islamic countries. In addition, Egypt also faces some difficulties and challenges in dealing with its relations with other Islamic countries, such as disagreements with countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran on certain issues, which have affected Egypt’s image and influence in the Islamic world.
8、 Conclusion
In summary, Egypt’s inability to become the leader of the Islamic world is the result of multiple factors working together. The interweaving of historical baggage and practical difficulties, the turbulent domestic political situation, the fragility of the economic structure and the dilemma of development, the complex contradictions between religion and society, the influence of regional and international environments, and the lack of leadership and influence all constrain Egypt’s development. In the current international and regional situation, Egypt is facing many challenges and difficulties, making it difficult to shoulder the responsibility of leading the Islamic world. However, Egypt still possesses rich historical and cultural heritage, important geographical location, and certain development potential. If Egypt can actively respond to regional and international challenges while solving domestic problems, strengthen cooperation and exchanges with other Islamic countries, it may still play an important role in the Islamic world in the future. But for now, Egypt’s path to becoming the leader of the Islamic world is still long and difficult.
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