Al-Azhar Mosque

It is the oldest integrated global university, and one of the most important and famous mosques in Egypt and the Islamic world. Its corridors embraced millions of students and teachers of knowledge, until it became the destination of knowledge for all Muslims, a source of moderation, and a towering beacon of Islam. Its age exceeded a thousand years, bearing its scientific, religious, national and civilizational responsibility towards the people and the entire Islamic nation, so it was a symbol of civilization, a major scientific reference, and a sincere preaching platform.

The establishment of Al-Azhar Mosque:

Al-Azhar Mosque was established by Jawhar Al-Siqilli, the commander of the Fatimid Caliph Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah, on 24 Jumada Al-Ula 359 AH / April 4, 970 AD, one year after the founding of the city of Cairo. Its construction took approximately 27 months, as it was opened for prayer on Friday, 7 Ramadan 361 AH, corresponding to June 21, 972 AD. It was soon transformed into a scientific university, and was named Al-Azhar Mosque; Named after Lady Fatima al-Zahra, daughter of the Prophet – may God bless him and grant him peace – and wife of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib – may God be pleased with him – to whom the Fatimids are descended, according to the most reliable accounts.

The development of Al-Azhar Mosque throughout the ages

After the fall of the Fatimid state at the hands of Sultan al-Nasir Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi on the third of Muharram 567 AH / September 11, 1171 AD, he suspended Friday prayers at Al-Azhar Mosque and established several Sunni schools to compete with him in his scientific mission to eliminate the Shiite sect in Egypt. With this step, he was able to restore the Sunni sect to Egypt with vitality and activity, and thus the relationship between Al-Azhar Mosque and the Shiite sect ended.

Al-Azhar Mosque witnessed a major transformation under the Mamluk rule (648 – 923 AH / 1250 – 1517 AD); Friday prayers were restored in 665 AH/1267 AD, and the Mamluk sultans quickly moved to return Al-Azhar to its scientific activity, and to direct this activity in a Sunni direction (according to the four schools of thought). Al-Azhar Mosque in this era took over religious and scientific leadership together, and became the main center for Sunni studies in Egypt and the Islamic world, especially after the fall of Baghdad in the East, and the collapse of Islamic rule in Andalusia and North Africa. The hopes of Muslims were focused on it, so it carried out its scientific and religious mission that fate had bestowed upon it, and it became like the great Islamic university that students of knowledge from every deep valley sought, and it became a destination for scholars of the Islamic world in the East and West of the earth. The sciences that were taught at Al-Azhar University in that era were numerous and varied to include the study of branches of theological, legal, Arabic and rational sciences, in addition to the study of history, the calendar of countries and other sciences. Three schools were also established and attached to Al-Azhar University, namely: (Al-Taybarsiyya, Al-Aqbughawiya, Al-Jawhariya), and lessons were arranged in them, which led to the enrichment of the scientific movement at Al-Azhar University. However, the most important thing that distinguishes Al-Azhar in the Mamluk era is the establishment of residences for foreign and Egyptian students in it, known as the corridors. During the Ottoman rule of Egypt (923-1213 AH/1517-1798 AD), Al-Azhar Mosque maintained its strength and traditions for three centuries, and continued to carry out its mission in the Arabic language in the religious and educational fields. It remained a home for religious studies, a haven for the Arabic language, and a scientific Kaaba to which the leaders of Islamic thought flocked to lead study circles in its courtyards. Its influence on Egyptian life reached such a degree of strength, depth, and prevalence that it preserved the Arab character of Egypt throughout the period of Ottoman rule. Students of knowledge flocked to it from all over the Islamic world to draw from the various types of knowledge taught there. One of the most important features of Al-Azhar in that era was the emergence of the position of Sheikh of Al-Azhar. Al-Azhar Mosque Architecture Throughout the Ages

Al-Azhar Mosque has enjoyed the attention of caliphs, sultans, princes and rulers throughout the ages, from its inception until the present time, in terms of expansion, construction and restoration, especially during the Mamluk era. The most recent of these was the comprehensive restoration work that ended in 1439 AH/2018 AD, which lasted for approximately three years, and its area is approximately 12 thousand square meters.