Cairo, Egypt – The anniversary of one of the harshest chapters in the history of Al-Azhar Mosque is observed: its closure by the authorities of the French Campaign in Egypt. This action was taken as a punitive collective measure following the assassination of the French commander, General Jean-Baptiste Kléber, in 1800 by the Syrian student Sulayman al-Halabi.
The Shock of Assassination and the French Reaction
The assassination of Kléber—who had assumed command of the campaign after Napoleon Bonaparte’s return to France—sent shockwaves through the French military leadership. This shock quickly turned into panic and fury, as the French believed the assassination was not an isolated act, but the result of incitement and planning by religious and local elites, prompting them to adopt a strategy of collective punishment.
Al-Azhar in the Crosshairs of Retaliation
As the most important center of spiritual, political, and social influence in Egypt at the time, Al-Azhar Mosque was the primary target for French retaliation. The harsh measures included:
- Closure of Doors: The mosque’s gates were closed, and prayers were prohibited.
- Suspension of Activities: Lessons, scientific activities, and educational circles that once thrived there were brought to a halt.
- Strict Surveillance: French forces imposed a military cordon and strict oversight around the Al-Azhar perimeter and on movement within Old Cairo.
Campaigns of Repression and Arrests
The French heavy-handedness did not stop at closing the religious institution; the French grip extended to a wide-ranging campaign of arrests that targeted a group of prominent scholars, dignitaries, and influential figures. Furthermore, exorbitant fines were imposed on the residents of certain Cairo neighborhoods in a desperate attempt to terrorize the populace and abort any future resistance against the French presence.
Al-Azhar.. The Beacon of Resistance and Mission
During the years of the campaign, Al-Azhar represented the “pulsing heart of Egypt.” It was not merely an educational institution; it was the primary driver of popular resistance against the occupation. This leadership role is precisely what placed it at the top of the institutions targeted by French authorities. As for Sulayman al-Halabi, he was subjected to a summary military trial that ended in his brutal execution, while the repercussions of those retaliatory actions remained etched in the Egyptian collective memory.
Resilience Beyond Adversity
Despite the severity of those days, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif regained its pioneering role immediately after the crisis subsided and the French campaign departed. It continued its educational and proselytizing mission, confirming to the world over more than a millennium that it is a steadfast fortress that does not bend before the storms of occupation—a sanctuary for moderate Islamic thought that refuses to yield. This incident remains a historical testament that prestigious national institutions derive their strength from their deep connection to the conscience of their people, and that attempts to suppress them only increase their steadfastness and entrenchment.
