| Al-azhar University |
Article Index for Al-azhar |
Articles about Al-azhar University |
Website Links For University |
Information AboutAl-azhar University |
|
Al-Azhar University ()'' connected with it was founded in 988 AD. Studies began in Al-Azhar in Ramadan by October 975 AD, when Chief Justice Abul Hasan Ali ibn Al-No'man started teaching the book "Al-Ikhtisar", on the Shiite Jurisprudence . It became a Sunni school towards the end of the Middle Ages , an orientation it retains to this day. It is one of the Oldest Operating Universities in the world. REPUTATION Al-Azhar is considered by most Sunni Muslim s to be the most prestigious school of Islam ic learning, and its scholars are seen as some of the most reputable scholars in the Muslim World . Among its stated objectives is the propagation of Islamic religion and culture and the Arabic Language (the language of the Qur'an .) To that end, it maintains a committee of Ulema s (Islamic scholars) to judge on individual Islamic questions, a printing establishment for printing the Qur'an, and training (government-appointed) preachers in spreading '' Da'wa ''. POLITICS Al-Azhar is run by a Supreme Council forming general policy, headed by a Grand Imam, known as "Sheikh Al-Azhar." Unlike most universities, it does not admit students who are not practicing Islam, thus it combines the institutions of a Western Theological Seminary , with those of the faculties established in 1961 . In 1961, Al-Azhar was reorganized by the Nasser Government and several secular faculties were added to the university, such as medicine, engineering, agriculture, as well as an Islamic women's faculty; added 6 years after Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah became (In 1955) the first woman to speak at the university. LITERATURE Al-Azhar library, which was consolidated in 1897 , is considered second in range, variety and importance only to the Egyptian National Library And Archives in Cairo. It comprises 99,062 books consisting of 595,668 volumes of Islamic manuscripts and rare books, some dating back to the 8th century. The library is a center of attraction to researchers, students and other Islamic universities. The library does not collect non-Islamic literature. Since 1929 , Al-Azhar has published a magazine (now monthly) whose stated purpose is to advertise religious rules, subjects related to Islamic literature, and basic jurisprudence ''( Shariah )'', including sections on history, biographies, translated texts and news concerning the Muslim world. In 2005, the Al Azhar online document archive was launched 1. This is a joint venture between the university and the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum IT Education Project (ITEP) in Dubai. The archive intends to eventually give access to all 42,000 manuscripts (c. 7 million pages) in Al Azhar library. RESPONSE TO NEGATIVE PRESS Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy , the current Imam of Al-Azhar, has declared that the perpetrators of the 9/11 Attacks and suicide bombers are "heretics" who are not following the true path of Islam . In a recent conference in Indonesia , he asked all "true believers" to deny speakers of extremist and heretical forms of Islam places to speak in the mosque, thus preventing the spread of violent ideologies. Ali Gomaa', the Egyptian Mufti associated with Al Azhar, has also declared that insurgents who kidnap and kill civilians in Iraq are the ones which Islam has authorized to thwart and eradicate since they wreak havoc on Earth. However, Shaykh Tantawy, goes extends the culture by putting among the priorities of muslims "to master all knowledge of the world and the hereafter, not least the technology of modern weapons to strengthen and defend the community and faith". He adds that "Mastery over modern weaponry is important to prepare for any eventuality or prejudices of the others, although Islam is a religion of peace."2. He also re-states a tenet common to many religious leaders, that his is the best faith to follow, and of the duty of active da'wa; while reinforcing the difference between the non-Muslims living apart from Muslims and who are not enemies of Islam ("Muslims are allowed to undertake exchanges of interests with these non-Muslims so long as these ties do not tarnish the image of the faith"), and "the non-Muslims who live in the same country as the Muslims in cooperation and on friendly terms, and are not enemies of the faith" ("In this case, their rights and responsibilities are the same as the Muslims so long as they do not become enemies of Islam"). In that last perspective, note may be taken of the great quantity of alumni from that university who have filled the most prominent (and countless lesser) ranks in fundametalist Islamic movements - starting with Hassan I-Sabbah, founder of the Assassins in the 11th century. Recent times have seen Hassan Al-Banna founding the Muslim Brotherhood , responsible for the assassination of Egyptian prime minister Mahmud Fahmi Nokrashi in 1948, to "promote Islamic values". ALUMNI, STUDENTS AND FACULTY Before 1800 1800 - early 1900s
1910-1950s
1950-
SEE ALSO
mohamed Kenya REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS |
|
|