CAIRO, Feb 18 (AFP) - Al-Azhar, the highest Sunni Muslim authority, which will host a visit by Pope John Paul II on Thursday, calls itself the "fortress of Islam" against atheism and depravity.
"Al-Azhar has always been and is still the fortress of Islam and the Arabic language," Al-Azhar said in a statement. Its role is to spread Islam's message across the globe, preserve Islam's cultural heritage, reverse the trend toward atheism and refute the doctrine of subversion as well as fight anarchy, decadence and depravity.
"Al-Azhar is the reflection of true Islam, moderate, tolerant and thoughtful, which rejects and condemns fanaticism and terrorism," said institution official.
The head of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, is considered close to the government of President Hosni Mubarak, which in the last decade has fought a battle against Islamic extremists.
With the scope of its research, Al-Azhar has become the absolute reference in terms of legislation and guidance for Sunni Muslims, the institution said.
Al-Azhar is divided into five bodies: the Superior Council headed by Sheikh Tantawi, the Academy for Islamic Research, the University, the University Campus, and Al-Azhar institutes. The Superior Council formulates general policy.
"Sunnis form the majority of Muslims, whose number now exceeds one billion and amounts to one-fifth of the world's population," said University President Ahmed Omar Hashem.
By establishing centers around the world, Al-Azhar spreads its influence by providing preachers and top researchers as well as religious works and copies of the Quran.
The famed mosque at Al-Azhar was completed in 972 A.D., built on orders from Gohar al-Siquilli, commander of the army, which conquered Egypt in the name of the Fatimid caliph Al-Mu'iz.
Al-Azhar, which means the "most flourishing and resplendent," was named after Fatima al-Zahraa, daughter of the prophet Mohammed, who gave rise to the Fatimid dynasty which governed Egypt from 969 to 1171.
The first courses at Al-Azhar were given in 975 and the first college was built 13 years later. The college, which later became the most important Sunni Muslim university, was ironically designed to spread the ruler's Shiite Islam to Egypt's Sunni Muslim population. Today Shiites form a minority among the world's Muslims but make up majorities or large numbers in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Bahrain.
Reformed in 1961 to adapt to the modern world, the university that taught theology, Arabic and metaphysics was divided into a total of 60 faculties, including medicine.
Men and women live and study there separately, in accordance with Islamic tradition, and receive a religious education in addition to their specialization. A total of 195,000 students are enrolled, including 12,000 students from 93 different countries, its president said.
The library, which was founded in 1897, is stocked with more than 60,000 works, including 15,000 rare manuscripts.
