 Al @-@ Azhar , now fully integrated as an arm of the government , was then used to justify actions of the government . Although the ulema had in the past issued rulings that socialism is irreconcilable with Islam , following the Revolution 's land reforms new rulings were supplied giving Nasser a religious justification for what he termed an " Islamic " socialism . The ulema would also serve as a counterweight to the Muslim Brotherhood , and to Saudi Arabia 's Wahhabi influence . An assassination attempt on Nasser was blamed on the Brotherhood , and the organization was outlawed . Nasser , needing support from the ulema as he initiated mass arrests of Brotherhood members , relaxed some of the restrictions placed on al @-@ Azhar . The ulema of al @-@ Azhar in turn consistently supported him in his attempts to dismantle the Brotherhood , and continued to do so in subsequent regimes . Despite the efforts of Nasser and al @-@ Azhar to discredit the Brotherhood , the organization continued to function . Al @-@ Azhar also provided legitimacy for war with Israel in 1967 , declaring the conflict against Israel a " holy struggle . " 
