Did Wikipedia remove the word "" from the Al-Azhar University article?

Yes. In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it "connected to the mosque in cairo named to honor fatima az-zahraa". Today it says "public university in cairo". We saved the article's opening paragraph at 6 moments between 2005 and 2025, and the counts come from those saved copies.

When did the Al-Azhar University article stop using the word ""?

The word appeared 0 times in the opening at its peak in 2005. It is absent from today's opening, the part search engines quote and AI systems train on, checked against the live article on 2026-08-02.

How can I verify what Wikipedia's Al-Azhar University article used to say?

Each snapshot on this page links the Wikipedia revision it came from, so you can open their own history and compare. We also keep our own copy of the text, which stays readable if the article changes again.

What did Wikipedia remove from the Al-Azhar University article?

The opening as it read in 2005

Al-Azhar University in Cairo Egypt Al-Azhar University , or Al-Azhar Al-Shareef (الأزهر الشريف; literally, " The Noble Al-Azhar "), is connected to the mosque in Cairo named to honor Fatima Az-Zahraa , the daughter of Muhammad , from whom the Fatimid Dynasty claimed descent. The mosque was built in two years from 971 CE . The school of theology ( madrassa ) connected with it was founded in 988 as an Ismaili Shia school, but it later became a Sunni school, which it remains to this day. It is one of the oldest operating universities in the world. Al-Azhar is considered by most Sunni Muslims to be the most prestigious school of Islamic law, and its scholars are seen as the highest scholars in the Muslim world. Its stated objectives remain the propagation of Islamic culture and the Arabic language. To that end it maintains a committee of ulemas to judge on individual Islamic questions, a printing establishment for printing the Qur'an , and trains preachers trained in da'wa and the propagation of religious publicity. Al-Azhar is run by a Supreme Council forming general policy, headed by a Grand Imam, styled the "Sheikh Al-Azhar." Unlike most universities it does not admit students who are not practicing Muslims, thus it combines the institutions of a Western theological seminary with faculties, established in 1961 , of medicine and engineering. Its library, which was consolidated in 1897 , is considered second in range and importance only to Dar Al-kotob Al-Masriah in Egypt, as far as the number of Islamic books and manuscripts are concerned. The library comprises of 99,062 books consist of 595,668 volumes of the most precious manuscripts and rare books, some as old as the 8th century. The library is center of attraction to the researchers of Al-Azhar students and other Islamic universities. It contributes in propagating knowledge by making photo copies of some of the manuscripts available for the benefit of researchers from Egypt, Arab and Islamic countries. The library does not collect non-Islamic literature. Since 1929 Al-Azhar has published a magazine (now monthly) whose stated purpose is to promulgate religious rules, subjects related to the propagating of Islamic literature, and basic jurisprudence ( shariah ) , including sections on history, biographies, translated texts and news concerning the Muslim world. The current Imam of Al-Azhar has declared that the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks and suicide bombers are "heretics" who are not following the true path of Islam . In a recent conference in Indonesia , he asked all "true believers" to deny speakers of violently heretical Islam places to speak in the mosque, thus preventing the spread of violent ideologies.¹

This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 16148442.

The opening as it stood in 2010 16 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear

Al-Azhar University (pronounced "AZ-har", ; Al-ʾAzhar al-Šarīf , "the Noble Azhar") in Egypt , founded in 970~972 as a madrasa , is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Sunni Islamic learning in the world. The second oldest degree-granting university in Egypt after the Cairo University , its establishment date may be considered 1961 when non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum. It is associated with Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo . The university's mission includes the propagation of Islamic religion and culture . To this end, its Islamic scholars ( ulamas ) render edicts ( fatwas ) on disputes submitted to them from all over the Sunni Islamic world regarding proper conduct for Muslim individuals or societies (a recent example being the clarification and thus prohibition of female genital cutting ). Al-Azhar also trains Egyptian government appointed preachers in proselytization ( da'wa ). Its library is considered second in importance in Egypt only to the Egyptian National Library and Archives . In May 2005, Al-Azhar in partnership with a Dubai information technology enterprise, ITEP launched the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Project to Preserve Al Azhar Scripts and Publish Them Online (the "Al-Azhar Online Project") with the mission of eventually providing online access to the library's entire rare manuscripts collection (comprising about seven million pages). The Al-Azhar is considered by one author the world's second oldest surviving degree granting university . However, this claim on precedence appears to confound the distinct nature of madrasas and medieval universities which followed very different historical trajectories until the former were expanded to the later in modern times , and fails to take into account that the Islamic Ijazah certificate deviated in concept and procedure from the medieval doctorate out of which modern university degrees evolved. From jami`ah to university: multiculturalism and Christian–Muslim dialogue, Current Sociology 54(1):112-32. Later, it was exported to all parts of the world, including the Muslim East; and it has remained with us down to the present day. But back in the middle ages, outside of Europe, there was nothing anything quite like it anywhere. Encyclopedia of Islam has an entry on "madrasa" but notably lacks one for a Muslim "university" (Pedersen, J.; Rahman, Munibur; Hillenbrand, R. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Journal of the American Oriental Society . 109 (2): 175–182 (176). Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. "al- Azhar (al-Ḏj̲āmiʿ al-Azhar)." Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P.

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Interior of Al-Azhar mosque Faculty of Humanities - Al-Azhar University - Gaza . An entrance to the mosque and university. The Minaret of Qunsah al Ghuri is visible on the right. Floor plan of Al Azhar Mosque An Azhari institute in Tanta Gateway Interior of a dome in Al-Azhar mosque. A chandelier adorns the woodworked ceiling of a prayer hall. A study hall Al-Azhar University ( AHZ -har ; Jāmiʻat al-Azhar (al-Sharīf) , , "the (honorable) Azhar University") is a university in Cairo , Egypt . Associated with Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo , it is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and is renowned as " Sunni Islam ’s most prestigious university" In addition to higher education, Al-Azhar oversees a national network of schools with approximately two million students. As of 1996, over 4000 teaching institutes in Egypt were affiliated with the University. Founded in 970 or 972 by the Fatimids as a centre of Islamic learning, its students studied the Qur'an and Islamic law in detail, along with logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate the lunar phases of the moon. It was one of the first universities in the world and the only one to survive as a modern university including secular subjects in the curriculum. It is today the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. In 1961 additional non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum. Its mission is to propagate Islam and Islamic culture . To this end, its Islamic scholars ( ulamas ) render edicts ( fatwas ) on disputes submitted to them from all over the Sunni Islamic world regarding proper conduct for Muslim individuals and societies . Al-Azhar also trains Egyptian government-appointed preachers in proselytization ( da'wa ). Its library is considered second in importance in Egypt only to the Egyptian National Library and Archives . In May 2005, Al-Azhar in partnership with a Dubai information technology enterprise, IT Education Project (ITEP) launched the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Project to Preserve Al Azhar Scripts and Publish Them Online (the "Al-Azhar Online Project") with the mission of eventually providing online access to the library's entire rare manuscripts collection (comprising about seven million pages). Globalized Islam: The Search for a New Ummah . In Egypt the number of teaching institutes dependent on Al-Azhar University increased from 1855 in 1986-7 to 4314 in 1995-6.

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Associated with Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo , it is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and is renowned as " Islam 's most prestigious university". In addition to higher education, Al-Azhar oversees a national network of schools with approximately two million students. As of 1996, over 4,000 teaching institutes in Egypt were affiliated with the University. Founded in 970 or 972 by the Fatimid Caliphate as a centre of Islamic learning, its students studied the Qur'an and Islamic law in detail, along with logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate the phases of the moon. While the Fatimids were Shia Muslims, they tolerated multitudes of different faiths coming and learning at Al-Azhar, until the time of Saladin . Today it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. In 1961 additional non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum. Its mission is to propagate Islam and Islamic culture . To this end, its Islamic scholars ( ulamas ) render edicts ( fatwas ) on disputes submitted to them from all over the Islamic world regarding proper conduct for Muslim individuals and societies . Its library is considered second in importance in Egypt only to the Egyptian National Library and Archives . In May 2005, Al-Azhar in partnership with a Dubai information technology enterprise, IT Education Project (ITEP) launched the H.H. Globalized Islam: The Search for a New Ummah . In Egypt the number of teaching institutes dependent on Al-Azhar University increased from 1855 in 1986-7 to 4314 in 1995-6.

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University in Cairo, Egypt For the university in Gaza, see Al-Azhar University – Gaza . The Al-Azhar University ( / ˈ ɑː z h ɑːr / AHZ -har ; , , "the University of (the honorable) Al-Azhar") is a public university in Cairo , Egypt. Associated with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Islamic Cairo , it is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and is known as one of the most prestigious universities for Islamic learning. In addition to higher education, Al-Azhar oversees a national network of schools with approximately two million students. As of 1996, over 4,000 teaching institutes in Egypt were affiliated with the university. Founded in 970 or 972 by the Fatimid Caliphate as a centre of Islamic learning, its students studied the Qur'an and Islamic law in detail, along with logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate the phases of the moon. Today it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. In 1961 additional non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum. Its library is considered second in importance in Egypt only to the Egyptian National Library and Archives . In May 2005, Al-Azhar in partnership with a Dubai information technology enterprise, IT Education Project (ITEP) launched the H.H. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum project to preserve Al Azhar scripts and publish them online (the "Al-Azhar Online Project") to eventually publish online access to the library's entire rare manuscripts collection, comprising about seven million pages of material. Pedagogy in Islamic Education: The Madrasah Context . Globalized Islam: The Search for a New Ummah . In Egypt the number of teaching institutes dependent on Al-Azhar University increased from 1855 in 1986-7 to 4314 in 1995-6.

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Public university in Cairo, Egypt For the historic mosque building, see Al-Azhar Mosque . The Al-Azhar University ( / ˈ ɑː z h ɑːr / AHZ -har ; Arabic : جامعة الأزهر , IPA: [ˈɡæmʕet elˈʔɑzhɑɾ eʃʃæˈɾiːf] , lit. ' University of Al-Azhar ' ) is a public university in Cairo , Egypt. Associated with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Islamic Cairo , it is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and is known as one of the most prestigious universities for Islamic learning. In addition to higher education, Al-Azhar oversees a national network of schools with approximately two million students. As of 1996, over 4,000 teaching institutes in Egypt were affiliated with the university. Founded in 970 or 972 by the Fatimid Caliphate as a centre of Islamic learning, its students studied the Qur'an and Islamic law , along with logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate the phases of the moon. Today it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. In 1961 additional non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum. Its library is considered second in importance in Egypt only to the Egyptian National Library and Archives . In May 2005, Al-Azhar in partnership with a Dubai information technology enterprise, IT Education Project (ITEP) launched the H.H. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum project to preserve Al-Azhar scripts and publish them online (the "Al-Azhar Online Project") to eventually publish online access to the library's entire rare manuscripts collection, comprising about seven million pages of material. Times Higher Education (THE) . 28 September 2023 . Pedagogy in Islamic Education: The Madrasah Context . Globalized Islam: The Search for a New Ummah . In Egypt the number of teaching institutes dependent on Al-Azhar University increased from 1855 in 1986–7 to 4314 in 1995–6.

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