Al Azhar mosque, beacon of Islamic teachings in modern and ancient times was originally built by the Fatimids in 972 AD., since then it has seen numerous renovations and additions at the hands of successive rulers. It was founded shortly after the founding of Cairo itself. Jawhar the Sicilian began its construction in 970 AD. It is 150 m in length and took three years to complete. The first khutba was delivered from its minbar in 972.
From 988-989, a madrasa or school of theology was established known later as Al-Azhar University.
The madrasa has been linked to the mosque. The university is located at the mosque’s northeast corner and can be accessed from within the mosque. The mosque and university are named in honor of Fatima al-Zahra, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad. The word Al-Azhar is an epithet meaning the flourishing or the blossoming.
The Mosque of al-Azhar was built to be the congregational mosque of Fatimid Cairo, specifically designated for the Shi'a congregation – the movement aligned to the Fatimid state – avoiding a clash with those people in Egypt who were Sunni.
Al Azhar Mosque
