On the 1086th anniversary of the foundation of Al-Azhar, we stand in reverence before an institution that has never been merely a mosque. Rather, it has long been – and remains- the oldest fully integrated university known in history, a beacon of knowledge whose light has shone uninterrupted for more than a millennium. Founded in 970 CE by the Fatimid commander Jawhar al-Siqilli , al-Azhar has been the destination of scholars, the guardian of Arabic Language, and a fountain of moderation from which the hearts of Muslims in both East and West have drawn inspiration.
Al-Azhar has never been merely an educational institution; it has been the conscience of a nation and the fortress of a homeland. At its threshold, the ambitions of invaders were broken, and from it arose the calls of resistance against occupation—from French invasion of Egypt to the Tripartite Aggression— inscribing luminous chapters in the defense of national freedom and the preservation of dignity.
Today, Al-Azhar continues its eternal mission under the leadership of His Eminence the Grand Imam, Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, remaining steadfast in its role as a deeply rooted scholarly authority, a prudent source of religious guidance, and a civilizational bridge that connects the legacy of the past with the horizons of the future.