Al-Azhar Mosque, in the heart of Islamic Cairo, is one of the oldest working mosques in the city and the home of one of the oldest universities in the world. For more than a thousand years it has been a center of Sunni Islamic learning, drawing students from across the Muslim world.
History
The Fatimid general Jawhar al-Siqilli founded the mosque in 970 AD, a year after he founded Cairo itself. Teaching began soon after, and Al-Azhar became a university. Over the centuries Mamluk and Ottoman rulers added minarets, gates and courtyards, so today the mosque is a mix of styles from many periods.
What to see
You enter through the Gate of the Barbers, where students once had their heads shaved, into a large marble courtyard. Look up at the five minarets, among them the double-headed minaret of Sultan al-Ghuri. The prayer hall is a forest of columns, many taken from older buildings.
Visiting
Visitors are welcome outside prayer times. Take off your shoes and dress modestly. Women need to cover their hair, and scarves are available. The mosque is across the road from Khan el-Khalili and part of our Islamic Cairo day tours.
