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No one can deny the great role of Al Azhar as it had a very important role as the center of Islamic studies in Egypt. And it was the first known Islamic university ever.
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Al Azhar was built in 972 it was designed by Jauhar Elsequili by order of Khaliph Meuzz Li Dain Allah. If we see the location of Al Azhar in Cairo we will find that it is located in the center of an area full of the most beautiful Islamic monuments of th 10 th century. It was named after Fatma ElZahraa, daughter of the prophet Mohammed.
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As we have metioned that Al Azhar has a long history and great role so we find that it used to be a meeting place for Shi'a students. Then the mosque became a teaching institute by Yaqoup Ibn Gals. The first lecture was delivered there at 975.
The lectures were first inside the mosque, but now it is only for prayers, and the classes became in other buildings. Now modern schools like medicine, science, and foreign languages have been added
We notice that Al Azhar has many architecture styles, it has five minarets with small balconies and beautiful columns. There are six gates, the main one is called Bab ElMuzayinin or " barber's gate ", where students were once shaved. This gate leads to a small courtyard and then into the" Madrasa". The courtyard is supported by row of 300 marble columns. The mihrab was modified but the Kofic inscriptions inside it are original.
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Al Azhar witnessed many reforms the most important one was made by Shiekh Mohammed Abduh and Khedive Abbas the second. They provided AL Azhar with an administrative Council and a central library. They also put a regular salary and formal admissions.
Indeed no one can deny the great role of Al Azhar as a mosque and as an Islamic University. We should be proud of having it , and put it always in the place it deserves.