Cairo — The City Victorious

Founding and Name

Cairo (القاهرة, al-Qahirah, meaning 'the Victorious') was founded in 969 CE by the Fatimid general Jawhar al-Siqilli as a royal enclave near the older city of Fustat. The city quickly grew to become one of the largest and most important cities in the Islamic world. Its strategic location on the Nile, near the head of the Delta, made it a natural center for trade, culture, and governance.

Al-Azhar University

The Fatimids established al-Azhar Mosque in 970 CE, and it soon developed into al-Azhar University, the oldest continuously operating degree-granting university in the world. For over a thousand years, al-Azhar has been the preeminent institution of Sunni Islamic learning. Scholars trained at al-Azhar have shaped Islamic thought across the globe. The university teaches all four madhabs and has been a center for moderation and mainstream Sunni scholarship.

The Mamluk Era

Under the Mamluks (1250-1517 CE), Cairo reached its architectural and cultural zenith. The Mamluks built hundreds of mosques, madrasas, hospitals, and caravanserais, many of which still stand. The Sultan Hasan Mosque-Madrasa complex (1356-1363) is considered one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture. After the Mongol destruction of Baghdad in 1258, Cairo became the undisputed cultural capital of the Islamic world, hosting scholars, poets, and scientists who fled the devastation in the east.

Scholarly Legacy

Cairo has been home to some of the greatest scholars in Islamic history. Ibn Khaldun wrote his Muqaddimah there. Al-Suyuti produced over 500 works while based in Cairo. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, the author of Fath al-Bari (the greatest commentary on Sahih Bukhari), served as the chief judge of Egypt. The city's manuscript collections, housed in institutions like Dar al-Kutub, are among the richest in the world.