A L Azhar University In /\ Egypt Is to the Muslim 4 V world what Oxford’I* to the English, Harvard to the Americans and Heidelberg to the Germans
In fact, the Muslim world look* to Al Azhar with both awe and pride They regard It more as a historical monument than just a centre of learning, with awesome prestige and dignity all it* own.
Founded more than a thousand vears ago. Al Azhar has been the centre ol knowledge and spiritual teaching*. More than imparting high education to the Arab world, the university located 111 Cairo has tasked itself with interpreting the essence ol Islam, safeguarding Islamic culture and spreading the teachings of the Koran even to non Arab nations all over the world
The Institutional back ground of Al Azhar Is as colour ful a* it* enduring greatness Is undtminlshed. I learned that in the year 969 AD, the Fatlmid Caliph Al Nu'lz ordered hi* military commander Jawhar to set sail from Sicily and invade Egypt because of bad social conditions prevailing there Shortly after Egypt’s conquest. Jawhar started the building of Al Azhar to serve initially as a mosque for a new dynasty
At that time. Mualem worshippers often used the sane-.
tuary for their dally prayers, and for reading sessions of the Koran, the flrat textbook ever offered at Al Azhar
The original building was rectangular tn shape and niea sured 280 x 227 feet. The main gateway faced northwest and led to a central courtyard which ended some distance away to the prayer shrine. It had an initial student body of 35
The man responsible for the development of Al Azhar University was Ibn Killes. and affluent scholar at the time. It is believed that languages, literature and religious subjects as well as elementary astronomy and mathematics, made up the first curriculum.
Under different caliphs and sultanates. Al Azhar gradually developed and assumed new roles, principally in the preservation of the Arabic language. enforcement of Islamic law and strengthening of religious-ethical principles often
in the face of loose court manners and even the sultans' greed.
In order to follow the growth of the university to it* present stature, it is necessary to retrace some historical facts beginning with the period of nationalism which took root* at the turn of the century
The first world war aroused nationalist feelings In Egypt and the fight for independence became a rallying point for all who wanted the ruling foreigners out. This movement was led by an Al Azhar gradu ate: Saad Zaghloul.
When Egypt became a monarchy. Al Azhar came un der fire and many agitated for its control by the King, the British and the National Party. This, however, was nipped in the bud and Al Azhar went under the supervision of the government.
Shortly after King Farouk was toppled from his throne in 1952. the university underwent a series of changes.lt ex
panded its three colleges and began offering undergraduate* both professional and post graduate course*, including Islamic law and Arabic studies A college on the fundamentals of the Islamic religion was also started.
The university library, al ready containing the largest collection of Islamic educa tfonal material In the world, was expanded In 1954 to gather more precious books on religion and other subjects
Besides tt* educational ac tlvitie*. Al Azhar also propagated supplementary Islamic leachings and provided guidance for Itinerant preachers
In 1959. the "Voice of Al Azhar" broke, through the airwaves. enabling the rector to reach audiences all over the Arab-speaking world.
One Important activity and considered a major contribu tion of the university to the propagation of the faith is the formation of missions from the university faculty which annually visit foreign countries to interpret the teachings of Islam.
The "Journal of Al Azhar," a publication which deal* primarily with religion, is Issued monthly. It emphasises the importance of religion tn the life of an individual. Mualem or non-Muslem alike.
— Depthnews Asia