Holiday Ayo - Al-Azhar University is one of the world's famous universities located in Cairo, Egypt. Although it has been established since the 10th century, this state university was only legalized as a higher education institution in 1961. Initially, Al-Azhar was only used as a madrasah and center for Islamic learning. Over time, this university began to implement a new curriculum by teaching various other fields of study, such as business, economics, science, and engineering.

According to history, Al-Azhar is one of the legacies of the Fatimid dynasty (909-1171). This institution is named Al-Azhar in honor of Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, who is referred to as Al-Zahra which means radiant.

Initially, this institution was founded as a mosque and its construction was completed on June 24, 972. Therefore, Al-Azhar University is called the university which is considered the oldest in the world, which was founded in 972.

source: Kompas.com

However, actually the oldest university in the world is Al Karaouine University in Morocco, which was founded in 859 in the City of Fez. Al Karaouine University has also been awarded by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest university still running today.

After construction, the Al-Azhar mosque was repaired by Caliph Al-Mustabillah (1094-1101) and Abdul Majid Al-Hafiz (1130-1149). The Fatimid caliphs always pushed for a place to study in the mosque. Over time, this mosque began to be used as a madrasa, which is claimed to be the oldest institution in the world.

Learning activities at Al-Azhar only started in 975, where it already had faculties of law, Islamic jurisprudence, Arabic grammar, Islamic astronomy, Islamic philosophy, and logic.

In the 12th century, after the Fatimid dynasty was overthrown, the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, Salahuddin Al Ayyubi, turned Al-Azhar into a center of Sunni Shafi'i learning. Salahuddin Al Ayyubi introduced the higher education system in Egypt.

Under this system, the college became a separate institution within the mosque with its own classrooms, dormitories and library. According to Jewish legend, at this time lectures on medicine and astronomy were taught. However, there is still no historical evidence proving this.

source: Islami.co

In the mid-19th century, Al-Azhar's popularity surpassed that of Istanbul. It is even considered the mecca of Sunni Islamic law. On July 10, 1924, King Fuad I of Egypt issued his first edition of the Koran by a committee from Al-Azhar University. The committee members came from Islamic scholars, one of whom was Muhammad bin Ali al-Husayni al-Haddad.

In 1961, Al-Azhar was inaugurated as a university under the administration of Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasser. Many faculties were added at Al-Azhar University, namely business, economics, science, pharmacy, medicine, engineering, and agriculture. Currently, Al-Azhar University is one of the oldest and leading universities in the world.