 Al @-@ Azhar soon became a center of learning in the Islamic world , and official pronouncements and court sessions were issued from and convened there . Under Fatimid rule , the previously secretive teachings of the Ismāʿīli madh 'hab ( school of law ) were made available to the general public . Al @-@ Nu ‘ man ibn Muhammad was appointed qadi ( judge ) under al @-@ Mu ’ izz and placed in charge of the teaching of the Ismāʿīli madh 'hab . Classes were taught at the palace of the Caliph , as well as at al @-@ Azhar , with separate sessions available to women . During Eid ul @-@ Fitr in 973 , the mosque was rededicated by the caliph as the official congregational mosque in Cairo . Al @-@ Mu ’ izz , and his son — when he in turn became caliph — would preach at least one Friday <unk> ( sermon ) during Ramadan at al @-@ Azhar . 
