The Funj sultans and the Abdallab sheikhs were closely connected to the source of Arab science and culture, as they were in contact with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, its men, and its scholars. Egyptian scholars would reach Sennar. We find this in the connection of Sultan Badi, known as Sayyid Al-Qawm (1611-1615 AD), with Egyptian scholars at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, to whom he used to send gifts. Al-Azhar Al-Sharif even dedicated a special hall for Sennari students, which was named "Rawaq Sennar." This facilitated the journey of Sudanese students to Egypt to study at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and then return to Sudan to spread Islamic sciences and knowledge among their families and students, and to deliver these lessons in mosques, thus enriching the Islamic cultural movement in Sudan. Many Egyptian scholars and religious figures also migrated to Sudan, where they found a place to settle after marrying Sudanese women, and then they began to spread Islamic religious culture throughout Sudan.

Sudan's connection with Egypt was a close one, dictated by natural circumstances. Sudan's location and its natural connection to neighboring Islamic nations, including Egypt, necessitated the adoption of Arab Islamic culture. From here, Sudanese caravans have continuously traveled to Egypt, descending from Sennar and Darfur via the Forty Days Road, the Nile route, and other routes that connected Egypt and Sudan. These caravans carried Sudanese goods and produce to Egypt and its markets. These caravans would return with Egyptian produce, as well as produce from Asia and Europe.

These caravans would reach Sinnid, and perhaps from there to Sennar, Kabbula, or Al-Fashir and its western neighbors. Thus, Egypt was the Islamic country most closely connected to Sudan. It was the primary source of Islamic culture that began to develop in this land from the tenth century AD onwards. Indeed, we can say that Egypt planted the first seed of Arab Islamic culture that came from the north of the valley to its south.