Al Azhar didirikan oleh panglima dinasti Fatimiyah yang bernama

Untuk kegunaan lain, lihat Al-Azhar.

Masjid Al-Azhar [bahasa Arab: جامع الأزهر‎ jami' al-'Azhar, masjid yang gemilang] adalah sebuah masjid yang dibangun oleh Panglima Jauhar Assiqilli di Kairo antara tahun 359-361 Hijriyah atau 970-972 Masehi atas perintah khalifah Muiz Lidinillah, dari Daulat Fatimiah. Masjid ini adalah masjid Islam yang paling terkenal sekaligus masjid kampus terbesar.

Masjid al-Azharجامع الأزهر

Pandangan dari luar Masjid Al-Azhar. Dari kiri ke kanan terlihat menara al-Ghuri, Qaytbay, Aqbaghawiyya, dan Katkhuda

Informasi umumLetakKairo, MesirKoordinat geografi30°02′45″N 31°15′46″E / 30.0457°N 31.2627°E / 30.0457; 31.2627Koordinat: 30°02′45″N 31°15′46″E / 30.0457°N 31.2627°E / 30.0457; 31.2627Afiliasi agamaIslamCabang/tradisiSunni[note 1]KepemimpinanImam:
Mohamed Ahmed el-TayebDeskripsi arsitekturJenis arsitekturMasjidGaya arsitekturMasjid Hipostil, FatimiyahDidirikan972SpesifikasiKapasitas20,000Menara4Luas tanah7.800 m2 [84.000 sq ft]

^ Between 972 and 1171 CE, al-Azhar followed the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam

Masjid ini dinamakan Al-Azhar sebagai isyarat kepada Zahra, julukan Fatimah az-Zahra, putri Rasulullah ﷺ.

Pada masa Daulat Mamalik, untuk pertama kali masjid ini berfungsi sebagai universitas dan pada tahun 1961 berubah menjadi universitas modern yang memiliki beberapa fakultas. Al-Azhar dianggap sebagai poros pemikiran Islam, politik dan ilmu-ilmu agama di Mesir dan dunia Islam. Mesjid ini memiliki lima menara dengan bermacam-macam tipe dan tiga mimbar. Di dalamnya terdapat perpustakaan yang sangat besar.

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