Al-Azhar University

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/al-azhar-university

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Al-Azhar University built?970 CE
2. What is the location?Cairo, Egypt
3. What is the primary historical focus?Islamic jurisprudence, theology, and Arabic language
4. What is Al‑Azhar University?Al‑Azhar University is a very old school in Cairo, Egypt, that began in 970 CE as a mosque and learning center for Islam. Today it is a full university with many subjects, from religion to medicine and engineering.
5. Why is Al‑Azhar University famous?It has trained many scholars, judges, and teachers who influence Islamic law and culture around the world. Its teachings are consulted on many important religious and ethical questions.

Madrasa: A traditional Islamic educational institution, often associated with a mosque.
Fiqh: Islamic jurisprudence, the understanding of Islamic law derived from the Quran and Sunnah.
Fatimid Caliphate: A Shi'a Islamic caliphate that ruled over North Africa, Sicily, and parts of the Middle East from the 10th to the 12th centuries.
Sunni Tradition: The largest branch of Islam, emphasizing the importance of the Sunnah (the teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad).