Find Hotels Near Al-Azhar Mosque Cairo

Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the oldest and most famous mosques in Cairo, Egypt. It is located in the heart of Islamic Cairo and serves as a center for education, worship and learning for millions of Muslims around the world.

The mosque was built in 972 by Fatimid Chief Dawood al-Qaitai, the first ruler of Egypt's Fatimid Dynasty. The building has gone through numerous renovations over the centuries, with its current form being completed in 1203 by Al-Qaitai's successor, Jawhar al-Siqilli.

The Al-Azhar Mosque is an iconic symbol both historically and culturally in Egypt. It is renowned as a hub for religious scholars from around the world to study Islamic theology and law, with many students coming from far away countries such as India, Central Asia and Africa. In addition to its educational purpose, it also serves as a major pilgrimage site for millions of Muslims who come to pray five times a day at the mosque.

Its size and beauty are awe inspiring; it has four minarets standing 82 meters tall with its main dome rising 43 meters from floor level. Inside its walls are intricate mosaics depicting scenes from Quran stories along with ornately carved stucco decorations on columns lining the corridors leading up to the prayer hall.

The Al-Azhar Mosque also contains numerous other buildings apart from its impressive main structure such as madrasas (schools) which serve to teach Muslim religious basics and provide training courses on Islamic finance and law; libraries where ancient manuscripts related to Islam can be found; residences for students studying at Al-Azhar University; hospitals providing medical care to people living in surrounding neighborhoods; and even small markets selling traditional Egyptian souvenirs like papyrus paper paintings or handmade rugs bearing intricate patterns that tell stories about ancient Egyptian culture.