Welcome to the Study in Egypt Wiki

The content on this Wiki will be updated regularly insha Allah.  At first the concentration will be to update the Wiki with information on studying at Al-Azhar University in Cairo.  In the future the Wiki will insha Allah include information on studying Arabic in Egypt and life in Egypt for Western students.

Entering the Al-Azhar System

1. Introduction to Studying at Al-Azhar


2. Overview of Entering Al-Azhar


3. Preparing for Al-Azhar


4. Studying for the Al-Azhar Entrance Exams


5. Past Exams for Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth


6. Registering for the Al-Azhar Entrance Exams


7. Taking the Al-Azhar Oral Entrance Exam


8. Taking the Al-Azhar Written Entrance Exams

Studying at Al-Azhar High School

1. Registering for Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth


2. Obtaining a Tasdeeq from Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth


3. Obtaining an Al-Azhar Student Visa


4. Classes at Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth


5. Registering for Graduation Exams at Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth


6. Past Exams for Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth

Studying at Al-Azhar University

1. Curriculum for the College of Sharee3ah


2. Curriculum for the College of Usool Al-Deen

Public Classes and Lectures

1. Classes at Al-Azhar Mosque

Living in Egypt

1. Apartments in Cairo

Here is the schedule of lectures and classes at Al-Azhar Masjid, accurate as of January 10, 2010.  Note that these classes vary in terms of quality and pace of study, so it is useful to ask other students about individual classes.  The old schedule is available here.

The following is the list of classes and exams for students in Al-Azhar University stuyding Sharee3ah Islaamiyyah.

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

This is the list of classes and exams for students in the College of Usool Al-Deen at Al-Azhar University.  There are four emphases, and the classes for the first two years are shared between the emphases.  The subjects marked with an asterisk are also tested orally.

First Year

Below are step-by-step instructions on how to apply to Al-Azhar University.  Note that these instructions apply to the 2008-2009 school year, and may change in the future.  There may be slight differences in these steps for a non-Westerner.

Registration usually opens in August of each year and continues until after Ramadan for the first round of exams.  If the student misses the deadline for the first round of exams, he/she can usually enter the second round instead.

All of these steps can be done in Ramadan.  Note that working hours change in Ramadan, and a student should plan on performing these steps before Zuhur prayer on a given day.

These steps can be performed on two separate days if the student begins early in the day. It is Highly recomeneded to start as early as possible, as the workers are less busy and less stressed in the mornings, and more helpful.   Depending on which hospital the student performs the blood work and the workload of the analysis office the student may have to wait from one day to one week for the results.  Therefore, a student should plan on taking a week to perform all of these steps but may be able to complete them in two days.

Prerequisites

The student should meet the criteria mentioned in the page on Preparing for Al-Azhar.  The student should also read the Introduction to Studying at Al-Azhar.

The student should purify his/her intentions for entering Al-Azhar and ask for help from Allah (swt).  The student needs to be patient when going through this process.

The student needs to have a visa that is valid for at least a month after the day the application is turned in.  If necessary, the student should apply for a visa renewal prior to going through this process.

Initial Steps

The following can be done in one day if the student begins early in the morning.

1. The student needs to go to his/her embassy and request a letter for permission to study at Al-Azhar for the department of foreigners (Al-Waafideen).  The US Embassy will give the student a letter stating that they witnessed the student saying he/she wants to study in Al-Azhar, as the US governement does not give or deny permission for these issues.  Other embassies may operate differently.  This letter costs $30 or 170 LE at the embassy.  The student must go to the American Citizen Services section in the embassy, which is open from 8-11 AM from Sunday to Thursday excluding Egyptian and American holidays.  The embassy is located in Garden City near the Nile River (http://wikimapia.org/498427).


2. The student then goes to the Azhar administration building called Majma3 Al-Buhooth Al-Islaamiyyah.  Note that the offices are closed on Friday and Saturday.


3. 
   
   The department for foreigners is on the fourth floor of this building, on the left side of the hallway that a student enters from the staircase or elevator.  The student needs to go to the office on the left side that is labeled Al-Iltihaaq Bi Al-Thaanawiyyah (some letters and dots may be missing), present to them a passport and the letter from the embassy, and ask for "Tahdeed Al-Mustawaa".  The student will be given the application form and be sent to another office down the hall to get the embassy letter translated.
   
   


4. 
   
   The student goes to the office down the hall where the translation is done (the workers in the first office will tell the student the translator's name so the student can ask for that person).  The translator will ask the student for some information and fill out the personal details section of the application form, as well as translate the embassy letter.  The student should ask him to translate the passport as well if his/her visa is valid for at least 6 weeks.  If not, the student can get the passport translated later when turning in the application.  The translator will hand all of the documents back to the student.
   
   


5. 
   
   The student continues to the end of the hall to pay for the application form.  In Egypt official payment is done through postal-style stamps, and the student will pay 4 LE and receive 4 stamps of 1 LE each or more stamps if the denominations are lower.  These stamps have to be put in 4 places on the application form where it says "Ad-Damghah".  If this office is closed, then there is a copy place across the street on At-Tayreen St. called Maktabah Al-Husayn where the student can get stamps.
   
   

Blood Work Steps

1. The student goes to the Al-Husayn hospital to get his/her blood tests done.  The student will need 2 passport size pictures and the application form for this step.  The hospital is next to the original Al-Azhar campus in the Khan Al-Khalili / Maydaan Al-Husayn area (http://wikimapia.org/7337449).  If the student is performing these steps in Ramadan, then he/she should arrive at the hospital no later than 11:30 AM.  The hospital officially opens around 8 AM but it is better for a student to come after 9 AM.


2. When a student enters from the main entrance of the hospital, he/she should continue straight through the hallways until he/she reaches the open area before the exit.  The blood work hallway is to the left.  The student goes to the end of the hallway, where the actual blood samples are taken.  The student shows the man sitting at the desk in front of this room the Al-Azhar application form and lets him know that he/she wants "Tahleel Al-Damm".  He will direct the student to the secretary.  The secretary's office is right before this desk to the right.  If she is not in this office, he will direct the student to another room behind the blood room.  This room can be found by going through the blood room, exiting the door in the back (out of the building), and going into to the room immediately to the right.


3. The student gives the secretary the application form and the 2 pictures.  She will return the application to the student after attaching the pictures and give a receipt as well.  This receipt needs to be taken to the cashier to pay for the blood analysis.


4. The cashier is at the front of the building.  From the main entrance the student takes the second door to the right in the reception area.  The student then walks to the left to the end of the hall, and will find the cashier (Al-Khazeenah Al-Iqtisaadiyyah).  The student gives the cashier the receipt and 45 LE.  They will give the student two receipts, one blue and one pink.


5. The student takes the receipts and gives the blue one to the secretary along with the application (they will keep this for now).  Then the student takes the pink receipt and shows it to the man at the desk in front of the blood room.  He will give the student an empty test tube with the student's number written on it.  The student takes the test tube to the nurses in the blood room and has blood drawn.  If the student is female she can request that they take the blood out behind a curtain.


6. The student should then ask the man at the desk when to return for the results.  He usually says from 5 days to a week.

Remainder of Hospital Steps

Although the steps below for male students apply to Al-Husayn hospital, if the student did his blood work in Al-Zahraa' he can follow the same procedure as the female students below to get his other tests in done in Al-Zahraa' as well.  Note that the room numbers will be different for men.

1. The student goes back to the hospital to the secretary in the blood analysis department and gives her the pink receipt to get the application and results back.  The application will have some more information filled out, along with some signatures and ink stamps.  The student also receives a results paper with a passport picture attached.  The hospital tests for HIV and HCV (Hepatitis C).  If a student is positive for either of these he/she will unlikely be able to study at Al-Azhar (wAllahu a3lam).


2. For male students, the student can get his stomach and eye tests done in Al-Husayn as well.  The student takes his application and goes back to the cashier, shows it to them and lets them know that he wants an eye and stomach test.  The cost is 5 LE for each, and the student receives two receipts.  The student takes the receipts, take a few steps down the hallway that is next to the cashier (parallel to the hallway that brought him to the cashier), and takes the first right (it is very close).  He will be in an area where the hallways make a rectangle.  The eye test room is the right hallway and labeled "Ar-Ramad" and the stomach test room is in the left hallway labeled something like "Al-Bataniyyah" for men (there is one for women too).  The student gives the nurse or doctor inside the receipt and the application, and they will sign the application form.


3. Female students must go to Al-Zahraa' hospital in 3Abbaasiyyah for these tests.  If the student enters from the east entrance, she should go through the reception and go up the stairs one floor.  There is a cashier on one side in the reception area, and the other side has the examination room numbers labeled on the wall.  The student shows the cashier the form, but it seems she doesn't have to pay anything or get receipts.  She then goes to the stomach room (room 7) for the stomach exam and signature, and the eye room (room 15) for the other signatures.  The labels are the same as in Al-Husayn.

Turning in the Application

The final steps below can be done on the same day as the final hospital steps.

1. The student assembles the application packet.  This requires 2 folders (the thin report style folders will suffice, the student should keep the papers loose in them without punching holes or stapling).  The first folder needs the following: 
   
   
   
   • The completed application form.  The student should write in the section below the personal information section "Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah" in Arabic for the Ma3had to enter, and sign where it is required.  That is enough for this section.  On the back, the student fills out the top section stating that the information is accurate.  The embassy section does not need to be completed.
   
   
   • The blood test results page.
   
   
   • The embassy letter.
   
   
   • The translation of the embassy letter.
   
   
   • The passport translation.  If a student has not had the passport translated they need to go to the translator's office to obtain it.
   
   
   • 2 copies of the picture page of the passport and 2 copies of the visa page.
   
   
2. The second folder needs the following:
   • A copy of the completed application.
   • A copy of the blood test results.
   • A copy of the embassy letter.
   • A copy of the translation of the letter.
   • A copy of the passport translation.
   • A copy of the picture page and visa page from the passport.
   • One passport size picture in the front.
3. If the student does not have a Muslim name, he/she may need a certificate of proof that can be obtained from the office of the Shaikh of Al-Azhar near the Al-Azhar masjid.
4. There is a copy place (maktabah) on the other side of Tayraan St. across from the Majma3 where the student can make copies for the standard price of about 0.1 LE / copy and even buy folders and stamps.
5. The student takes the folders to the office in the Majma3 for Al-Iltihaaq and lets them know that he/she is applying for Al-Bu'ooth Al-Islaamiyyah.  They will give the student a letter that has to be filled out that asks for permission from the department head (they may ask the student to make a copy of it and give back the original).  The student will also need to get a 1 LE stamp to put on this letter from the same office as before or from the copy place.  It may be possible to get this letter when getting the application instead.
6. Turn in the folders with the letter to the office for Al-Iltihaaq.  They should tell the student if anything is missing in the paperwork.  Once turned in, they will likely tell the student when to go to the Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah to find out when the exams are.
7. The student should then thank Allah (swt) for facilitating this process.

The student should start checking for the oral exam announcement every Thursday after turning in the application, or after Ramadan if the application was turned in before then.  More information on the oral exam can be found on the page on Taking the Al-Azhar Oral Entrance Exam.

These exams are from previous years of exams at Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah in the Al-Azhar system.  The files are large, as they are scans of the exams or scans of copies of the exams.

Tahdeed Al-Mustawaa 

These exams are for students who are testing into the Al-Azhar system.

• Tawheed


• Tafseer


• Hadeeth


• Seerah


• Fiqh


• Nahu


• Sarf


• Balaagha


• Adab

Second Year High School

These exams are for students in the second year of high school taking the end of the year exams.

• 2007-2008
• 2006-2007
• 2005-2006
• 2004-2005
• 2003-2004
• 2002-2003

Third Year High School

These exams are for students in the final year of high school taking the graduation exams.

• 2007-2008
• 2006-2007
• 2005-2006
• 2004-2005
• 2003-2004

The following steps are required to obtain a student residency (visa) from Al-Azhar.  They apply to those studying at the Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth or at the university.

The residency is usually given for a full year from the date the student's current visa expires  It is multiple entry and can be used as proof of residency when opening a bank account.

Preliminary Steps

1. The student obtains a tasdeeq either from the ma3had or from the university.


2. From the passport office in Madeenat Al-Bu3ooth (located here) across from the Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah, the student obtains a residency application form.  This can be done while waiting for the tasdeeq, and should be done before coming to submit the paperwork.
   
   
   
   • The application can be obtained from window 7 (the cashier's window).  The cost is 8 LE and it includes 8 LE worth of stamps affixed to it.  It can be picked up any time the office is open.
   
   
3. The form should be filled out completely in English, with the purpose of residency stated as study.

Submitting the Paperwork

When the paperwork is ready, the student can submit it at the passport office by waiting in lines 4 or 5 for men, or line 6 for women.  Sometimes there are no women waiting to submit paperwork, so all three lines are opened to men.

Each nationality is given specific days to come in for submitting or picking up paperwork.  The days assigned for westerners are Saturday and Thursday.

It is advisable to arrive early in the morning for men to submit paperwork, as the lines tend to be very long.  It typically takes two hours waiting in line before a person's turn comes up.  The office opens at 8 AM.  If a student arrives at 7 AM or before, he will have to wait for the office to open but will end up waiting in line for a shorter period of time.  Typically one or two of the students takes down names of other students as they show up before 8 AM, so that each person will wait in line in the order he came.  If a student arrives before 8 AM, he should look around and ask for the person who is writing names down.

For women, submitting paperwork is much easier and faster as there are few women waiting to do so.  There is no need to arrive early, and even if all three lines are serving men the woman goes to the front of the third line (number 6) and can submit her paperwork without waiting long.

For married couples and families, it is possible to have the wife submit the paperwork even if the husband is the one who is studying at Al-Azhar.  The wife and husband can go together, and the wife can submit the paperwork by waiting in the line for women.

The following is required when submitting the paperwork:

1. Passport (this will be given back, they do not keep it)
2. Completed visa application form
3. Copy of passport (picture page)
4. A copy of all Egyptian visa pages in the passport
5. A passport size picture
6. Tasdeeq
7. 2 LE for stamps

For married couples, if one spouse is studying then the other can get the residency using the tasdeeq of the one studying.  The paperwork for the spouses should be submitten together, as well for the children for families.  Otherwise a new tasdeeq is required for each visit.  The office requires a translated and authenticated copy of a marriage certificate when submitting paperwork for a non-student spouse to get a residency based on the student spouse's tasdeeq.

A student must submit another copy of all his/her passport pages listed above for each extra person (spouse or children) who is receiving a visa on the student's tasdeeq.

When submitting the paperwork, the student should ask the worker at the window when the visa will be ready.  It usually takes about a week for the paperwork to be processed.

Obtaining the Residency

Once the visa is ready, the student comes back to the passport office to receive it.  The student needs to bring the passport as well as 3.5 LE.

A student needs to arrive early in the same manner as when submitting the paperwork.  Usually there is one student taking down names for those who are submitting paperwork, and another for those picking up visas.

The lines for picking up the residency are numbers 1-2 for men, and number 3 for women.  Students submit their passports as well as the fees, and then wait for them to be processed.

For women, it is advisable to arrive before 8 AM.  Although the line is short for women, the paperwork is handled in a different way.  When submitting paperwork, it is dealt with immediately and the student can leave.  When picking up the visa, the workers collect the passports  from the front of the lines and place them in a single stack.  Then they process each passport in the stack.  Therefore, if a female student arrives late her paperwork will be at the bottom of the stack.  The wait when picking up the visa is due to the length of time it takes to process the stack, so when a student submits the passport he/she can wait for his/her name to be called.

For couples and families, the wife can submit the passports for the entire family.  The husband should wait in the office even if the wife is submitting the passports, as the husband's name will be called out from the lines for men and he will have to go to the front of the line to pick up the processed passport.

A student should expect to wait one hour after the office opens for the passport to be ready if it is on the top of the stack, as the workers don't start processing the stack immediately.  If it is at the bottom of the stack it can take two hours or more.

Tested Subjects

There are nine written exams as part of the entrance process for Al-Azhar:

1. Tafseer


2. Hadeeth


3. Tawheed


4. Fiqh


5. Seerah


6. Nahu (Grammar)


7. Sarf (Etymology)


8. Balaagha (Rhetoric)


9. Adab (Literature)

Material to Study

Although it is possible to study the Al-Azhar middle school and high school textbooks that are the source material for these exams, it is better to study from various summaries that are available for each subject.  These summaries generally cover all of the material that appear on the exams and are designed for students in the Azhari system to use as study guides before exams.  They concisely and clearly present the material and a student is able to cover the same subject matter in much less time.

There are two series available, the first is called the Al-Waadih series and the second is called Al-Murshid.  The Al-Waadih series is considered to be superior by previous students.  Note that the Nahu and Sarf books in these series are titled Al-Tawdeeh fi An-Nahu and Al-Tawdeeh fi As-Sarf.

The Al-Waadih books are available at a bookstore behind the Al-Azhar mosque on a street called Darb Al-Atraak.  The bookstore is called Al-Maktabah Al-Azhariyyah Litturaath (المكتبة الأزهرية للتراث).  The books are cheap, costing a few LE each.  A full set of books covering all of the subject matter costs around 135 LE.

There is also a two part book that is aimed at students taking the entrance exams called the '3antara books, but it is not advised to use these books for more than a reference as they do not cover the entire course material.  A student who is dependent on these books would be very unprepared for the exams.

Exams from previous years are also available here.  It is very useful for a student to review these exams to get familiar with the exam style and the types of questions that appear on each exam.  It is also beneficial to complete these exams as practice.

The written exams cover the middle school and high school (1st and 2nd year only) material in the above subjects.  There is usually one Al-Waadih book per semester.

Most students can study the non-language subjects on their own without having to go through them with a teacher.  If a student is unable to do so due to difficulty in understanding the language, then he/she should concentrate on studying the language before studying this material.

The following are detailed descriptions of the material that is covered in each subject as well as other advice on studying for the specific exams.

The tafseer exam covers the final year of middle school and the first and second years of high school.

The curriculum for the last year of middle school has recently changed, but it seems that the old material that covers various ayahs from the Qur'an is still tested.  The new Waadih book covers difficult to understand words from the Qur'an, which is not tested.  The old Waadih book is no longer available.  A student can buy the actual textbook from the books department on the ground floor of the Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah.

The first year of high school covers Surah Al-Kahf.  There is only Waadih book for this year.  The second year covers Surah An-Noor and Surah Al-Ahzaab.

There is usually one question each year from the middle school material, one question on Surah Al-Kahf, and one question on either Surah An-Noor or Surah Al-Ahzaab.

The hadeeth exam covers the final year of middle school and the first and second years of high school.

Each year covers about sixty hadeeth.  There is usually one question on one hadith from each year.

The tawheed exam covers the final year of middle school and the first and second years of high school.

The last year of middle school covers As-Sam3iyyaat, the parts of faith that cannot be arrived by logic and must be heard from a trusted source such as the Siraat, the Meezaan, and punishment in the grave.  There is one Waadih book for this year, and it is combined with 2 other subjects into a single book.

The first year of high school covers Al-Ilaahiyyaat, attributes of Allah (swt).  There are two Waadih books for this year.  Note that the section on the ninety-nine names of Allah has not appeared on previous exams.

The second year of high school covers An-Nubuwwaat, the prophets, as well as Al-Firaq, the different sects that appeared in Islamic history.  The section on the sects rarely appears on the exams.  There are two Waadih books for this year as well.

There is usually one question on As-Sam3iyyaat, one on Al-Ilaahiyyaat, and one on An-Nubuwwaat.

The fiqh exam covers the first two years of high school. 

The first year of high school covers worship - purification, prayer, fasting, zakaah, hajj, and 3umrah.

The third year of middle school covers mu3aamalaat - business and trade, as well as crimes and punishments.

There are usually one or two questions from each year of fiqh on the exam.

Note that this section has been updated, and previously stated that material from middle school is covered.  This is because the curriculum recently changed for the high school, and new Waadih books are now available for the new curriculum.  The middle school books can still be studied for the exams as the material is the same.

In the past, family law was also tested, but it appears that it is no longer tested since the curriculum change.  It is currently covered in the third year of high school.

The seerah exam covers the three years of middle school.  There is one small Waadih book for each year.  The third year material can also be found combined with the Tawheed material for that year.

The books cover the entire life of the Prophet (S) as well as some background before his life, in addition to the lives of some of the companions.

There is usually one question on a single companion where the student must write what he/she knows about the companion.  There is also usually one question on one of the battles that was fought during the life of the Prophet (S).

The nahu exam covers the first and second year of high school.  There are two Tawdeeh books for each year, with quite a lot of detail in each one.

It is recommended that a student have a good grasp of Nahu before tackling the material in the Tawdeeh books.  A student  should have already studied grammar with a teacher beforehand as the subject matter is advanced.  The high school curriculum uses Sharh Ibn 3aqeel, which is an explanation of the advanced poem Alfiyah ibn Maalik.  A beginning text such as an explanation of Al-Ajrumiyyah or an intermediate text such as Qatr An-Nada can be a studied with a teacher either privately or at an Arabic institute.

If a student is not proficient in grammar and does not have time to study the beginning and/or intermediate texts with a teacher, then it is highly recommended to study the Tawdeeh books with a teacher to prepare for the exams.  If the student is able to, it is preferred to study Al-Ajrumiyyah or Qatr An-Nada or both with a teacher and then to review from the Tawdeeh books.

The Tawdeeh books have a lot of information and go into differences in opinions.  The student does not need to know these differences and can concentrate on the more accepted opinion for each issue in which there is a difference.

The sarf exam covers the first and second year of high school.  There are two small Tawdeeh books for each year.

It is recommended to have a good understanding of roots and derivatives in the Arabic language before studying these books.  The actual material in the books is not too difficult to understand, but entails a good amount of memorization.  Most students do not need a teacher to teach them this material.

The balaagha exam covers the first and second year of high school.  There are two Waadih books for the first year and one for the second.

It is highly recommended that the student go through an elementary text in balaagha with a teacher before going through this material.  Taking the time to go through an intermediate text such as Al-Balaagha Al-Waadiha (not to be confused with the Al-Waadih study guide book) is very helpful for the students as well.  If the student is not proficient in balaagha, it is best to go through the Waadih books with a teacher as balaagha is very dependent on understanding the culture of the Arabs and the examples are difficult for most students to understand because of the language used.

The adab exam covers the first and second year of high school.  There are two Waadih books for each year.

This subject consists of two parts: the history of literature from pre-Islamic times until the end of the second 3uthmaani period, and texts (poems, letters, khutbahs) from these periods.

There is usually one question on history, and two on texts that are chosen from the material.  The student will usually have to identify the title, author, era, and/or occasion of a text from a few lines from the text that are provided in the question.  The questions are usually both on poems, although sometimes one question will come from elsewhere.

The easiest way to identify poetry is to memorize the qaafiyah of each poem.  This is the last syllable of a line of poetry.  All of the poems that the exam covers have one or two unique ending syllables that every line of the poem shares (this is not the case for poetry in later eras such as what is covered in the third year of high school).

Summary of Material Covered on the Exams

The following is a summary of what is covered on the exams, and should be given to the workers at the bookstore that sells the Al-Waadih books (or Al-Murshid)  to make sure the student obtains all of the books.

1. Three years of middle school:  Seerah


2. Last year of middle school and first and second years of high school: Tawheed, Tafseer, Hadeeth


3. First and second years of high school: Nahu, Sarf, Balaagha, Adab, Fiqh

This page provides information on classes offered at the Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah for students in the Al-Azhar system.

Third Year of High School

The curriculum for the third year of high school can be downloaded here.

The following is a typical schedule for a student in the third year of high school in the Azhari system.  Each class is 40-45 minutes long.

The fiqh class also includes inheritance law (meeraath), although there is a separate book for inheritance.

There are thirteen textbooks for the third year, one for each subject above other than inshaa' and Qur'an as well as an addition for inheritance law.

The following are a list of written exams that are taken at the end of the year:

1. History


2. Geography


3. Adab (Mutaala3ah is included)


4. Nahu


5. Balaagha


6. Sarf


7. Inshaa' (essentially a writing exam)


8. Qur'an (writing ayahs from memory)


9. Tajweed


10. Tafseer


11. Hadith


12. Tawheed


13. Fiqh (including meeraath)

This is accurate for 2009, and may change in the future.  The curriculum can also be referred to for some of this information.

History - From Al-Fasl Al-3aashi to the end of the book (p. 153-250).

Geography - From Al-Fasl Al-Thaani to Al-Fasl Al-Thaamin (p. 31-163).

Adab / Mutaala3ah - unknown

Nahu - The entire book other than the following sections (musalsalaat): 66 - 74, 80 (the part on أصوات is not muqarrar, the part on أفعال is), 109 - 118.

Balaagha - The entire book other than the following sections: mabhath al-jaami3 (p. 82-88), muhsinaat al-wasl (p. 89-96), and the subsection al-takreer under al-itnaab (p. 116-117).

Sarf - unknown

Qur'an - Memorization of Surah Al-3nkaboot to Surah Al-Faatir for both the oral and written exams.

Tajweed - From Baab Al-Waqf wa Al-Ibtidaa' to the end of the book (p. 133-176).

Tafseer - The entire tafseer book (Surah Muhammad to Surah Qaaf).

Hadith - The first 60 hadith for the written exam, and the following 15 for memorization for the oral exam: 2, 7, 12, 16, 18, 25, 31, 33, 35, 41, 43, 49, 51, 55, 59.

Tawheed - unknown

Fiqh - unknown

Second Year of High School

The following is a typical schedule for a student in the second year of high school in the Azhari system.  Each class is 40-45 minutes long.

Students at Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah are required to register in order to take the graduation exams.  Students in the second or third year of high school are allowed to take the graduation exams, although students in the second year have to take the second year exams first.

Registration typically occurs in March.

Registering for Male Students

The following items need to be turned into the Students' Affairs office in the Ma3had:

1. 2 LE stamps


2. 2 personal photos - the size of each photo is 5x8 cm


3. Registration Form (to be filled out - a student can write بدون لغة if he doesn't want to take an English or French exam)


4. For students in the second year attempting to graduate (musaabaqah), a receipt from the Qitaa3 Al-Ma3aahid Al-Azhariyyah.  Instructions on how to obtain this can be found here.

Registering for Female Students

The following items need to be turned into the Students' Affairs office in the Ma3had:

1. 1.75 LE stamps


2. 2 personal photos - the size is 5x8 cm


3. 1 copy of the passport picture page


4. For students in the second year, a recipt needs to be obtained from the Qitaa3.

Information on studying at Al-Azhar University has been compiled on this wiki for Western Muslim students considering applying to the university for Islamic studies.  This information can be used by non-Western students as well, although some of the advice is not applicable to non-Westerners.

Why Study at Al-Azhar University?

Al-Azhar University is considered to be one of the oldest universities still in use today.  Many great scholars in Islamic history have studied at this institution.  There is much knowledge available at and around Al-Azhar University, and there are many scholars in Cairo of different backgrounds and ideologies that a stud

Al-Azhar University provides a balanced and diverse environment for students from all backgrounds.  Although the university officially has a particular ideology, many students and teachers follow different and even opposing ideologies.  This is one of the few institutions in the Muslim world that has this diversity.

Cairo is a developed city, and it is fairly easy for a Western student whether married or single to live comfortably and focus on studies rather than the environmental challenges that face students elsewhere.  Egypt is a very welcoming country for Westerners, and it is easy for a student to travel to.  The cost of living is not very high, and the attending the university is practically free.

The university itself allows all students to take the entrance exams, so a student does not have to rely on an arbitrary selection process to get into the university.  If a student works hard and passes all of the exams, then the student is allowed to enroll in studies.

Who Should Study at Al-Azhar University?

When a Western Muslim envisions the idea of studying Islam at a place such as Al-Azhar University, he/she tends to imagine that studying overseas is romantic and enjoyable, and will lead to an inevitable increase in one's faith.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.  Studying Islam in place such as Al-Azhar is very difficult, and a student will face many challenges and be tempted to leave without completing the course of study.  As with any degree program, studying at Al-Azhar is for specific people who have specific goals.  There are many other institutions in Egypt in which a student can get a general understanding of Islam and Islamic studies in a shorter period of time with less difficulty.

The first question a prospective student should ask themselves is "Why do I want to study at Al-Azhar?"  If the answer is for any worldly benefit, then Al-Azhar is not the place for him/her.  If the answer is to argue with those who hold a different opinion, then Al-Azhar is not the place for this person either.  If the answer is to get a basic understanding of Islam or to learn Arabic, there are other places that offer this education much more efficiently.  If the person is interested in becoming a scholar of Islam, whether in the field of Islamic law, or Tafseer, or Hadeeth, or Da3wah, then Al-Azhar is an appropriate place to learn.  Al-Azhar University is also a good place to learn for a student who wants to be an imaam of a mosque or wants to pursue higher education in Islamic studies in the West or the East.

Disclaimers for those Interested in Al-Azhar

There are caveats that a student interested in studying at Al-Azhar should be aware of.  The first is that although Al-Azhar has a rich history, the institution is not at its peak and has flaws in its organization at this time.  There are political and historical reasons for this, as well as a lack of available funding.  There are tens of thousands of students in the Azhari system, yet studying at the university is extremely cheap.

Prospective students should be patient and be willing to face challenges.  They should not expect that everything in terms of the education and the administration in the Azhari system will go smoothly, as Egypt is a developing country.  The Azhari system reflects the issues that the rest of the country is facing.

Although the curriculum is excellent, a student should expect that some of the curriculum needs to be studied privately outside of the university to supplement the shortcomings in the university itself.  Cairo is full of scholars, and there are many qualified people to sit with to learn these subjects outside of the university, both privately and at other institutions.

All of these challenges are increased for women interested in attending Al-Azhar, because the Ummah in general lacks qualified female scholars and teachers.

These challenges are also present in most of the other Islamic universities and institutions around the world.  Cairo does provide an environment where many of these challenges can be dealt with, if the student is willing to put in the effort.  Students who are willing to put in effort and struggle in learning for the sake of Allah benefit greatly in Al-Azhar and in Cairo.

Typical Apartment Prices

The following are typical rent prices that students in Cairo pay.  The prices vary based on the location, size, and quality of the apartment.

Prices are higher for short-term contracts, and are 1.5 to 2 times as much in the summer months.  The prices listed below are for a one year contract.

Most western students live in Nasr City due to its proximity to Arabic language institutes as well as the new Al-Azhar men's campus and the women's campus.  The rents in Nasr City tend to be higher than most other areas in Cairo due to the large amount of foreigners and the reputation of the area as being higher class.

The larger and more well-known Arabic institutes are in the 7th and 8th districts of Nasr City.

A nice, clean 2 bedroom furnished apartment with one or two ACs in the 7th or 8th district starts from around 2000 LE and goes up to 3000 LE for a very nice apartment.  A lower quality apartment can be had for 1500 LE or less.  A similar nice apartment in the 10th district can be rented for around 1500 LE or less.

Unfurnished apartments in the 7th or 8th district start from around 1200 LE for a basic 2 bedroom apartment to as high as 1700 LE or more for a nice apartment.  The difference in rent between a furnished and an unfurnished apartment is not very large in these areas,  and unfurnished apartments are difficult to find in these areas.

Finding an Apartment

The most common way to find an apartment for foreigners is to utilize a real estate agent (called a simsaar).  These agents are usually self-employed, however there are companies that provide these services as well.  The agent has contacts with apartment owners, and will take a person around to look at apartments and help the person to sign a contract.  A good simsaar typically takes a fee that is equivalent to a percentage of the overall value of the contract, usually around 10%, or equivalent to one month's rent for longer contracts.  There are some agents that have lower fees as well, either as a lower percentage or a flat rate.  The agent also takes an equivalent fee from the apartment owner.  There is no fee taken if a contract is not signed.

Since the fee that an agent takes is usually a percentage of the value of the contract, it is in the best interest of the agent as well as the apartment owner to raise the rent as much as possible.  Therefore a foreigner that is looking for an apartment needs to know the amount a typical apartment in the area costs.  The renter also needs to express clearly and firmly to the agent the type of apartment that he/she is looking for and the amount of rent that he/she is willing to pay, and then to resist attempts by the agent to push an expensive or sub-par apartment.

It is a best for a new student to consult with other students in the area on3 apartment prices, and if possible have another student help with the search.  Most of the Arabic institutes can direct a new student to a simsaar, including some who speak English (although this is rare).

In general a new student needs to be very cautious and firm when dealing with an agent, and not rush into a bad contract.

There are other ways to find an apartment, but these means are difficult for a foreigner to utilize.  There are classified ads in the newspaper (Al-Waseet is a weekly publication of classified ads, and the ads are available online at http://ewaseet.com).  A student can even walk around the streets and ask the guards of the buildings if an apartment is available in the building.

Apartment Checklist

The following is a list of items to check when looking for a furnished apartment:

• The noise from outside of the apartment is bearable and one can sleep with the noise.


• If it is on the ground floor, the windows have bars.


• The kitchen should have a good fridge, stove, and oven.  For the stove/oven a built-in gas line is preferred but not necessary.


• The apartment is not overloaded with furniture.


• The apartment should have a washing machine, and it should be fully automatic.


• The mattresses on the beds should be comfortable.


• There should be an AC in the main bedroom.


• The toilets flush properly.


• Hot water is working in the bathrooms and in the kitchen.


• The following furniture should be provided: dining table, couches, beds, closets.


• Plates, spoons, forks, pots, and other kitchen utensils should be provided.


• The phone line and electricity are working.


• The renter should ask about the monthly apartment maintenance fees, ranging from around 40 LE for a building without an elevator to about double that for a building with an elevator.


• The renter should ask about the deposit for the apartment, typically 1 months' rent.


• The renter should ask about the payment of rent, typically paid once a month.  Sometimes a landlord will ask for several months up front, a renter should be weary of this and try to avoid it.


• The apartment should be checked thoroughly for anything broken.  This should be noted down, and for anything fixable the renter should ask for a guarantee that it will be fixed.

Renter and Landlord Relations

When a contract is signed, the following should be clearly stated on the contract:

• A list of the furniture in the apartment.
• A list of anything broken in the apartment.
• The monthly rent to be paid and the date of collection.
• The deposit amount.
• A list of conditions that are agreed upon, such as fixing a toilet or anything else not working.
• Contact information of the landlord.

A copy of the contract should be given to the landlord, and one copy kept by the renter.

The renter has the following obligations:

• Paying for all utilities, including electricity, gas, and phone/internet.
• Paying the montly apartment maintenance fee.
• Paying the rent on time.
• Keeping the apartment in good shape.
• The renter has the right to change the locks of the apartment.
• If the renter takes the apartment in a clean state, then he/she must leave the apartment in a clean state (typically the landlord pays for cleaning when the renter moves in, and the renter pays for cleaning when leaving).

• Collecting the rent on time.  The landlord does not have the right to take the rent early.
• Paying for all repairs that are not caused by the renter, including malfunctioning plumbing or appliances.
• The landlord does not have the right to enter the apartment without permission.
• The landlord does not have the right to take any furniture or put any furniture in the apartment.

Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth for Male Students

After the results of the written entrance exams are announced, an entering student's application folder  will be transferred from the Majma3 Al-Buhooth Al-Islaamiyyah to the Ma3had.  This may take several weeks to occur.  Once the folder has arrived at the Ma3had, the student's name will be posted outside of the students' affairs office (shu'oon al-tullaab) on the fourth floor of the Al-Diraasaat Al-Khaassah building.  After the name has been posted, the student can register at the Ma3had.

Students can attend classes before the names are posted, or even before taking the exams.  When attendance is taken in class, the unregistered student should say he is a mustami3.  It is useful to attend classes as soon as possible so as to keep up with the material.

To register, the student brings a paper or cardboard folder and 3 LE in stamps to the students' affairs office.  The workers may accept 3 LE cash instead of stamps if the student is unable to find stamps.  The student will be assigned a classroom and a seating number.  There are four classes for each year in high school or middle school, and the student will be assigned to one of them.  The student should memorize the seating number, as attendance is taken using this number.  The student should also keep the piece of paper the workers give to him with the class and seat assignment safe, for future use.

The deadline to register according to the workers in the office is towards the end of March.  It is recommended to register early, to obtain the books, keep up with the classes, and obtain a visa.  If a student waits a long time after the exams to register, the workers in the office may demand an explanation.

There is an office on the other side of the fourth floor behind the staircase that is closest to the front of the building.  The office is labeled hujrat al-irshaad.  The student pays the fees for the year in this office, about 34 LE for high school students.  The student is given a receipt, and his name is checked off.  The receipt can be taken to the Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah building next door.  There is an office on the ground floor where the student can obtain the books.  After a student walks into the building and goes through the door at the end of the reception hall, the office for the books is the first room to the right.

The student provides the receipt to the workers and receives the books.  The cost is included in the fees for the year.  The student should specify that he is a new student, so that he can get the books that are shared between the years of high school in addition to the books that are specific to the year of high school the student tested into.

Here is the schedule of lectures and classes at Al-Azhar Masjid, accurate as of February 26, 2009.  Note that these classes vary in terms of quality and pace of study, so it is useful to ask other students about individual classes.

وقت المحاضرة	الكتاب	المادة	الأستاذ	اليوم
من٣٠,١٠ إلى صلاة الظهر	البخارى	حديث	د/ يسرى	السبت
بعد صلاة الظهر	حاشية البيجورى	فقه شافعي	الشيخ/ أحمد الهجين
بعد صلاة الظهر	التاج الجامع	حديث
بعد صلاة الظهر	محاضرات فى أصول فقه	أصول فقه
بعد صلاة العصر	الأشباه والنظائر للسيوطى	قواعد
بعد صلاة العصر	الحكم العطائية	تصوف
بعد صلاة المغرب	غاية المأمول	أصول فقه	الشيخ/ سيد شلتوت
بعد صلاة العصر*	الخريدة البهية	عقيدة	د/ جمال فاروق	الأحد
بعد صلاة المغرب		إقراء قراءات
من ٣٠,٩ إلى صلاة الظهر	حاشية البيجورى	فقه شافعي	الشيخ/ عماد عفت	الاثنين
بعد صلاة الظهر إلى صلاة العصر	شرح متون للمبتدئين	فقه مالكي	الشيخ/ إبراهيم عمر صو
بعد صلاة العصر	مراقي الفلاح	فقه حنفي	الشيخ/ حمد الله الصفتي
بعد صلاة المغرب	منهاج الطالبين	فقه شافعي	الشيخ/ سيد شلتوت
من ٣٠,٩ إلى صلاة الظهر	حاشية البيجورى	فقه شافعي	الشيخ/ عماد عفت	الثلثاء
بعد صلاة المغرب	منهاج الطالبين	فقه شافعي	الشيخ/ سيد شلتوت
بعد صلاة الظهر	شرح متون للمبتدئين	فقه مالكي	الشيخ/ إبراهيم عمر صو	الأربعاء
بعد صلاة الظهر	شرح مختصر القدوري	فقه حنفي	الشيخ/ حازم الكيلاني	الخميس
بعد صلاة الظهر	شرح مختصر المنار	أصول فقه حنفي
بعد صلاة العصر		تجويد	الشيخ/ حمد الله الصفتي

* قد يكون هذا الدرس في رواق المغاربة

وقت المحاضرة	الكتاب	المادة	الأستاذ	اليوم
من ٧ : ٨ صباحاً	الروض المربع	فقه حنبلى	د/ محمد السيد	السبت
من ٨ :٣٠,٩ صباحاً	الإسنوى	أصول فقه شافعى
من٣٠,٩: ١٠ صباحاً	إيقاظ المبهم	منطق
بعد صلاة الظهر إلى صلاة العصر	شرح متون للمبتدئين	فقه مالكي	الشيخ/ إبراهيم عمر صو
بعد صلاة المغرب إلى صلاة العشاء	إحياء علوم الدين	تصوف	الشيخ/ أحمد الهجين
من بعد صلاة العشاء	شرح منون متنوعة للطالبات فقط
بعد صلاة الظهر	شرح متون للمبتدئين	نحو	الشيخ/ إبراهيم عمر صو	الأحد
بعد صلاة العصر	إحياء علوم الدين	تصوف	الشيخ/ أحمد الهجين
بعد صلاة العصر*	الخريدة البهية	عقيدة	د/ جمال فاروق
بعد صلاة المغرب إلى صلاة العشاء	حاشية البيجورى	فقه شافعي
بعد صلاة العشاء	الإقناع	فقه معاملات
بعد صلاة الظهر	شرح ابن عقيل	نحو	د/ فتحي عبد التواب	الاثنين
بعد صلاة العصر كل أسبوعين	الشرح الكبير	فقه مالكي	الشيخ/ محمد سيد سلطان
قبل صلاة المغرب بساعة	الخبيصي	منطق	د/ مصطفى عمران
من١٠: ١٢ صباحاً	المستصفى	أصول فقه	أ د/ أحمد الطيب	الثلثاء
بعد صلاة الظهر	شرح متون للمبتدئين	نحو	الشيخ/ إبراهيم عمر صو
بعد صلاة الظهر		تفسير	الشيخ/ على صالح	الأربعاء
بعد صلاة العصر	الشمائل	سيرة	الشيخ/ أحمد الهجين
بعد صلاة العصر	الخريدة البهية	عقيدة	د/ جمال فاروق
بعد صلاة المغرب	المجموع	فقه
من ٣٠,٩ : صلاة الظهر	العقائد الإسلامية	عقيدة	أ د/ حسن الشافعى	الخميس
بعد صلاة الظهر	شرح متون للمبتدئين	نحو	الشيخ/ إبراهيم عمر صو
بعد صلاة العصر	شرح الشاطبية	قراءات	الشيخ/ سيد عبد الرحيم

* قد يكون هذا الدرس في رواق الأتراك

وقت المحاضرة	الكتاب	المادة	الأستاذ	اليوم
بعد صلاة الظهر بالفاطمية	شرح الجوهرة	توحيد	أ د/ محيى الدين الصافى	الأحد
بعد صلاة العصر بالفاطمية		تجويد	الشيخ/ أحمد عامر	الثلثاء
بعد صلاة الظهر بالرواق العباسى للنساء فقط		سيرة	أ د/ أحمد طه الريان	الأربعاء
محاضرات للأئمة والوعاظ يومياً ما عدا الجمعة من بعد صلاة الظهر والعصر والمغرب بالظلة الفاطمية

A Tasdeeq from the Al-Azhar system is used as proof that a person is a student in the Azhari system.  A tasdeeq is required to obtain a student residency from Al-Azhar, and is used for other purposes as well.  Note that each tasdeeq can only be used once, and a student has to go through the same process to obtain another tasdeeq for a second use.

Obtaining a Tasdeeq for Male Students

The student can go through the following steps to obtain a tasdeeq.

1. The student goes to the Qitaa3 Al-Ma3aahid Al-Azhariyyah to pay for the tasdeeq. 


2. Next to the main entrance of the building, there should be a stack of forms.  There is only one type of form, although it is mainly used for graduates of Al-Azhar high school and other institutes to verify that they have graduated.  The student takes a form and fills out some of the information:
   
   
   
   
   • the student's name
   
   
   • the institute as Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah
   
   
   • the area as Cairo
   
   
   • the student's signature and the current date
   
   
3. There is a window to the left of the main entrance (outside), where the student can submit the form.  The student should tell the worker that he wants a residency (iqaama).
4. The student pays 2.5 LE, and is handed back the form along with pink and gray receipts.  The receipts are important, but the the form is not.

1. The office to obtain a tasdeeq (al-tasdeeqaat) is in a corner on the third floor of Al-Diraasaat Al-Khaassah, next to the fourth classroom of the third year of high school.
2. There will be a sign outside of this office instructing the student on what to bring to obtain a tasdeeq.  The following are usually required:
   • the pink and gray receipts mentioned above
   • the student's passport (usually required only during pickup, but should be brought in case it is needed)
   • a copy of the passport picture page
   • a piece of paper with some information written on it - the student's name, classroom, seating number, nationality, and the type of tasdeeq (iqaama in the case of residency)
3. There may be specific days assigned for submitting the above paperwork, or the paperwork can be accepted at any time the office is open.  Usually there is a set day at the beginning of the year, and later in the year students are allowed to turn it in any school day.  The line to turn in paperwork (or pick up the tasdeeq) is usually long, but goes fast.
4. The worker will take the paperwork and hand the student the gray receipt back.  The worker will tell the student when to return to pickup the tasdeeq, usually the following Sunday.
5. The student returns on the assigned day and gives the gray receipt to the worker.  The student has to show his passport to receive the tasdeeq.

A student enters the Al-Azhar system by taking the following steps.

A student fills out an application form and obtains various paperwork to register to take the entrance exams and enter the Al-Azhar system.  A student can only do this once, so one should be well-prepared before going through with this process.

The student will be assigned a date to take the oral exam.  The oral exam determines the student's placement in the Al-Azhar middle school.  If the student places into the third and final year of middle school, he/she has the right to take the written entrance exams to place into the high school.

The student will take nine written exams.  These exams determine the student's placement in high school, and a student can place anywhere from the last year of middle school the third and last year of high school.  The best result is to enter the final year of high school.

A student can enter the Al-Azhar system through these exams in the fall (in October or November).  This is the first round of exams.  There are also one or two more rounds of exams that occur later in the winter.  It is preferred to take the first round of exams to allow enough time to attend the final year of high school and study the material as well.  The high school has more subjects than are tested on the entrance exams, and the end of the year exams are more detailed.

If a student is not well prepared for the exams, the second round of exams occurs at the end of December or beginning of January.  There is a third round as well, that occurs a few weeks after the second round.  Note that these extra rounds of exams seem to have been added recently, so there is no guarantee they will continue.  A student interested in Al-Azhar should plan to take the first round of exams, and if he/she is not prepared can ask the administration about delaying taking the written exams to a later round.  This can even be done if a student takes the oral exam in the first round.

Registering for the exams in a particular round must be done at least two weeks before the written exams.

Since the best result is entering the final year of high school, a student can graduate from the university in about 5 years.

This building is where students in the Azhari system can pay for various services, including the fees for a tasdeeq from the Al-Azhar high school.

The building is located here on Yoosuf 3abbaas Street behind the Majma3 Al-Buhooth Al-Islaamiyyah.

Al-Diraasaat Al-Khaassah is the building where the Al-Azhar Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah classes take place.  These classes are for foreigners in the Al-Azhar middle school and high school system.  These classes were formerly held in the Ma3had Al-Bu3ooth Al-Islaamiyyah building next door.  The administration for the Ma3had is also now in this building.  The classes and the administration for the Ma3had are on the third and fourth floors of the building.

Classes for foreigners learning Arabic through the Al-Azhar system are also held here.  These classes are part of Ma3had Al-Diraasaat Al-Khaassah program, and are located on the second floor of the building.

The building is located here on Ahmad Sa3eed street in Cairo.