About Al-Azhar mosque
Founded in 970 AD,the principal mosque of shite islam for north africa and the near east was built between the 10th and 12th centuries in the center of cairo .
In the tradition of establishing a centre of worship after conquering a new city, the Fatimid rulers started working on the AL-AZHAR (meaning The Splendid) Mosque (AD 970-72). It is the first mosque established in Ciaro, The City Of A Thousand Minarets.
The mosque is developed into a second oldest continuously run university in the world after Al-Karaouine.
It has long been regarded as the foremost institution in the Islamic world for the study of Sunni theology and sharia, or Islamic law.
2- what you will see while visiting Al-Azhar Mosque :
- The building had an oblong courtyard surrounded by a portico made of reused ancient columns supporting arcades in stuccoed bricks.
- The courtyard formed a perfect prologue to the prayer hall
- Reused shafts and capitals supported pointed , 4 centred brick arches.
- It consisted of five bays parallel to the Qibla, with an axial nave leading to the Mihrab.
- The design of these bays was remarkably energetic : the arches were raised high and join to each other by tie rods which lent solidity to the Portico.
- To guard against any risk of weakness, the architects trippled the colums on either side of the entrance and doubled them at the corners of the courtyard.
- This courtyard measured 50 by 34 meters.
- Its FOUR “facades “ were decorated , at the level of the friezes, with recesses directly above the columns .
- Large circular rosettes were placed above the arches
- Set against the sky was a large open work balustrade with staggered Merlons.
- The decorative style used in the courtyard – from the Tullunid example
Sure you will enjoy it !