The oldest Islamic institution in the world may be found in Cairo, next to the city’s namesake mosque. This museum has some of the most impressive examples of Islamic art worldwide. It is common for Muslim students from other countries to read in the prayer chamber of the mosque.
Location:
This neighborhood is about a half-hour drive from Cairo’s downtown and is located close to the underpass that serves the Khan Khalili Bazaar. Here are Cairo’s oldest mosques and several distinct periods and architectural styles.
History:
“The Radiant, “Blooming,” and “Resplendent” are all names for the same thing. In 970, construction began on the Al-Azhar Mosque, and Al-Azhar University asserts that it is the world’s oldest university. The Grand Mosque of Egypt has always been involved in the political process, and it was a Sunni stronghold after Salah al-Din established it. To show their dominance, Napoleon’s army had it destroyed.
During the Egyptian invasion in 1956, Nasser gave a courageous speech at Al-Azhar University.
The mosque is peaceful but hard to understand because it’s so old and combines many different architectural styles.
You may enter the 500-year-old Sahn, also known as the courtyard, via the Barber’s Gate, built in the 1300s. The yard features three minarets. There is a courtyard known as Sahn. Rosettes and keel-arched rosettes are used. The front is decorated with panels in the Fatimid style. The rituals, also known as the living quarters, have mamluk latticework.
Although access to these buildings is not often granted to the general public, it does not hurt to inquire. Although the appearance of the several minarets is that of an antique structure, the views from atop them are breathtaking.
