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Al Azhar Mosque

Al-Azhar

Al-Azhar

Local Name

Contact

30 02 '42 "North
31 15 '50 "East / 30,045, 31,264

Country

Egypt

City

Cairo

Worship

Islam

Type

mosque

Construction begins

970

Website

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Location

Geolocation on the map: Egypt

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The Al-Azhar, founded in 970 , is one of the oldest mosques of Cairo and the headquarters of the Al-Azhar University , the oldest university in the world still active after Quaraouiyine.

History

Upon his arrival in Egypt , Jawhar bin Abdallah al-Siqilli , General of Sicilian origin who had just conquered the country in 969 , the fourth caliph Fatimid Al-Muizz li-Din Allah , began construction of a new capital, Al-Mansriyyah , north of Al-Fustat , the former flagship of the Abbasid Empire. When Al-Muizz went there to visit his new conquest, he decided that the capital is called Al-Qahirah (that means "the victorious" Current Cairo ) Al-Mansriyyah instead.

When Jawhar al-Siqilli laid the foundation stone of the new capital, he planned to build a large mosque where prayers would be celebrated during the reign of his master al-Muizz. This mosque was originally called Jamaa Al-Qahirah (Cairo Mosque). The original mosque included a courtyard surrounded by three aisles. She had a single minaret and occupied half the space it occupies today. She subsequently was named "Al-Azhar" in honor of Fatima Zahra , the daughter of Muhammad. It is located south of Khan el Khalili in Islamic Cairo.

Its construction began on 4 April 970 and lasted two years. The first prayer was laid on 22 June 972 , then 988 , where she became a university were taught law and theology ( madrasa ). In 1005 , under the Caliphate of Al-Hakim she becomes a " house of learning "(Arabic . Education at Al-Azhar included jurisprudence Shia - Ismaili , Arabic grammar, literature and history. She becomes the center for spreading the da'wa (propaganda) Shiite Fatimid.

At the end of the Fatimid Dynasty ^(sixth century of the Hegira - XII ^century), the covered part of the mosque was enlarged. A corridor was added to each side of the courtyard, whose arches rest on marble columns.

In 1303 , several buildings were completely rebuilt following the destruction caused by an earthquake .

Following the occupation of Egypt by French troops, 22 October 1798, while Bonaparte in Old Cairo, an uprising was provoked: the population of the capital spread of weapons in the streets, is strengthened in various points, mainly in the Grand Mosque Al-Azhar. Excited by the sheikhs and imams, the Egyptians swear by their Prophet to kill all the French. Everyone they meet, either in their homes or in the streets, were ruthlessly slaughtered. Bonaparte is not fazed by the storm which threatens from all sides. He pursued the rebels himself from street to street, forcing them to concentrate in the great mosque. He ordered his cannons blast the mosque. The French broke the doors and, driven by fury and vengeance, they slaughter the Egyptians. Some sheikhs, many Turks or Egyptians, convicted of being involved in the conspiracy, were executed.

On ¹ June 1801 , Al-Azhar closes on Egypt occupied by the French, and exactly one year and one day later, on 2 June 1802 , will reopen for service on Friday, in the presence of the Ottoman Grand Vizier.

Description of the Al-Azhar

Al-Azhar has today three minarets. The first dates from the late ^fifteenth century during the reign of Qaitbay , Sultan of Egypt and Syria from 1468 to 1496 , which also added to the building a mihrab. The second was built in the early ^sixteenth century, while that of the penultimate Sultan Mamluk al-Kansaouh Ghaouri ( 1501 - 1516 ).

The entry can be seen today date from the Ottoman period ( 1753 ).

The Imam of Al-Azhar

The imam of the Al-Azhar - currently Mohamed Ahmed al-Tayeb - claims to be the highest authority of Islam acharite Egypt. He is considered a "spokesman" of the Egyptian government - it is an official state - and adopted policy positions that are close. His positions are not always agreed within Al-Azhar. Imam until 1996, Sheikh Gad al-Haq Ali Gad al-Haq example legitimized the death penalty for any Muslim apostasy . He also issued a fatwa calling on the Egyptian government to execute all those who are against excision .