Dār al-ʿilm, also known as the House of Knowledge, was a significant educational institution established in Cairo, Egypt, in the early 11th century by the Fatimid Caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. Founded in 1005 CE, Dar al-Ilm was intended as a center for learning and the dissemination of knowledge, embodying the Fatimid dynasty’s commitment to education and intellectual pursuit. The institution housed a vast library, one of the largest of its time, containing thousands of manuscripts on a wide range of subjects. Scholars and students from various regions gathered at Dār al-ʿilm to study and engage in scholarly discussions. The curriculum included Islamic theology, law, philosophy, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and the natural sciences, reflecting the diverse intellectual interests of the period. Dār al-ʿilm played a crucial role in the cultural and intellectual life of medieval Egypt, contributing to the advancement of various fields of knowledge. However, the institution declined after the fall of the Fatimid dynasty and eventually ceased to function as a center of learning. Today, its legacy lives on as a symbol of Egypt’s rich scholarly tradition and the historical significance of Cairo as a major center of learning in the Islamic world.
