Al-Azhar is a momentous mosque, whose foundation was laid by Gohar Al-Siqilli, the army commander of Al- Mu'iz Lidinallah A dynast of the Shia Fatimid Dynasty (909-1171) .
With the passage of ages, the Mosque earned a great reputation. Besides being a mosque, it also became a university for religious, Arabic and metaphysical sciences.

Al-Azhar ( in Arabic: the most flourished and shining) was so called either because it was surrounded by great glittering places, or as a hopeful disposition, or after the name of Sayeda Fatima Al-Zahra', daughter of the Prophet Mohammed may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, following the conqueror's usage of ascribing themselves to her.

Studies. began in Al-Azhar in Ramadan, 365,A.R., October,975,A.D., when Chief Justice Abul Hasan Ali ibn Al-No'man started teaching the book "Al-Ikhtisar",on the Shiite Jurisprudence. Other studies followed, and these studies advanced in the days of Al-Aziz., the Patimid, when university-pattern Studies took their first step. In Al-Azhar Mosque, Minister Yacoub ibn Kalas, taught his book "Al-Risalah Al-Aziziyah" on Sh.iite Jurisprudence. Thirty seven scholars were also appointed to help teach the students, on monthly salary basis. Hostels were constructed for their accommodation adjacent to Al-Azhar.
Later, and with the passage of time, the studies advanced further and varied in subject, comprising the four schools of Islamic Creed. The Shiite sect was overshadowed, leaving Al-Azhar as the principal seat for The Sunni sect. It was attended by students from all Muslim Countries.

Modern Era: 

During the reign of Khedive Ismail, the first statute for Al-Azhar was promulgated in 1822,A.D., whereby the steps for procurement of "Al-Alamiyah" Certificate and the relevant subjects to be studied were specified. Then, other laws regulating education at Al-Azhar followed, most important of which was the 1950 law, which divided education there into three categories, and introduced the faculty-education system, Faculty Of Shariat (Islamic Jurisprudence), Faculty of Theology ( Osoul Al-Deen ), and Faculty of the Arabic Language.

By law of 1961, Al-Azhar Faculties increased in number, and beside the theoritical faculties, other practical and technical faculties were established, such as that of Medicine, Engineering and Agriculture. Other theoretical and technical faculties were founded for girls, all of which are affiliated to the Al-Azhar university.

Al-Azhar University having a history spreading over 10 centuries (1031 years) is one of the oldest operating universities in the world if not the oldest.