Al-Azhar University
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The Al-Azhar University (Arabic: جامعة الأزهر Jami ʿ at al -Azhar ) in Cairo is one of the most prestigious educational institutions of the Islamic world, according to the University of Al- Qarawiyyin of Fez - founded in 859 - the second oldest madrasa in the world. Her name is derived from al-Zahra ', an epithet of Fatima, the youngest daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. The significance of the university is also reflected in the number of students, the outside of which is fully aware of what is common to American or European universities: in 2004, about 375,000 students were enrolled at Al-Azhar, including 150,000 women. The tasks of Azhar are defined in the Egyptian Azhar Act of 1961.
- 3.1 Beginnings and early development
- 3.2 Modern reform process
Structure
The intellectual and spiritual leader of the university is the Sheikh al -Azhar, who also leads the Western title of " Grand Imam ". Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi was, until his death on 10 March 2010 Supreme clergyman of the Azhar. The current Grand Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad at- Tayyib, who was also rector or president of the university and two years before Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt since 28 September 2003. In addition, al -Azhar has, inter alia, a commission of ulema ( Islamic scholars ) to judge on individual Islamic questions.
The faculty consists of about 16,000 teachers. Since the spring of 2006, plans are being discussed publicly, divide the University into three universities. The University is open today only Muslim students from all over the world. A co-education, as in the secular universities in Egypt, for example, the University of Cairo, is prohibited, the faculties ( inter alia medicine) are organized separately by gender.
Activities
Since ʿ wa
After Azhar Act of 1961, Azhar is responsible, " the Azhar entrusted to you, the Islamic message to pass on to all peoples." The Azhar takes this missionary task especially true by training preachers. Students from many Islamic countries come to Egypt to make here familiar with the azharitischen form of Sunni Islam. They live in Cairo on their own campus, the "City of the Islamic (students) missions " ( Madīnat al -bu ʿ al - Islamiya UT ).
Media
The Al-Azhar University has a print shop for printing the Qur'an and since the 1930s has its own magazine, the Maǧallat al -Azhar ( " Azhar journal "). The latter also appears digitally today. In 2005, the Al -Azhar online archive was opened. It is a joint venture between the University and " IT Education Project ( ITEP )" by Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai. The aim is to provide all 42,000 manuscripts (about 7 million pages) of the Azhar library registered users via the Internet. End of 2006, about 1.5 million pages were obtained for subscribers.
Inter-religious dialogue
The al -Azhar University has its dialogue with the Catholic Church on 20 January 2011 due to alleged " anti-Islamic remarks by Pope Benedict XVI. in recent times, " is" frozen ".
History
Beginnings and early development
After the Al-Azhar mosque was completed 972 after two years of construction, the studies began in October 975, according to the Islamic calendar month of Ramadan 365 AH (after Hijra ). Chief Justice Abul Hasan Ali ibn an- Nu'man lectured in his lectures on an important work of Shiite jurisprudence. The actual theological college ( madrasa ) was founded in 988 during the reign of the Fatimids by the grand vizier Yaqub ibn Killis ( 979-991 ) in Cairo. It was created as an educational center, focus of teaching were the theology and jurisprudence ( fiqh ). In the 10th century also pioneering anatomical studies were carried out by Ali Nimer Ali Ibn Nu'man, a nephew of the famous Chief Justice Abul Hasan Ali ibn an- Nu'man. These fundamental studies on the methodology of section have had a significant influence on Avicenna's medical study. The Azhar was created as a body of Ismaili Shia and Sunni was 1171.
For the students and the teaching staff accommodation and food was provided. The University grew later than the destruction of Baghdad by the Mongols under Hulagu to important Islamic education center on which was attended mainly by students from North Africa, Nubia and the Middle East. Today there are also many European and North American " Azhari ", many of them are converts. They are usually brought on their own university campus.
Modern reform process
A first modern reform took place under the Khedive Ismail Pasha, who as a new diploma ālimīya the ʿ ( ʿ alim of " scholar " ) introduced in 1872, which replaced the traditional authorization by Idschāza. Another reform that entered into force in 1911, stipulated that the rector of the Azhar was nominated by the Khedive, enlarged the Advisory Board, which now consisted of the Rector, the sheikhs of the four schools of law, the Director General of foundations and three members appointed by the Council members, and created a tribunal of 30 senior scholars from which also the rector was elected. The University has developed in that time one of the most important centers of Islamic scholarship and moved students from all countries. At the same time they also opened to non- Muslims and Shiites. As the first European student Ignaz Goldziher the Orientalist was in 1873 admitted to study at the Azhar. 1910 met the then Shaykh al -Azhar al - Salīm Bishri together with the Iraqi Twelver Shia scholar Muhammad al- Husain al - Ghita Āl Kāschif ʾ.
A law that was passed on 16 November 1930 brought a further reform. The University has now been divided into three faculties: Islamic jurisprudence ( fiqh ), theology and Arabic language. The tribunal of first-rate scholars competence was awarded to judge whether scholars had made themselves guilty of an act that violated the dignity of their office. The composition of the Advisory Board has been changed: The sheikhs of the four schools of law were replaced by the sheikhs of the three faculties, and completes the Council by the Grand Mufti. Furthermore, it was determined that new students were not allowed to be older than 16 years at commencement of study.
In 1955, after the revolution of the Free Officers and the seizure of power by Gamal Abdel Nasser, the former Education Minister Taha Husain made the proposal to convert the Azhar University in a theological faculty, which should be integrated into a modern university. In July 1961, a comprehensive reform of the Azhar took place under Sheikh Mahmud Schaltut who took up the ideas of Husain, but reversed their direction. Instead of integrating the Azhar in a modern university, the modern education system was integrated into the Azhar. For example, technical, educational and medical faculties were opened and opened numerous branches inside and outside Egypt. Organizationally, the Azhar to the supervision of the Egyptian Ministry of Religious Affairs ( Awqaf ) was assumed. This was conducted from October 1996 to January 27, 2011 by the theologian Mahmoud Zakzouk, who earned his doctorate in Munich in philosophy.
Famous people
Among the most famous former students and faculty of the University include Mohammed Amin al- Husseini, Yusuf al -Qaradawi, Jakup Hasipi, Mahmoud Schaltut, Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi and Ezzat Abou Aouf.