<P> 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). </P> <P> 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 . </P> <P> Al - Azhar University is one of the relics of the Isma'ili Shi'a Fatimid dynasty era of Egypt, descended from Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad and wife of Ali son - in - law and cousin of Muhammad . Fatimah, was called Al - Zahra (the luminous), and it was named in her honor . It was founded as mosque by the Fatimid commander Jawhar at the orders of the Caliph and Ismaili Imam Al - Muizz as he founded the city for Cairo . It was (probably on Saturday) in Jamadi al - Awwal in the year AH 359 . Its building was completed on the 9th of Ramadan in the year AH 361 (AD 972). Both Al -' Aziz Billah and Al - Hakim bi-Amr Allah added to its premises . It was further repaired, renovated and extended by Al - Mustansir Billah and Al - Hafiz Li - Din - illah . Fatimid Caliphs always encouraged scholars and jurists to have their study - circles and gatherings in this mosque and thus it was turned into a university which has the claim to be considered as the oldest University still functioning . </P> <P> Studies began at Al - Azhar in the month of Ramadan, 975 . According to Syed Farid Alatas, the Jami'ah had faculties in Islamic law and jurisprudence, Arabic grammar, Islamic astronomy, Islamic philosophy, and logic . The Fatimids gave attention to the philosophical studies at the time when rulers in other countries declared those who were engaged in philosophical pursuits as apostates and heretics . The Greek thought found a warm reception with the Fatimids who expanded the boundaries of such studies . They paid much attention to philosophy and gave support to everyone who was known for being engaged in the study of any branch of philosophy . The Fatimid Caliph invited many scholars from nearby countries and paid much attention to college books on various branches of knowledge and in gathering the finest writing on various subjects and this in order to encourage scholars and to uphold the cause of knowledge . These books were destroyed by Saladin . </P>

Who is the founder of al azhar university
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