July 19th, 2022

There are some destinations that everyone should experience once in a lifetime, and Cairo is one of those destinations. Last October my husband and I had the pleasure of spending 4 days in Cairo while visiting Egypt.

One of the places we visited was Al-Azhar Mosque, located at the heart of Islamic Cairo. While there are hundreds of old mosques to visit in Cairo, there is none that can compete with Al-Azhar Mosque. Founded by the Fatimids in 970 AD as a mosque dedicated to both worship and learning, it developed over the centuries into the most important center of Islamic theology and learning in the world.

Over a thousand years since its founding, Al-Azhar Mosque and the university that bears its name draw students from all over the world to learn about the history of Islam and the different schools of thought that govern the interpretation of the Koran.

What you may not know is that it is also the place where the graduation black gowns originated from. The costume worn by students all around the world during their graduation was inspired by the flowing robes of the Islamic Scholars 'graduating' from Al-Azhar.
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If Cairo (and the rest of Egypt) is on your wishlist of places you would like to visit I would love to help you out. I have some great suppliers in Egypt, and together we will make sure you have a trip of a lifetime! Please contact me at lene@perfectlyplannedjourneys.com or 703-927-0588.