 Following the French withdrawal , Ali , the wāli ( governor ) and self @-@ declared khedive ( viceroy ) of Egypt , sought to consolidate his newfound control of the country . To achieve this goal he took a number of steps to limit , and eventually eliminate , the ability of the al @-@ Azhar ulema to influence the government . He imposed taxes on <unk> lands ( tax @-@ free property owned by mosques ) and madrasas , from which al @-@ Azhar drew a major portion of its income . In June 1809 , he ordered that the deeds to all <unk> lands be forfeited to the state in a move that provoked outrage among the ulema . As a result , Umar Makram , the <unk> al @-@ <unk> , a prestigious Islamic post , led a revolt in July 1809 . The revolt failed and Makram , an influential ally of the ulema , was exiled to Damietta . 
