FILE - Al-Azhar headquarters in CairoCAIRO – 23 May 2018: A grand celebration will take place on Wednesday at Al-Azhar Mosque on the occasion of its 1,078th founding anniversary, on Ramadan 7 of every year.The celebration will see the attendance of Grand Imam Ahmad al Tayyeb alongside senior preachers, officials and leaders of Al-Azhar Mosque-University.A series of events will take place on the sidelines of the ceremony as the attendants are scheduled to take a tour at the AD 970 mosque and will participate in a seminar on the history of the mosque's founding and the first Friday prayer that was held in it.Founded during the reign of Fatimid Caliph, Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah, the Al-Azhar Mosque-University was first named after Fatima Zahra, prophet Muhammed’s daughter, and is recognized as the world’s highest Islamic authority; the university has been welcoming students and scholars from various nations.In March and during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman (MBS) to Egypt, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and bin Salman inaugurated Al-Azhar Mosque following a three-year maintenance period.During the visit, President Sisi and the Crown Prince reviewed the restoration works undertaken by the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) in Al-Azhar.

Source: Egypt Today May 23, 2018 12:00 UTC