Al-Azhar University

() Jmiat al-Azhar (al-Sharf)

Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo Egypt

Established 970~972

Type Public

Religious

affiliation

Shia Islam until fall of Fatimid Dynasty,

Currently Sunni Islam1

President Usama al-Abd

Location Cairo, Egypt

300245N 311545E

Campus Urban

Website http://www.alazhar.gov.eg/

(http://www.alazhar.gov.eg/Default_en.aspx)

1Between 972 and 1171 CE, al-Azhar followed the Ismaili branch of

Shia Islam

Al-Azhar UniversityFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Al Azhar)

Al-Azhar University (AHZ-har ; Arabic: () Jmiat al-Azhar (al-Sharf), IPA: [met

el zh ei f], "the (honorable) Azhar University")is a university in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970 or 972by the Fatimids as a madrasa, or centre of Islamiclearning, its students studied the Qur'an and Islamic lawin detail, along with logic, grammar, rhetoric, and howto calculate the lunar phases of the moon. By bringingtogether the study of a number of subjects in the sameplace it was one of the first universities in the world andthe only one to survive as a modern university includingsecular subjects in the curriculum. It is today the chiefcentre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the

world.[1] It is the oldest degree-granting university inEgypt. In 1961 additional non-religious subjects were

added to its curriculum.[2]

It is associated with Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo.The university's mission includes the propagation ofIslamic religion and culture. To this end, its Islamicscholars (ulamas) render edicts (fatwas) on disputessubmitted to them from all over the Sunni Islamic worldregarding proper conduct for Muslim individuals andsocieties. Al-Azhar also trains Egyptian government-appointed preachers in proselytization

(da'wa).[citation needed]

Its library is considered second in importance in Egyptonly to the Egyptian National Library and

Archives.[citation needed] In May 2005, Al-Azhar inpartnership with a Dubai information technologyenterprise, ITEP(http://www.itep.ae/english/AboutUS/aboutus.asp)launched the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AlMaktoum Project to Preserve Al Azhar Scripts andPublish Them Online (the "Al-Azhar Online Project")with the mission of eventually providing online access tothe library's entire rare manuscripts collection

(comprising about seven million pages).[3][4]

Contents

Coordinates: 300245N 311545E

Interior of Al-Azhar mosque

Faculty of Humanities - Al-Azhar

University - Gaza.

1 History

2 Religious ideology

3 Council of Senior Scholars

4 Political views

4.1 On freedom of speech

5 Notable people associated with the university5.1 10th early 11th centuries

5.2 19th early 20th centuries

5.3 1910s1950s

5.4 1950present

6 References

7 Further reading

8 External links

History

The madrasa is one of the relics of the Isma'ili Shi'a Fatimid dynasty eraof Egypt, descended from Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad and Ali son-in-law and cousin of prophet Muhammad. Fatimah, was called Al-Zahra

(The luminous), and it was named in her honor.[5] It was founded asmosque by the Fatimid commander Jawhar at the orders of the Caliphand Ismaili Imam Al-Muizz as he founded the city for Cairo. It was(probably on Saturday) in Jamadi al-Awwal in the year 359 A.H. Itsbuilding was completed on the 9th of Ramadan in the year 361 A.H.(972AD) Both Al-'Aziz Billah and Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah added to itspremises. It was further repaired, renovated and extended by Al-Mustansir Billah and Al-Hafiz Li-Din-illah. Fatimid Caliphs alwaysencouraged scholars and jurists to have their study-circles and gatheringsin this mosque and thus it was turned into a university which has the claim

to be considered as the oldest University still functioning.[6]

Studies began at Al-Azhar in the month of Ramadan, 975. According toSyed Farid Alatas, the Jami'ah had faculties in Islamic law and jurisprudence, Arabic grammar, Islamic astronomy,

Islamic philosophy, and logic.[7][8] The Fatimids gave attention to the philosophical studies at the time when rulers inother countries declared those who were engaged in philosophical pursuits as apostates and heretics. The Greekthought found a warm reception with the Fatimids who expanded the boundaries of such studies. They paid muchattention to philosophy and gave support to everyone who was known for being engaged in the study of any branchof philosophy. The Fatimid Caliph invited many scholars from nearby countries and paid much attention to collegebooks on various branches of knowledge and in gathering the finest writing on various subjects and this in order toencourage scholars and to uphold the cause of knowledge. These books were destroyed by Salah-ud-Din Ayyubi

in the same manner in which he exterminated the Fatimids and thus these Fatimid treasure were lost forever.[6] Inthe 12th century, following the overthrow of the Ismaili Shia Fatimid dynasty, Sultan Saladin (the founder of the

staunchly Sunni Ayyubid Dynasty) converted Al-Azhar to a Shafi'ite Sunni center of learning.[1][9] Abd-el-latifdelivered lectures on Islamic medicine at Al-Azhar, while the Jewish philosopher Maimonides delivered lectures on

medicine and astronomy there during the time of Saladin.[10]

An entrance to the mosque and

university. The Minaret of Qunsah al

Ghuri is visible on the right.

Floor plan of Al Azhar Mosque

An Azhari institute in Tanta

In 1961, Al-Azhar was established as a university under the governmentof Egypt's second President Gamal Abdel Nasser when a wide range ofsecular faculties were added for the first time, such as business,economics, science, pharmacy, medicine, engineering and agriculture.Before that date, the Encyclopaedia of Islam classifies the Al-Azharvariously as madrasa, center of higher learning and, since the 19thcentury, religious university, but not as a university in the full sense,referring to the modern transition process as "from madrasa to

university".[2][11] An Islamic women's faculty was also added in the sameyear, six years after Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah had been the first woman

to speak at the university.[citation needed].

Religious ideology

Al-Azhar has a membership that represents the theological schools of Al-Ashari and Al-Maturidi, the four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence

(Hanafi, Malaki, Shafi, and Hanbali), and the seven main Sufi orders.[12]

Al-Azhar has had an antagonistic relationship with Wahhabism or

Salafism.[13] According to a 2011 report issued by the CarnegieEndowment for International Peace, Al Azhar is strongly Sufi incharacter:

"Adherence to a Sufi order has long been standard for bothprofessors and students in the al-Azhar mosque and universitysystem. Although al-Azhar is not monolithic, its identity hasbeen strongly associated with Sufism. The current Shaykh al-Azhar (rector of the school), Ahmed el-Tayeb, is a hereditarySufi shaykh from Upper Egypt who has recently expressed hissupport for the formation of a world Sufi league; the formerGrand Mufti of Egypt and senior al-Azhar scholar Ali Gomaa

is also a highly respected Sufi master."[14]

The nineteenth and current Grand Mufti of Egypt and Al Azhar scholar,Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam is also a Sufi.

Council of Senior Scholars

Al-Azhar University's Council of Senior Scholars (also known as theAssociation of Senior Scholars) was originally founded in 1911 but wasreplaced in 1961 by the Center for Islamic Research. In July 2012,after the law restricting Al-Azhar University's autonomy was modified by

the incoming president Mohamed Morsi, the Council was reformed.[15]

The Council consists of 40 members with 14 vacancies[16] all appointed by the current imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed

El-Tayeb,[17] who was appointed by the prior president, Hosni Mubarak. Once the remaining 14 vacancies are

filled, new vacancies will be appointed by the existing Council itself.[16] All four madhab (schools) of Sunni Islamicjurisprudence are proportionally represented on the Council (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Hanbali, Maliki) and voting is on a

Gateway

Interior of a dome in Al-Azhar

mosque.

A chandelier adorns the woodworked

ceiling of a prayer hall.

majority basis.[15] In addition to El-Tayeb, other prominent members of the Council include the outgoing Grand

Mufti Ali Gomaa and Qatar-based Islamic scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi.[18] The Council is tasked with nominatingthe Grand Mufti of Egypt (subject to presidential approval), electing the next Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque,

and is expected to be the final authority in determining if new legislation is compliant with Islamic law.[15] Althoughthe Council's decisions are not binding (absent new legislation), it isexpected that it would be difficult for the parliament to pass legislation

deemed by the Council as against Islamic law.[15]

In January 2013, Al-Tayeb referred a relatively minor issue related toIslamic bonds to the Council, for the first time asserting the Council's

jurisdiction.[15] In 2013, the Council elected Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam to be the next Grand Mufti of Egypt. This marks the firsttime that the Grand Mufti would be elected by Islamic scholars since theposition was created in 1895. Prior to this, the Egyptian head of state

made the appointment.[17]

Political views

Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy noted that among the priorities ofMuslims are "to master all knowledge of the world and the hereafter, notleast the technology of modern weapons to strengthen and defend thecommunity and faith". He added that "mastery over modern weaponry isimportant to prepare for any eventuality or prejudices of the others,

although Islam is a religion of peace".[19]

Sheikh Tantawy also reasserted that his is the best faith to follow (a tenetcommon to proponents of many religions) and that Muslims have the dutyof active da'wa. He has made declarations about Muslims interacting withnon-Muslims who are not a threat to Muslims. There are non-Muslimsliving apart from Muslims and who are not enemies of Islam ("Muslimsare allowed to undertake exchanges of interests with these non-Muslimsso long as these ties do not tarnish the image of the faith"), and there are"the non-Muslims who live in the same country as the Muslims incooperation and on friendly terms, and are not enemies of the faith" ("inthis case, their rights and responsibilities are the same as the Muslims solong as they do not become enemies of Islam"). However, Shi'a fiqh(according to a fatwa by Al-Azhar, the most respected authority in Sunni

Islam)[20] is accepted as a fifth school of Islamic thought.

On freedom of speech

In October 2007, Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy, then the Grand Imam ofAl-Azhar, drew allegations of stifling freedom of speech when he askedthe Egyptian government to toughen its rules and punishments againstjournalists. During a Friday sermon in the presence of Egyptian PrimeMinister Ahmed Nazif and a number of ministers, Tantawy was alleged to have stated that journalism which

A study hall

contributes to the spread of false rumours rather than true news deserved to be boycotted, and that it wastantamount to sinning for readers to purchase such newspapers.Tantawy, a supporter of then Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, alsocalled for a punishment of eighty lashes to "those who spread rumors" inan indictment of speculation by journalists over Mubarak's ill health and

possible death.[21][22] This was not the first time that he had criticized theEgyptian press regarding its news coverage nor the first time he in returnhad been accused by the press of opposing freedom of speech. During areligious celebration in the same month, Tantawy had released commentsalluding to "the arrogant and the pretenders who accuse others with theugliest vice and unsubstantiated charges". In response, Egypt's pressunion issued a statement suggesting that Tantawy appeared to beinvolved in inciting and escalating a campaign against journalists and

freedom of the press.[23] Tantawy died in 2010 and was succeeded byMohamed Ahmed el-Tayeb.

Notable people associated with the university

10th early 11th centuries

Fatimid commander Jawhar at the orders of the Caliph Al-Muizz (972)Al-'Aziz Billah(975996) and Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah(9961021)

Al-Mustansir Billah(10211036) and Al-Hafiz Li-Din-illah

19th early 20th centuries

Muhammad Abduh and Sayd Jamal edin Afghani, founder of Islamic Modernism

Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, founder and leader of Black Hand

Mohammad Amin al-Husayni, Mufti of JerusalemAhmed Orabi, Egyptian nationalist and army general who led the Urabi Revolt against Khedive Tewfik

1910s1950s

Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood (he graduated from Darul 'Uloom which is an affiliate

of Cairo University)

Mehmed Handi, a leader of Bosnian revivalists, one of authors of Resolution of Sarajevo Muslims andchairman of the Committee of National Salvation

Omar Abdel Rahman, leader of Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, which has been designated a terrorist group by the

governments of the United States and Egypt; currently serving a life term for the 1993 World Trade Center

bombingTaqiuddin al-Nabhani, the leader and founder of The Islamic Political Party, Hizb ut-Tahrir (The Party of

Liberation)

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, co-founder and leader of HamasSaad Zaghlul, leader of 1919 revolution in Egypt

Taha Hussein, Influential Egyptian writer and intellectual

Muhammad Ma Jian, translator of the Qur'an into the Chinese language

Ahmad Meshari Al-Adwani, Kuwaiti poet and writer of Kuwait's national anthem Al-Nasheed Al-Watani

Ahmad al-Ghumari, Moroccan cleric, enrolled in 1921, dropped out due to a death in the familyAbdullah al-Ghumari, Moroccan cleric, graduated from Azhar in 1931

Abu Turab al-Zahiri, Indian-born Saudi Arabian writer

1950present

Mohammed Burhanuddin, Dai of Dawoodi Bohra researched and rediscovered Al-Azhar University's past

History and was Awarded Ph.d from Al-Azhar University.[24]

Shire Jama Ahmed, Somali linguist who devised a Latin script for the Somali language.[25]

Mahmud Shaltut,[citation needed] Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, issued in 1959 a Fatwa, declaring that Al-

Azhar recognizes Shi'ism as a valid branch of Islam

Abdel-Halim Mahmoud,[citation needed] Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, introduced the study of Sufism as a

science through his writings and lectures on the matter

Ahmed Subhy Mansour,[citation needed] Islamic scholar, cleric, and founder of the Quranists, who was

exiled from Egypt, and lives in the United States as a political refugeeTaha Jabir Alalwani, President of Cordoba University (Ashburn, VA, USA), former Chairman of the Fiqh

Council of North America, and the President of the International Institute of Islamic Thought in Herndon,

Virginia (USA).[26]

Gus Dur,[citation needed] Former President of Indonesia

Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy,[citation needed] former Grand Imam of Al-Azhar (March 17, 1996 to March

10, 2010)

Muhammad Metwally Al Shaarawy[citation needed] is an Egyptian Muslim juristMaumoon Abdul Gayoom, Former President of The Republic of Maldives.

Abdulla Saeed, Former Chief Justice, and Justice Supreme Court of The Republic of Maldives.[27]

Abdulla Mohamed, Chief Judge, Criminal Court of The Republic of Maldives.[27]

Fathulla Jameel, Former Foreign Minister of Maldives.

Muhammad Jameel Didi Maldives Author and writer

Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat Mursyidul Am (Spiritual Leader) of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and

former Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of the Malaysian state of Kelantan

Akhtar Raza Khan, the de-facto grand mufti of India.[28]

List of Presidents of Al-Azhar University

List of universities in Egypt

Outside Egypt

Al-Azhar University Gaza

Al-Azhar University Doha

References

1. ^a b Encyclopdia Britannica. "Britannica article" (http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-46851/al-Azhar-

University). Britannica article. Retrieved 2010-03-21.

2. ^a b Skovgaard-Petersen, Jakob. "al-Azhar, modern period." Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE. Edited by: GudrunKrmer, Denis Matringe, John Nawas and Everett Rowson. Brill, 2010, retrieved 20/03/2010:

Al-Azhar, the historic centre of higher Islamic learning in Cairo, has undergone significant changesince the late 19th century, with new regulations and reforms resulting in an expanded role for theuniversity. 1. From madrasa to university

3. ^ "AME Info.com, 26 September 2005" (http://www.ameinfo.com/68624.html). Ameinfo. Archived(http://web.archive.org/web/20100419071542/http://www.ameinfo.com/68624.html) from the original on 19 April2010. Retrieved 2010-03-21.

4. ^ ITEP press release, 10 October 2006

5. ^ Halm, Heinz. The Fatimids and their Traditions of Learning. London: The Institute of Ismaili Studies and I.B.Tauris. 1997.

6. ^a b Shorter Shi'ite Encyclopaedia, By: Hasan al-Amin, http://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?id=574

7. ^ Alatas, Syed Farid (2006). "From Jami` ah to University: Multiculturalism and ChristianMuslim Dialogue".

Current Sociology 54 (1): 11232. doi:10.1177/0011392106058837(http://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F0011392106058837)

8. ^ Goddard, Hugh (2000). A History of Christian-Muslim Relations. Edinburgh University Press. p. 99. ISBN 0-7486-1009-X

9. ^ Encyclopdia Britannica p.37 1993 edition ISBN 0-85229-571-5

10. ^ Necipogulu, Gulru (1996). Muqarnas, Volume 13. Brill Publishers. p. 56. ISBN 90-04-10633-2

11. ^ Jomier, J. "al- Azhar (al-jmi al-Azhar)." Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th.Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2010, retrieved 20/03/2010:

This great mosque, the 'brilliant one'...is one of the principal mosques of present-day Cairo. This seatof learning...regained all its activitySunn from now onduring the reign of Sultan Baybars...Al-Azhar at the beginning of the 19th century could well have been called a religious university; what itwas not was a complete university giving instruction in those modern disciplines essential to theawakening of the country.

12. ^ Jadaliyya: "The Identity of Al-Azhar and Its Doctrine" by Ibrahim El-Houdaiby(http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/6638/the-identity-of-al-azhar-and-its-doctrine) July 29, 2012

13. ^ Islamopedia: "Al-Azhars relations with other Sunni groups" (http://www.islamopediaonline.org/country-profile/egypt/al-azhar-and-dar-al-ifta/al-azhar%E2%80%99s-relations-other-sunni-groups)

14. ^ Carnegie Endowment for International Peace" "Salafis and Sufis in Egypt" by Jonathon Brown(http://carnegieendowment.org/files/salafis_sufis.pdf) December 2011 ] p 12

15. ^a b c d e Al Aribiya: "Senior scholars and the new Egyptian constitution" By Hani Nasira and Saeid al-Sonny(http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/01/10/259734.html) January 10, 2013

16. ^a b Foreign Policy magazine: "Egypts new mufti" By Nathan J. Brown(http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/02/12/egypt_s_new_mufti) February 12, 2013

17. ^a b New York Times: "Goodbye Pope, Hello Mufti" By ISSANDR EL AMRANI(http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/goodbye-pope-hello-mufti/?_r=0) February 13, 2013

18. ^ Ahram Online: "Egypt's new Grand Mufti elected for first time ever"(http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/64550/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-new-Grand-Mufti-elected-for-first-time-ever.aspx) Frebruary 11, 2013

19. ^ "The Grand Imams of Al-Azhar" (http://www.sunnah.org/history/Scholars/mashaykh_azhar.htm). Archived(http://web.archive.org/web/20060619010446/http://sunnah.org/history/Scholars/mashaykh_azhar.htm) from theoriginal on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-24.

20. ^ al-Azhar Verdict on the Shia (http://www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/chapter1b/14.html) Shi'ite Encyclopediav2.0, Al-islam

21. ^ "allheadlinenews" (http://www.feedsyndicate.com/articles/7008789310). Feedsyndicate. 2007-10-10. Retrieved2010-03-21.

22. ^ aljazeera.net (http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E0D3182E-7EC0-4324-AF03-8131972B4522.htm)(ArabicOnline)

23. ^ "International Herald Tribune" (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/11/africa/ME-GEN-Egypt-Azhar-Journalists.php). International Herald Tribune. 2009-03-29. Retrieved 2010-03-21.

24. ^ "Serving Dawoodi Bohras Worldwide" (http://www.mumineen.org). Mumineen.org. 2010-03-04. Archived(http://web.archive.org/web/20100318053056/http://www.mumineen.org/) from the original on 18 March 2010.Retrieved 2010-03-21.

25. ^ David D. Laitin, Politics, Language, and Thought: The Somali Experience, (University Of Chicago Press: 1977),p. 102

26. ^ "Cordoba University" (http://www.cordobauniversity.org/gsiss/faculty/Alalwani.asp). Cordoba University.Archived(http://web.archive.org/web/20100213011849/http://www.cordobauniversity.org/gsiss/faculty/Alalwani.asp) fromthe original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-21.

27. ^a b Supreme Court of the Government of the Maldives (http://supremecourt.gov.mv/di/)

28. ^ http://www.rissc.jo/docs/0A-FullVersion-LowRes.pdf

Further reading

Witte, Griff (March 3, 2012). "At al-Azhar Mosque, struggle over Islam roils a revered Egyptian institution"

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/at-al-azhar-mosque-struggle-over-islam-roils-a-

revered-egyptian-institution/2012/03/01/gIQAIzmNpR_story.html). The Washington Post.

External links

Al-Azhar University (Arabic) (http://www.azhar.edu.eg/)

The world Association for Al-Azhar Graduates (http://www.waag-azhar.org/)

Al-Azhar Institute for Teaching Arabic as Foreign Language (http://www.azhar-ali.com/go/)

Al-Azhar-US Embassy English Language Resource Center (ELRC) (http://elrccairo.net)

Al-Azhar University Faculty of Islamic Sciences for International Students (http://www.azharegypt.net)

Al-Azhar Park

Al Azhar (http://www.onazhar.com/)Al-Azhar Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (English) (http://www.alazhr.com/)

Al-Azhar Pages (http://www.azharpages.com)

Dar Al Ifta (English) (http://www.dar-alifta.org/?LangID=2&Home=1) (Al-Azhar for Islamic Fatw)

Al Azhar-West Dialog Project (English) (http://alazhar-westdialogproject.blogspot.com)

Educational website for Al-Azhar Institutes (English) (http://www.alazhar.gov.eg/Default_en.aspx)

Documentary video film on Al-Azhar University in (Arabic) (http://www.alazhar.gov.eg/alazhar/film.aspx)

History and organization of Al-Azhar (English)(http://web.archive.org/web/20040701101509/http://www.frcu.eun.eg/www/universities/html/azhar.html)

Islam for Today (http://www.islamfortoday.com/alazhar.htm)

Muslim Heritage (http://www.muslimheritage.com/topics/default.cfm?articleID=161)

Al-Azhar University rules for international students admission (Arabic only) (http://www.azhar.edu.eg/)

New Grand Sheikh at Al-Azhar University: Fighting Extremism in A Suit and Tie

(http://en.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-478/_nr-1026/i.html)

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