It is really difficult to say whether it's better to visit during the day or in the evening. Both have their attractions. In the day, the panoramic views of the surrounding area are truly splendid. In fact, the view of the Citadel from the promenade is perhaps one of the finest views anywhere in Cairo. In the evening, it is just such a romantic place to be, with music gently wafting through the air via discreetly placed loudspeakers, and a kinder climate helping visitors to enjoy the experience. Whether you visit in the day or when it is dark, there is no doubt that a trip to Al-Azhar Park is one of the best visits you can make in Cairo. It is without doubt one of the best kept places, the cleanest and the most beautiful in the whole of Egypt. The whole project is living proof, if any proof be needed, of what can be done if you have money to spend and the vision to use it well. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture spent thirty million dollars on the project, with the aim of providing a uniquely beautiful place where the people of Cairo, and foreign visitors alike, can go for recreation and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding historic monuments, as well as generating new life into a community. The once neglected area has now been the focus of regeneration for a whole community, not only restoring and repairing local monuments, but also providing jobs and business opportunities through the micro-loans which have been made available to local residents wanting to start up new projects. The Aga Khan, leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims, made the decision to gift the city with a park as a way of showing that beautiful things can enhance the value of people's lives and can actually generate economic growth. We are all sharers in the world's resources, he declared, and as Muslims we are stewards of those resources. Any visitor to Cairo would do well to head to Al-Azhar Park to get a feel of what the city is like. Being so close to Islamic Cairo and the monuments of El-Hussein and Al-Azhar, the Park can really showcase what Cairo is made of. Residents of Cairo who haven't yet made a visit are missing out on a marvelous way of appreciating their unique and historic city. In what used to be a rubbish dump, the whole neglected area of el-Darassa has been transformed into something beautiful. Eighty thousand truckloads of rubbish had to be cleared away to prepare the site. In doing so, the contractors discovered a one and a half kilometre stretch of Ayyubid wall, dating from the twelfth century, which has now been restored. They even discovered enormous blocks of stone from Pharaonic times, complete with hieroglyphic inscriptions, which were used in part to build the wall. Building on what was once a refuse tip meant that the ground was very saline and unsuitable for vegetation. Skillfully chosen plants, shrubs and trees, which thrive in such an environment, now cover the whole area. Some of the features within the park still leave visitors amazed. The hilltop restaurant, for example, has been designed and built in a style reminiscent of Islamic Cairo. The promenade which runs down the centre of the park, flanked on either side by rows of royal palms, contains within it a water feature that is both innovative and beautiful. What could be more beautiful on a hot summer's day or a balmy Cairo evening than to hear the gentle trickle of water and the play of fountains? In fact, in an age when many in the world's media present Islam as backward and lacking in many of the advantages of a civilised society, Al-Azhar Park has unashamedly used an Islamic theme throughout, allowing visitors to rejoice in their proud heritage. The buildings and fountains and beautifully tended gardens lead one to appreciate the rich and noble heritage of Islam. Not only is the Park beautifully designed and laid out, but the Park is surrounded by monuments which are the envy of the world. Looking in every direction you see incomparable treasures of Islamic architecture, from the massive Mosque of Sultan Hassan, to the Citadel of Salah El-Din, the City of the Dead, the district of Darb Al-Ahmar and the university mosque of Al-Azhar, the oldest university in the world. No Muslim could visit Al-Azhar Park and not feel pride at what Islam has achieved in the past, and marvel at what it is still able to achieve. The mainly Lebanese cuisine on offer at the Lakeside Café is hosted within a modern building on a traditional theme, with lamps and ornaments from Cairo's Islamic past. Small rooms and corners afford privacy, within the context of a gracious setting, and all beside a lake and fountains overlooked by the Citadel. One of the most interesting features in the Park, and one which never fails to delight visitors, is the set of fountains just inside from the Main Entrance, which shoot directly from out of the ground and catch people out as they try to pass through them. Muslims read in the holy Qur'an in Surat Sad: Gardens of Eternity, whose doors will (ever) be open to them; Therein will they recline (at ease); therein can they call (at pleasure) For fruit in abundance, and (delicious) drink….. Holy Qur'an 38:50-51 What more beautiful image could there be for people living in a hot, dry climate, whose lives depend so much on water for life, than gardens under which rivers flow. The Park plays upon this theme and allows visitors to appreciate the beauty of Nature and the life-giving power and cleansing quality of water. Enough for visitors, in the midst of their recreation, to spare a silent thought for the Creator of such beauty and to give Him thanks. As for whether it's best to visit in the day or in the evening, perhaps you should make two visits – and then decide for yourself! British Muslim writer, Idris Tawfiq, is a lecturer at Al-Azhar University. The author of eight books about Islam, he divides his time between Egypt and the UK as a speaker, writer and broadcaster. You can visit his website at www.idristawfiq.com.
