Facts about Al-Azhar Mosque | History of Al-Azhar Mosque | Al-Azhar Mosque Cairo

Al-Azhar Mosque

If you are a fan of ancient Islamic heritage or interested in wonderful historical places, you should visit Al-Azhar Mosque.

Al-Azhar Mosque is a beacon of knowledge and represents a long history of glory. Al-Azhar Mosque is a historic mosque built in the Fatimid era. This building is located in the middle of an ancient historical area. This area is full of ancient Islamic history and is a must-visit for those exploring Egypt holiday packages.

The area where Al-Azhar Mosque was built includes Khan Al-Khalili, Al-Hussein Mosque, and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. In a short time, you can visit these places located in one area. Al-Azhar Mosque is a very old mosque built in the unique Islamic style. For those interested in Egypt luxury tours, this area offers an exceptional blend of historical and cultural experiences, perfect for an upscale travel itinerary.

In the mosque courtyard, you can smell the scent of the past and Islamic heritage. You can wander through the huge historical rooms decorated with Islamic engravings and decorations.

History of the establishment of Al-Azhar Mosque

Al-Azhar Mosque is a beacon of knowledge and scholars, and it is the most important and oldest mosque in Egypt. If you search for it on the Internet or in history books, you will know that it is one of the most important historical mosques in the world. When planning your visit, consider exploring Egypt short tours packages, which often include a visit to this magnificent mosque, allowing you to experience its rich history and architectural beauty firsthand.

Al-Azhar Mosque is a beacon for spreading Islam, and it is part of the Egyptian Islamic monuments. It was built during the Fatimid era, and was founded by Commander Jawhar al-Siqilli in 969 AD.

This commander was a great Fatimid commander who prepared a large palace for the Fatimid Caliph al-Mu'izz to reside in in Cairo.

The reason for establishing Al-Azhar Mosque was for the Caliph to pray in it, and the idea of ​​establishing Al-Azhar Mosque was to be a unique landmark for Cairo, like the Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun in the city of Al-Qata'i.

The purpose of establishing Al-Azhar Mosque was not only for prayer, but it was an educational center to teach students religious and cultural curricula.

In the beginning, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif spread the Shiite doctrine, after the fall of the Fatimid state and the arrival of Saladin to Egypt, the mosque changed from the Shiite doctrine to the Sunni doctrine.

The construction of Al-Azhar Mosque developed and its features changed from one period to another, but it will remain an archaeological site among the sites built by the Fatimid state.

Al-Azhar Mosque and University
The role of Al-Azhar was not only a religious role, but the circles of knowledge existed for a long time in Al-Azhar Mosque in its spacious courtyard, and scholars held circles of knowledge, memorization of the Holy Quran, jurisprudence, interpretation, Arabic literature, Quranic sciences, and other useful sciences. Visitors to Egypt, often through Egypt Classic Tours, can explore these rich historical and educational traditions that have been preserved in Al-Azhar Mosque for centuries.

After the fall of the Fatimid state and the rise of the Ayyubid state, Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi appeared, who wanted to eliminate the Shiite sect in Egypt and convert it to the Sunni sect.

The Ayyubid religion spread the Sunni sect in Egypt. After the rise of the Mamluk state, Sultan al-Zahir Baybars reopened Al-Azhar Mosque to be a center for knowledge and the dissemination of the teachings of Islam, so Al-Azhar Al-Sharif presented the Sunni sect, and Al-Azhar was transformed into a university in 1961. Today, visitors interested in exploring the rich Islamic history of Egypt can include stops at Al-Azhar Mosque and other historic sites on their Egypt day tours.

Al-Azhar University was the first Arab and Islamic university to study religious knowledge and Al-Azhar is now the beacon of knowledge and scholars.

Al-Azhar Mosque and its wonderful building is the most beautiful site in Egypt.

The reason for calling it Al Azhar
The Fatimid Leader, Jawhar al-Siqli, was the one who founded the city of Cairo and named it Mansouriya. Jawhar al siqli was preparing Mansouriya to be the capital of the Fatimid state.

At this time, Al-Azhar Mosque was called the Mosque of Mansuriyya.  After The caliph coming, he changed the name of Mansouriya in to Cairo so the name of the mosque changed into the mosque of Cairo.

After that the name changed into Al Azhar which means the Enlightening, this was during the period between the rule of the Caliph Al-Muizz and the Aziz Caliph.

It is said that Al-Azhar was named after Mrs. Fatima Al-Zahra, the daughter of the Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, and the wife of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali bin Abi Talib.

Architecture in Al-Azhar Mosque
Al-Azhar Mosque is a mixture of different activities of construction methods. Many of the architecture arts were used for in different ages in history. Al-Azhar was built similar to some buildings outside Egypt. The Fatimids used the construction methods that they used in Africa. For those interested in exploring this magnificent piece of history, an Egypt vacation packages often includes a visit to Al-Azhar Mosque, allowing tourists to experience its rich architectural heritage firsthand.

The Ottomans used their method for the construction. The Mamluk built the domes, during their rule in Egypt, therefore Al-Azhar Mosque is a common product of many architecture styles.

At first, the mosque was a hall that had five corridors and around this hall, there was a yard surrounded by three Arcana. The gates of Al-Azhar Mosque were made in the era of the Fatimid state. Al-Azhar Mosque was 85 meters in length, 169 in width, and there is a courtyard and three corridors that lead to a hall for prayer. For those interested in exploring historic sites and religious landmarks, many Cairo tours packages include visits to Al-Azhar Mosque, allowing tourists to appreciate its architectural beauty and historical significance.

Columns were used in the corridors that lead to the prayer hall. There were three domes in this mosque, but these domes were destroyed in the era of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi .

During the rule of the Ayyubid state, there were no renovations in the Al-Azhar Mosque because Saladin did not trust Al-Azhar at that time because it was Shiite.

when the Mamluks ruled, there were many additions in the mosque, and during the Mamluk era, the angle of the mihrab was corrected.

The minarets of the Al-Azhar Mosque
There is a minaret which is one of the most beautiful heritage artifacts that was built in 1483 in the form of a pillar.

It is said that this minaret replaced another one that was built in bricks during the Fatimid era, and it had a lot of mistakes. There is also a minaret that was built in 1509 by Qansuh al-Ghuri. This minaret is double-headed, with a square base and an upper part in the form of two pillars. Visitors on 11 days Egypt tours can explore these historical structures and learn about their fascinating architectural history.

Al Azhar is still one of the most beautiful sites in Egypt so if you decide to visit Egypt, enjoy visiting this mosque.

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