Al-Azhar University was founded in Cairo, Egypt around 970-972 by the Fatimid Dynasty of Egypt. These rulers were descended from Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.  Fatimah was called Az-Zahrah (the brilliant) and the university was named in her honor.  After

 the victory of Sultan Salahudin in his ruling over Egypt in the 12th century, Al-Azhar was reinstituted from a Shia’ madrasa to a Sunni madrasa. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt and possibly the world.  It is thought of as the chief center of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. To have graduated from this university was a high marker of prestige and erudite learning. After the secularization movement took firm hold, Al-Azhar University sharply declined from a decrease of funds and focus from the government and larger public, though its reputation maintained its positive image in the minds of Muslims. In 1961, it was established as a university under the government of Egypt and added non-religious subjects to its curriculum. The University is associated with the infamous Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo and is well-known for its faculty of Arabic Language. In recent years, there has been a resurgence in interest from all over the world in this university. Even at its lowest point, this institution of learning never lost its distinction for millions of Muslims around the globe. The reawakened interest to study Islam and Arabic put Al-Azhar University at the center of the minds of aspiring scholars. 

Not every student can fly over to Egypt to study at Al-Azhar.  What is the best alternative?  Study with a teacher that graduated from the university!  All of the Arabic teachers of Studio Arabiya have graduated with higher education degrees in the Arabic Language – many of them being from Al-Azhar University.