Mosque Al-Azhar

The mosque Al-Azhar , founded in 970, is one of oldest the Mosquée S of the Cairo and the seat of the Université Al-Azhar, the second older university still active in the world.

History

As of its arrival in Egypt, Jawhar Al-Siqilli, the general who had just conquered the country in 969, for the fourth Caliph Fatimide Al-Muizz Li-DIN Allah, started the construction of a new capital, Al-Mansûriyyah , in the north of Al-Fustât , the old floret of the Abbasid empire. When Al-Muizz went to the site to visit its new conquest, it decided that the capital would be called rather Al-Qâhirah (i.e. victorious the , current Cairo) than Al-Mansûriyyah.

When Jawhar Al-Siqilli, posed the first stone of the new capital, it had envisaged the construction of large a Mosquée where the prayer under the reign of its Master Al-Muizz would be celebrated. This mosque was initially called Jâmic Al-Qâhirah (the Mosque of Cairo). The mosque of origin included/understood a court surrounded by three sides. It had only one minaret and occupied half of the space which it occupies today. It was named “ Al-Azhar thereafter” to pay homage to Fatima Zahra, the girl of the prophet Mohammad. She is located at the south of the Khan el Khalili, in Islamic Cairo.

Its construction began 14 Ramadan 359 of the Hégire (July 21st 970). She lasted two years. The first prayer took place there the June 22nd 972. After its construction, Al-Azhar was directly financed by the caliphs fatimides, and became the official mosque for the prayer of Friday. The inhabitants of the cities near Cairo, like Misr or Al-Qatai' moved every Friday towards Al-Azhar to listen to the sermon ( Al-Khutbah ), given by the Caliph Fatimide, and to achieve the prayer in congregation. In addition, of the easy Egyptians took part in his financing by bequeathing a share of their fortune or private properties to him.

In 988, it became also a university where were taught various sciences and the religion. Education with Al-Azhar included jurisprudence Chiite - ismaélite, Arab grammar, the literature and the history. It then becomes the center of diffusion of the da' wa (propaganda) Shiite fatimide.

At the end of the dynasty of Fatimides (Life century of Hégire - 12th century), the covered part of the mosque was widened. A corridor was added on each side of the interior court, whose arcades rest on marble columns.

Description of mosque Al-Azhar

Al-Azhar has today trentre Minaret S. the first date completion of the 15th century, during the reign of Ka `it Bay, Sultan of Egypt and Syria of 1468 with 1496, which also added to the building a mihrâb. The second was built at the beginning of the 16th century, during that of the last but one sultan Mamelouk Kansaouh Al-Ghaouri (1501 - 1516).

The entry which one can see nowadays date of the Othoman period (1753).

The Al-Azhar Imam

The Imam of Egyptian mosque Al-Azhar - currently the Sheik Mohammed Tantaoui - is regarded as more the high ranking authority of the Islam sunnite in Egypt. Regarded as a spokesperson of the government, of which he is civil servant, its positions always do not achieve the unanimity within Al-Azhar.

Random links: