Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt was founded in 970 AD. It has a hypostyle layout with an oblong open courtyard surrounded by arcades of reused ancient columns. The mosque was built in the Fatimid style but has undergone several expansions and renovations over the centuries. It is notable as the oldest continuously operating university in the world, teaching Sunni Islamic theology and law.

1.  Founded : 970 A.D
 Location : Cairo, Egypt
 Style: Hypostyle Mosque,
Fatimid
AL – AZHAR MOSQUE
CAIRO, EGYPT

2. INTRODUCTION
 Founded in 970,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.

3. P
L
A
N
 The ground plan shows
traces of the original
rectangular building with its
five aisles in front of the
Qibla.
 In 1496 the Mamluks added
the domed porch to the
mosques original rectangular
plan – with five aisles
running parallel to the qibla
PLAN
OBLONG OPEN
COURTYARD

4. CHARACTERISTICS
 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.
.
Central courtyard with dome and minarets

5. CHARACTERISTICS
 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
 Thus in its ornamentation and its use of brick, the first Fatimid architecture of
Cairo conformed to the Mesopotamian tradition brought to Egypt by Ibn Tulun
– while the reuse of ancient building materials recalled the Umayad
techniques.
Brilliant central courtyard of Al-
Azhar Mosque
Minarets of Al-Azhar Mosque in
central Cairo

6.  It consisted of five aisles running
parallel to the qibla wall.
 After the fall of the Fatimids,
however, the qibla wall was
demolished, and further aisles
were added.
Prayer hall of the al-azhar mosque
Ceiling in Al-Azhar Mosque
Inside column lined Al-Azhar Mosque
primary prayer room, with outlines on the
floor for each worshiper
Primary mihrab of Al-Azhar
Mosque
INTERIOR

7. It underwent several enlargements:
• The Qibla was demolished, while the original mihrab was preserved
• The prayer hall was lengthened, in the direction of Mecca, with four new bays
• The principal nave of the new part led to a new mihrab which was off centre.
• To the north, the façade of the entrance was completely remodeled and mamluk minarets were
added.
entrance courtyrad mihrab archade