Al-Azhar mosque and university, constructed during the Fatimids period, are named in honor of Fatima Az-Zahraa, the daughter of "Muhammad" the prophet, from whom the Fatimid Dynasty claimed descent. The mosque's construction began in 970 A.D. and was completed two years later and consequently opened for prayer. About 17 years later the mosque acquired university status and began teaching a variety of religious fields. The university has expanded greatly since then and teaches a variety of sciences including medicine, engineering and agriculture. The university was one of the first ever in the world and until today remains one of the most respected in the Islamic world. The overall structure appears irregularly built with avenues of columns leading around the complex. Teachers would sit at the bases of columns, surrounded by their students, following the tradition of there forefathers. The library contains approximately 50,000 volumes many of which are priceless. From a distance, the five minarets rising high above the complex are the most prominent feature. They make for spectacular look-out points from which one can view the hustle and bustle of Old Cairo.

The original design of Al-Azhar Mosque consisted of a court surrounded by three aisles. The largest aisle is the prayer direction one. A transept, which intersects the prayer direction aisle, has a ceiling higher than that of the mosque. A dome crowns the intersection of the passage with the mihrab colonnade.

The main entrance of the mosque was in the middle of the northwest wall. A colonnade was added to the court. A dome was added at the entrance of the passage intersecting the court. The additions took place at the end of the Fatimid era. Thereafter, additional structures were added in different eras.

There is no information about the original minaret or about its location. Also the present mihrab is not the original one. However, the original mihrab was discovered in AD 1934.

Two domes are found at the two corners of the prayer direction aisle. One of the domes is on the right corner to the right of the mihrab and the pulpit. Facing them is another dome in the left corner. The marble courtyard of Al-Azhar Mosque is the original one.