Been praying Taraweeh at Masjid al-Azhar for a few nights. Surprisingly, Masjid al-Azhar is one of the only masjids that pray 20 rak’aat for taraweeh. I’m going to try to go to several different mosques throughout Ramadan and will post some info inshaAllah. As for Masjid al-Azhar:

  • The university was founded by the Fatimid dynasty of Egypt, descended from Fatimah (may God be pleased with her), daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Fatimah was called Az-Zahra (the brilliant), and the university was named in her honor.
  • Studies began at Al-Azhar in the month of Ramadan, 975 AD (364 AH). The university had faculties in Islamic law and jurisprudence, Arabic grammar, Islamic astronomy, Islamic philosophy, and logic.
  • Azhar University is the world’s second oldest university that is currently in operation; the first being University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Morcocco.