Al-Aziz Bellah (i.e. Nizar Bin Ma'd Bin Ismail, 975–996) was the fifth Fatimid Caliph. Niqab-wearing women in Abdel Aziz Street do not know that women played an important role in Al-Aziz Bellah's life, as they occupied a rank they had not enjoyed in any of the previous eras. They did not wear niqab [full-face veil] or stay away from men. Al-Aziz Bellah's mother had a commercial business and the Caliph used to take her opinion on some political issues. The Caliph also paid much attention to his wife and grandmother and heard their opinions. Al-Aziz Bellah Street extends from Helmyat Al-Zaytoun subway station in the west to Gesr Al-Suez St to the east. Touman Bay St divides Al-Aziz Bellah St into two equal opposite parts, or to be more accurate, into two contradictory worlds. The first part, closest to Gesr Al-Suez St, is inhabited by a majority of Christians. It has many cafés frequented by young people and lovers who hear songs by Amr Diab, Elissa and Nancy Ajram while the place is filled with the smell of tobacco. In addition, you can hear fans' shouts during matches of Al-Ahli club and the Egyptian national team.
The western part, near to Helmyat Al-Zaytoun subway station, has a mosque, a hospital and a headquarters for celebrating different occasions. It has also many Islamic libraries, but its readers do not read writings of Al-Azhar sheiks because they are subordinate to the regime. Moreover, they criticize great Muslim scholars such as Sheikh Abdel Halim Mahmoud and Sheikh Mohamed Metwali Sha'rawi. They prefer scholars like Mahmoud Al-Masry, Mohamed Hussein Yacoub, Mohamed Hassan, Abu Ishaq Al-Huwaini and Mohamed bin Abdel Rahman Al-Arefy (most of them are stars in satellite channels nowadays).
Muslim scholar Amr Khaled has no place in the street, perhaps because of his modern appearance. In addition, his books, librarians say, are like stories that are not suitable for those who want to read religious books. In the street, you can find books about magic and health, as well as tapes and CDs of the most famous religious films and a wonderful variety of women's religious clothes, including niqabs and headscarves.
