The Al-Azhar Mosque was the first architectural work established by the Fatimides in Egypt and the first mosque established in the city of Cairo. It was known from its beginnings as the Mosque of Cairo, and this name remained for most of the Fatimid government, then this name disappeared and the name of Al-Azhar took over the mosque, and this name remained to this day, and it has become one of the most famous Islamic institutions.

Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the amazing mosques and things to do in Cairo, it is considered the first university in history built more than thousand years ago in Cairo, people visiting Khan El Khalili can see the mosque during their one-day visits to Cairo. It was in the late 10th century to be the official mosque for congregational prayers held every Friday and is known in a rabic as Jummah.

The promoter of the fascinating Al-Azhar Mosque which is as old as the city of Cairo itself is also the great leader of the Fatimid army and the builder of Cairo, Gawhar El Seqelly, under the orders of the Fatimid Caliph, Al Mui’z the Din Allah. The building of Al-Azhar, which must be seen on regular trips to Egypt or day trips to Cairo from the airport, began in 970 AD and took around three years to complete.