Dawoodi Bohra Forum

Can some one please explain about Al Azhar University in Cairo. As I read its history, this was started by Fatimid rulers who were and are Shia but now it is regarded as one of the authentic school of Islamic jurisprudence by Sunni Scholars. I also see Kothar is actively promoting Jamea Al Azhar. Is Jamea Al Azhar and Al Azhar University same . Please some unbiased explanation and no rhetorics.

You are right on all accounts. It was started by the Fatimid. It was named after Al-Zahra (Prophet daughter). It was pretty much open to all faith.

Saladin (the butcher) when he conqured Egypt, slaughtered many Ismailis and Shias and force convert everyone to his brand of Islam - Sunnism.

Br. OB

AS

You will not find unbiased opinion on this board as it is apperent from JINX's post. Google Salehddin and you will find plenty of info on him.

Wasalaam
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I wanted to know whether Jamia Al Azhar which Kothar is promoting is same as Al Azhar University?

Isn't him the same saladin, King Richard the crusader said about him, " in sooth he is a noble foe" before returning to england.

historically, when saladin entered egypt, there was no resistence by fatmid army or ismailis. according to encyclopedia britanica, he was more than welcome by egyptians. He did not destroy any library in al azhar.

Jinx, can you give refrence about al azhar named al zahra. so far as I have read history, it was originally named al jamea al qahira, and then it was named al azhar, that was in refrence to surrounding palaces called al qasre al zahra. that was in 971.

OB, this is the brief history of al azhar from unbiased source.

When Jawhar al-Siqilli planned for the construction of al-Qahira, he drew plans to construct a new large mosque intended to be the centre of prayers for his master al-Mu'iz and his Maghrebite followers. This mosque was first known as Jami' al-Qahira (The mosque of Cairo). It had one minaret and occupied half the area occupied by the present day al-Azhar mosque.
The name, Jami' al-Qahira, remained for most of the Fatimid rule of Egypt. It is not known when the name was changed to al-Azhar and even historians differ to the cause of calling it al-Azhar. While some historians attribute the name to the remembrance to Fatima al-Zahra' [RAA] (the prophet's [PBUH] daughter), others mention that the mosque was built amidst a number of palaces known as al-Qusur al-Zahira and that the name Azhar was drawn from that name.

Since its establishment al-Azhar was the mosque in which main Friday prayers was conducted, and inhabitants of other nearby towns, Misr (al-Askar and al-Fustat combined) and al-Qatai', had to flock every Friday to al-Qahira to attend the Friday prayers and listen to the Khutba (The ritual mass addressing preceding the prayers) of the Fatimid Caliph.

The form of the Adhan (The call for prayers) and Khutba in al-Azhar, during the Fatimid era, followed the Shiite model. The mosque remained the official mosque of the Fatimid state for fourty years until the construction of Jami' al-Hakim (al-Hakim's mosque) during the reign of the Fatimid Caliph al-Hakim bi Amr Allah.

al-Azhar was also the centre of several celebrations of the Fatimids like the celebration of the prophet's [PBUH] birthday

I wanted to know whether Jamia Al Azhar which Kothar is promoting is same as Al Azhar University?

yes it is.

Al Azhar has been described by many as the worlds first university, and I believe the Al Azhar was also the first building to mark the new Isma’ili capital Al-Qahriya (Cairo).

It is interesting to note that Isma’ilis chose to mark the building of their capital with an institution of learning, because of this it is a building, which better than any other exemplifies the Isma’ili belief in the importance of the search for knowledge, and wisdom.

Sadly the original library was burnt after its conquest, in an effort to eradicate its Isma’ili origin, which is a reoccurring theme amongst extremists.

after which conquest the original library was burnt. when saladin conquered egypt, he did not burn any library. if you do have historical refrence, please append them.

Jinx wrote;

Saladin (the butcher) when he conqured Egypt, slaughtered many Ismailis and Shias and force convert everyone to his brand of Islam - Sunnism

Which history book you are reading? Can you name them?

(the butcher)

Where did you get this?

Burhan school of hate and curses?
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Originally posted by accountability:
after which conquest the original library was burnt. when saladin conquered egypt, he did not burn any library. if you do have historical refrence, please append them.

saladin burnt the Libraries of Al-Azhar and Dar Al- Hikma (house of Wisdom), as well as all the other Cairo based libraries, he also undertook a programme of persecution of the Hafizi Isma'ili population which is now extinct thanks to his pious efforts.

Farhad Daftary, the Isma'ilis thier history and doctrines; pages 272-275.

P.Casanova, Les Derniers Fatimids.

Ibn Al-Qalanisi, Dhayl.

Jamia al-Azhar is simply the Arabic name for the al-Azhar university-mosque.