English: Al-Azhar University (ahz-har; Arabic: جامعة الأزهر (الشريف)‎ "the (honorable) Azhar University") is a university in Cairo, Egypt. Associated with Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo, it is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and is renowned as "Sunni Islam’s most prestigious university"

Founded in 970 or 972 by the Fatimids as a centre of Islamic learning, its students studied the Qur'an and Islamic law in detail, along with logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate the lunar phases of the moon.[citation needed] It was one of the first universities in the world and the only one to survive as a modern university including secular subjects in the curriculum. It is today the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. In 1961 additional non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum. Its mission is to propagate Islam and Islamic culture. To this end, its Islamic scholars (ulamas) render edicts (fatwas) on disputes submitted to them from all over the Sunni Islamic world regarding proper conduct for Muslim individuals and societies. Al-Azhar also trains Egyptian government-appointed preachers in proselytization (da'wa).[citation needed]

Al-Azhar is the only university known for its superior higher degree of knowledge, Alamia, العالمية Habilitation higher doctorate. Historically, the professorial jurisprudence scientist was the most recognised stage of scholarship.

Ghuri minaret

The double finial minaret was built in 1509 by Qansah al-Ghuri.[94] Sitting on a square base, the first shaft is octagonal, and four sides have a decorative keel arch, separated from the adjacent sides with two columns. The second shaft, separated from the first by a fretted balconies supported by muqarnas, is also octagonal and decorated with blue faience. A balcony separates the third level from the second shaft.

The third level is made up of two rectangular shafts with horseshoe arches on each side of both shafts. Atop each of these two shafts rests a finial, with a balcony separating the finials from the shafts [Wikipedia.org]