There are about 300 mosques in Islamic Cairo, but none can compare to the Al-Azhar mosque in terms of how important it has been in the history of Islam.
The Fatimids built the mosque in 970 AD as a place to worship and study. Over the years, it has become one of the most critical places for Islamic theology and knowledge.
More than a thousand years after it was built, the Al-Azhar Mosque and its university, which gives it its name, still draw students from all over the world who want to learn about the history of Islam and the different ways that the Koran is interpreted.
Since it started, the University of Al-Azhar has been a place with many different ideas. The Fatimid Shiite dynasty of the Ismailis began to do it, and when the Sunni dynasties took over Egypt, it became the seat of the Sunni University.
Although tensions between the different theological currents, Sunni and Shiite people have always been able to work, teach, and debate together at the University of Al-Azhar.
Today, it is seen as a highly respected institution worldwide because of its ability to keep things in check and its power in Islamic theology.
After more than a thousand years of political instability, the mosque has been fixed up and made bigger more than once.
The different architectural styles of its five minarets show that various dynasties ran Al-Azhar. The oldest part of the complex is the central white marble patio, which dates back to when it was first built. There are also two madrassas (religious schools) and a large area for prayer.
Before Al-Azhar University grew and moved to a second campus in the north of the city, students used to meet with teachers on the central patio, where Arabic language and Koranic interpretation classes are still held today.
The patio shows the three minarets built between 1340 and 1510 (from right to left). The twin-spired minaret was built in 1510 by Sultan Al-Ghuri, who also made the “Wekalet El Ghouri” (the caravanserai) and the “Al Ghouriyya” complex.
The components of the Al-Azhar Mosque
Al-Azhar Mosque is known as a harmonious blend of architectural styles as it has been rebuilt, enlarged, and remodeled for over 1000 years.
Various changes and additions have been made to the mosque throughout its history. It has five majestic minarets (three of which were built in 1340, 1469, and 1510), a large prayer hall, and religious and non-religious schools.
It is famous for its breathtakingly beautiful marble courtyard. The mosque was the center of French opposition to French forces in the late half of the 18th century. Because Al-Azhar Mosque is more than a house of worship or education, it symbolizes enlightenment and righteousness.
