Al-Azhar University celebrated its 1086th founding anniversary on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, with a grand ceremony held at its main mosque in Cairo. The event highlighted the institution’s long-standing role as a symbol of Islamic scholarship, worship, and civilization. Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Professor Dr. Nazir Ayyad, emphasized that Al-Azhar was built on the strength of knowledge rather than political power, grounded firmly in the Quran and Sunnah. University President Professor Dr. Salama Juma Daud described Al-Azhar’s scholars as vast oceans of knowledge who enriched generations with their encyclopedic wisdom.

Historical accounts note that construction of Al-Azhar began soon after the founding of Cairo under Fatimid Caliph Al-Muizz li-Dinillah in 969 CE. The mosque was completed in 27 months, and the first congregational prayer was held on June 21, 972 CE. In 1172 CE, Sultan Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi transformed Al-Azhar into a central Sunni institution representing the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence, shaping its evolution into a global hub of Sunni scholarship.