Al-Azhar, the highest religious institution in the Sunni Muslim world, denounced remarks on Egypt's current situation by Iran's top cleric, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei called for the establishment of Islamic rule–the system Iran has–in Egypt during his Friday prayer sermon on 4 February.
Since 25 January Egyptian citizens have staged wide-scale protests calling for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
Al-Azhar, in a statement issued on Sunday night, said it strongly condemns "Iran's policies that rely on top clerics issuing calls at odds with the principles of Islam, and which blatantly violate the Quran and the Prophet's traditions.
"Al-Azhar is very concerned about statements and religious edicts from the region and the world that deal with Egypt's domestic affairs," the statement said.
"Al-Azhar totally rejects foreign intervention in domestic affairs, and the utilitzation of the legitimate demands of the loyal young people of Egypt."
Al-Azhar also warned against playing on people's sentiments through religious decrees, which it said sows sedition.
