Introduction
The streets of any city are an open book narrating the history of this city and possibly the history of the whole nation, and the street signs are the pages of this book. Mohammad Ali Pasha, the founder of modern Egypt, was the first ruler who issued a decree to give names to Egypt's streets and a number to each building as well as putting street name signs.
Alfy Street
In a scene that blends elegance, luxury, and the fragrance of history, the streets and buildings of Khedival Cairo, founded by Khedive Ismail, come into view in the heart of the capital, which rivals Paris in beauty.
A closer look at those streets reveals Alfy Bey Street, which bore witness to many historical and artistic events that had a significant effect on shaping the Egyptians' cultural and political consciousness.
Al-Alfy Street links Orabi Square and Al-Gomhoria Street. It is just a few meters away from Ataba Square. First, Let’s know the figure who the street was named after.
Who is Mohammad Bey Al-Alfy?
The street was named after the Mamluk prince "Mohammad Bey Al-Alfy," who fled to Upper Egypt with the beginning of the French Expedition to Egypt and stayed there until Mohammad Ali Pasha arrived in Egypt. Al-Alfy passed away in 1807 and was the last Mamluk prince in Egypt, as his assassination marked the end of the Mamluk rule in Egypt.
He was one of the Mamluks of Murad Bey, brought to Egypt by a trader in 1189 AH (1775 AD). Al-Alfy was a controversial figure, reportedly on the verge of usurping the throne from Mohammad Ali Pasha.
He gained significant fame, to the extent that the Ottoman Empire addressed him instead of Muhammad Ali Pasha, who was the ruler of Egypt at the time.
Al-Alfy had a palace named after him located along the street on the opposite side of Azbakia Lake. The lake was later filled in by Khedive Ismail, who turned it into a garden when he established the Cairo Opera House.
As for Al-Alfy's character, Al-Jabarti described him as a wise-minded man with a humble spirit. He also said his heart was attached to reading books and studying sciences such as astronomy, geometry, the shapes of sands, astrological judgments, calendars, and Selenography. He sought out those knowledgeable in these subjects to learn from them and acquired books on various sciences and histories. He secluded himself at home, preferred solitude, and abandoned the state he was in before.
Story of the Alfy Palace and Napoleon
The name Al-Alfy remains associated with his palace in Azbakia. The palace was a marvel of its time due to its marble columns, precious wooden windows, artifacts, and ornate chandeliers gifted by some wealthy Europeans. As soon as Al-Alfy completed the construction of this palace, the French Expedition to Egypt arrived, and Napoleon chose to stay in it during the expedition.
Moreover, the assassination of Kléber took place at the garden of the palace.
Al-Alfy personally designed the architectural drawings of his palace and assigned one of his princes to the palace’s construction. However, upon visiting the site, he noticed a mistake in the building compared to his drawings. So, he decided to demolish most of what had been built, redesign it, and assign four princes to oversee the construction, with each prince responsible for one of the four sides.
Al-Alfy lived in his palace for sixteen days, from the end of Sha'ban in 212 AH until the middle of Ramadan. He then moved to his official residence in the Sharqiya Governorate. The palace became home to the Alsun school, established by Rifa'a Al-Tahtawi during the reign of Muhammad Ali. The palace was destroyed in the Cairo fire on January 26, 1952, and a hotel named "Shepherd" was built on its ruins.
Alfy Street’s History
Among all the streets in downtown Cairo, Al-Alfy is the only street where cars are not allowed, according to a decision made in the mid-1990s. That led to its transformation into a walkway and park for the ordinary people of Egypt, but many are unaware of the long history of that ancient street, reflected in its old buildings. Alfy Street in downtown Cairo dates back to the era of Khedive Tawfiq, who initially named it Tawfik Street until 1906 when its name was changed to Alfy Street.
The street was once bustling with shops owned by craftsmen such as tailors, hairstylists, painters, artisans of decorative pieces and jewelry, and bakers of pastries and desserts. However, over time, most of these shops transformed into coffee shops. Not too long ago, a trolleybus line ran through the street from Ataba Square to Giza Square alongside an automobile station.
Famous landmarks in Alfy Street
Shahrazad Nightclub: It was established by artist Fathia Mohammad as one of the most renowned artistic schools where monologue artists, singers, and dancers graduated from over many decades, including Badi'a Masabni, Ismail Yassin, Shokoko, Mohammad Rushdi, Nagwa Fouad, Zinat Sidqi, Hayatem, Ahmed Adawaya, and Maha Sabri in the 1980s.
Taverna Restaurant: It was built by a Greek merchant named Taverna, whose name remains unchanged. On the same side is the famous kebab restaurant "Alfy Bey," established by Hajj Abdul Qawi in 1938. It was a venue for pashas and state officials, witnessing significant artistic events. Even now, the restaurant maintains its charm and elegance despite the passage of time.
New Arizona Theatre: In the past, it witnessed the most memorable theatrical performances by Naguib Al-Rihany and Yousef Wahbi at their beginnings.
The Adas Building: It has a unique architectural design, and it is said its owner was a Jewish man named David Adas, one of the prominent merchants in Egypt.
The first location of Shepheard’s Hotel: It was built by Englishman Samuel Shepheard in 1841 and was named “Hotel des Anglais” (English Hotel), located where Mohammad Bey Al-Alfy’s palace was, which later became the headquarters of the French Expedition to Egypt and then the home of the Alsun school. The Shepheard’s Hotel was located on the edge of the Azbakia Pond at the intersection of Alfy and Gomhoria Streets.
El-Qalaa Street
It is one of El-Darb Al-Ahmar's most famous streets, and it is the last one established in this area. Moreover, its establishment marked the end of the Islamic era represented in the Fatimid Cairo and the beginning of modernism in Egypt.
Location:
El-Qalaa Street was previously known as Mohammad Ali Street after Mohammad Ali Pasha. The first thought of establishing El-Qalaa Street was during Mohammad Ali Pasha’s era in 1846. Then Khedive Ismail assigned the French architect Haussmann, the designer of modern Paris, to design Khedivial Cairo a part of Khedive Ismail’s plan to make the city a piece of Europe in which he succeeded, and Cairo became a masterpiece known as “Paris of the East”.
The Egyptian Government then moved all the cemeteries and bought all the shops and buildings from the owners to establish the new street. Then in 1874, the Ministry of Public Works began the construction under the supervision of Ali Pasha Mubarak. The buildings facing the street were built with arches crowning the sidewalks to protect the merchants and pedestrians from the heat and rains inspired by European architecture which still exists in the boulevards of Paris.
Landmarks:
El-Qalaa Street still has some famous landmarks such as the Egyptian National Library, built by Khedive Ismail at the suggestion of Ali Pasha Mubarak, Minister of Education then. They aimed to collect manuscripts and valuable books that ottoman sultans, princes, and scholars restricted to mosques, mausoleums, and schools. The library was the nucleus of a public library inspired by the national libraries in Europe. Further, there are other landmarks like the Islamic Museum, Mosque of Qaison, Hammam Bashtak, Souq El-Selah, and Al-Mansara district, which is famous for the furniture manufacturing industry.
Al-Faggala or Al-Tabbala Street
Location:
Al-Faggala Street extends from Ramses Street to the beginning of Bab El-Shaaria Street.
Name:
Unlike many streets in Cairo which were usually named after kings, Ottoman sultans, prominent figures, or a craft that was famous in the area, Al-Faggala Street was given the name of an artistic occupation the drummer “Al-Tabbala”. At that time, there was a conflict between the Fatimid Caliph Al-Mostanser Bi-llah in Egypt and the Abbasid Caliph El-Qaem Bi Amr Allah in Baghdad. The struggle ended with the defeat of the Abbasid Caliph. So, the singer of the Fatimid Caliph started singing and showing her jot at this victory, and because the Caliph admired her songs, he gifted her this fertile area overlooking the Nile. Later, when the commander of the armies of the Fatimid Caliph Al-Mostanser Bi-llah came to Egypt and built orchards around this area, its name was changed to “Basatin El-Geyoshi”. After a while, it became neglected until Khedive Ismail developed the area of the railway and Al-Faggala was a part of it. Al-Faggala’s name is associated with the radish farmers who inhabited the area at this time as well as foreigners and Syrians because it was near Misr Station.
Significance:
El-Faggala street which was once a cultural center where there were bookstores, publishing houses, and libraries like” Misr Library” is now a center for selling sanitary wares.
Landmarks:
El-Room Catholic School, the Jesuit Church, and the Chaldean Catholic Church are the most significant landmarks on Al-Faggala Street.
Al-Saliba Street
Cairo has long been home to numerous historical monuments, and it is full of famous landmarks and tourist attractions that always are a top destination in the world. One of which is Saliba Street that bears witness to the masterpieces of the Mamluk era in Egypt.
Location:
Al-Saliba Street which means “Cross Street” runs from Al-Qalaa Street to the beginning of Abdel Magid Al-Labban Street, near Al-Sayeda Zeinab area and intersects with Al-Rakiba Street and Al-Seyoufia Street making the shape of a cross.
Name:
It is called Al-Saliba because it looks like a cross.
Significance:
Al-Saliba Street is one of Egypt’s historic streets that houses numerous Islamic monuments, including mosques, schools, kuttabs, sabils, khanaqahs, hammams, and palaces. The Street was the residence of princes and dignitaries during the Ayyubid Era because of its strategic location on the outskirts of the ancient Islamic capitals of Egypt. Moreover, the Ayyubids built their military facilities and weapons factories in this area, including an arms workshop at El-Houd Al-Marsod area in 1813 and a military academy in 1855.
Furthermore, Al-Saliba Street was a theatre for many political and social events such as ceremonial parades, wedding celebrations, and Mamluks’ plots against each other. It was also the place where El-Nasser Qalawun held his daughter’s wedding celebrations for three consecutive nights and free food tables were offered to the public.
During Mohammad Ali Pasha’s era, many statesmen built houses and palaces in this area due to its significance like Amir Abel El-Latif Pasha House in front of Qanibay El-Mohammady School. The Alawite dynasty (Mohammed Ali’s dynasty) also built three pharmacies in the street as pharmacies were a paradigm shift in the field of manufacturing medicines at that time.
Landmarks:
Al-Saliba street houses an abundance of Islamic monuments like Ibn Tulun Mosque, the only remaining monument of the city of Qata’i; the third Islamic capital in Egypt, Al-Ashraf Qaitbay Kuttab and Sabil, Qanibay El-Mohammady Madrasa, El-Amir Sheikho’s khanaqah Madrasa, Sabil Um Abbas and the School of ibn Tagriberdi, Gayer-Anderson Museum, and Amir Sarghatmish Madrasa.
Port said Street “El-Khalig El-Masry”
Port Said Street or previously “El-Khalig El-Masry” in Cairo is a living witness to Egyptian history from the Pharaonic era until now. It is also a silent one that does not reveal much, especially to strangers and young people. While strolling down the street, it may never cross your mind to ask about its meaning and significance, and perhaps some have seen it on envelopes or addresses list “10 El-Khalig El-Masry Street”. Now it is called Port Said and is one of Cairo’s most famous streets where significant events and popular celebrations took place.
Location:
Port Said Street is considered the vital artery that separates Fatimid Cairo and Khedival Cairo. It is located near Al-Azhar area and extends from Madinet El-Khosos to Fam El-Khalig Street in El-Manial area.
Name:
Port Said Street was known as El-Khalig “the bay” as it had one of Egypt’s artificial waterways (canals) that Egyptian farmers used to irrigate the lands that did not get enough water from the Nile River. Over the ages, the Street was given many names like Khalig Ptolemy during Ptolemaic era in Egypt, Khalig Misr, Khalig El-Fustat, and Khalig Amir El-Mo’minin after Omar Ibn El-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph. Then in 1952 after the July revolution, the Street’s name was changed to Port Said after the Egyptian city Port Said.
Significance:
Just like Venice in Italy, Port Said Street in Cairo was built on the waters of an old canal built up by Egyptian farmers for irrigation purposes. So, back then you would see boats and bridges instead of vehicles and sidewalks, and people used to take long walks on its banks. Then in 1899, the canal was backfilled when Khedive Ismail built Cairo water Company.
Khurunfush Street
Name:
The word Khurunfush is a deviation of Khurunshuf, which refers to the fossilized material produced from old baths fuels and used with lime mortar for construction works. The street became known as Al-Khurunfush when the Fatimid Caliph El-Aziz Billah used this material to build back stables next to the western palace. It became fixed in the minds after giving the name to the house of Prince Saif El-Din Abu Said Khalil, one of the Mamluk princes and the Deputy Sultan Mohammed Ibn Qalawun on Damascus. This house was described by Al-Makrizi as Cairo’s most beautiful and magnificent house.
Dar Kiswat El-Kaaba and Saint Joseph School “Frères School” are the most famous landmarks in Al-Khurunfush Street as well as silver and brass workshops. It is also the street where president Gamal Abdel El-Naser lived with his father in 1933 as his father worked at Khurunfush district’s post office. Moreover, Haret Khamis Ads “Khamis Ads alley” is one of Khurunfush most important alleys and is named after “Maundy Thursday”, a Christian holy day in which Egyptian Christians cook lentil soap. While in the past the Fatimids used to participate in the celebrations and issue commemorative gold coins that were distributed to State officials.
Al-Seyoufia Street
Al-Seyoufia Street branched off El-Mo’ez Street is one of Cairo’s most ancient and significant streets that derived its importance and authenticity from Cairo’s great history. It was the place of forging swords in Cairo.
Location:
Al-Seyoufia Street runs from the intersection of Mohammed Ali Street to Al-Saliba Street.
Name:
It was called Al-Seyoufia because it was full of sword forging workshops during the Mamluk era.
Origins:
Al-Seyoufia Street dates back to the Tulunid period as it was part of Al-Qata’i city. After urban development, the Street developed to a residential area during the Ayyubid period, then an aristocratic neighborhood where Mamluk royalty and elites had lived.
Significance:
Al-Seyoufia Street is famous for its rich diversity in Islamic monuments. It is home to different types of Islamic architecture; a Sufi mosque, palace, sabil, kuttab, tekyeh, and Khanqah.
Landmarks:
Tekyehat El-Darawish is the most famous landmark on Al-Seyoufia Street. It was established by Egyptian whirling dervishes on the remains of Sonqer El-Saady Palace and Madrasa. Tekyehat El-Darawish comprises four sections: a student hostel surrounded by a garden with a fountain, Sama' Khana "Sufi theatre", service and reception area, and main entrance. The Street also houses Amir Taz Palace which is currently an artistic creativity center.
Darb El-Barabra “El-Barabra Alley”
Location:
Name:
There are different stories about the reasons behind the name of Darb El-Barabra. Some say that it was named after the Berber tribes of Morocco, who came with the Fatimids to conquer Egypt, which is the most likely opinion. Others say that it is associated with the Nubian workers who came to Cairo in the early 19th century, and Darb El-Barabra was where they gathered. The Fatimids were the first to establish el-darb and introduce the dessert industry to Egypt as they used to distribute desserts and gifts to Egyptians on special occasions and celebrations. Further, they made candles used in lighting before inventing electricity.
Darb el-Barabra is related to Egypt’s history, especially during the British occupation and monarchy as the word “Barbara” is associated with “El-Haggana”, a group of military guards who rode camels and were responsible for dispersing demonstrations. Moreover, it still retains its name even though the name of the street was changed to Kamal El-Husseiny, Egypt’s first martyr during the tripartite aggression on Egypt in 1956.
Khan El-Khalili
Location:
Khan El-Khalili is located in El-Hussein district, and it is parallel to El-Mo’ez Ledin Allah Al-Fatimi Street.
Khan El-Khalili bazaar was named after its founder Emir Djaharks Al-Khalili from El-Khalil city in Palestine, and he was one of Sultan Barquq’s princes. This bustling street is full of shops, mosques, and, monuments that attract tourists and locals alike. In the past, it was part of Fatimid caliphates’ graves, and then in the Mamluk era, the graves were transferred to be replaced by this bazaar.
Khan El-Khalili bazaar is globally famous for being a market. It offers tourists some of Egypt’s oldest industries and crafts created by the Egyptian artist embodying Khan El-Khalili’s authenticity. In khan El-Khalili, you will find all kinds of goods such as souvenirs, handicrafts, jewelry, antiques, and decorative carpets. Moreover, Khan El-Khalili was an inspiration for many Egyptian writers like Nagib Mahfouz as he wrote his famous novel “Khan el-Khalili.”
Amir El-Geyosh Street
Location:
Significance:
Amir El-Geyosh Street is characterized by its old architectural features which are a blend of Fatimid and Mamluk styles. Moreover, the armies used to pass through this street, and it was the first one where the “city croft” bus operated in the early fifties.
Magra El-Oyoun Street
Once you are near Misr El-Qadima area, you will be impressed by the magnificent and ingeniously built structure “Magra El-Oyoun Fence”. This historic five-century old fence structure holds the fragrance of a prosperous past and the agonies of a deteriorated present.
Location:
Magra El-Oyoun runs from Fum El-Khalig area in Masr El-Qadima to El- Sayeda Aisha area.
Name:
The street took its name from Magra El-Oyoun Fence that was built in the area five centuries ago.
Origins:
Magra El-Oyoun Street was an empty area separating Misr El-Qadima area, where the Fustat and Amr ibn Al-Aas Mosque is, and Fatimid Cairo. When Salah El-Din Citadel was built and became the seat of government, Salah El-Din dug a well “Yousef well” to supply the Citadel with water from the Nile River, but the well did not provide enough water. So, the architects of Sultan Mohammed Ibn Qalawun government built Magra El-Oyoun Fence to carry the water from the Nile River to the castle. Magra El-Oyoun is considered one of the hugest water projects.
Qasr Al-Ainy Pasha Street
Qasr Al-Ainy Pasha Street… a resort for princes, military prison, and oldest medical school
Reasons behind Qasr Al-Ainy Name
Usama Shehab El-Din Ahmad Abdel Hamid Badr El-Din Mahmoud, known as El-Ainy Pasha, had no idea that the mansion he built would, one day, become the world’s oldest and most famous medical school.
Before it became a hospital, the mansion served as a military prison during the Mamluk era and later as a hospital for soldiers during the French Expedition to Egypt. Let us learn more about it below, starting with the story of the mansion’s owner.
Al-Ainy Pasha… the story of the mansion’s owner
Ahmad Al-Ainy received the land for the mansion as a gift from the Mamluk Prince Suliman El-Mahrani during the time of Al-Zahir Baybars. Ahmad Al-Ainy was the first to construct this area. Once the construction of the mansion was completed, Ahmad Al-Ainy invited Sultan Khushqadam, Sultan of Egypt at that time, to inaugurate and visit it. The sultan accepted the invitation and came to see the mansion, where he admired the Nile and awarded Ahmad Al-Ainy the rank of military emir.
After Sultan Qaitbay assumed power, he arrested Al-Ainy Pasha and seized his palace. After promising the Sultan to pay 20,000 dinars each month, he released him. Then he was arrested again. However, he managed to flee to Mecca.
Ahmed Al-Ainy died in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah and was buried in Al-Baqi Cemetery in 909 AH. His palace then became state property. Following the fall of the Mamluk Sultanate and its transformation into an Ottoman Empire, the Mamluk beys seized the mansion, turning it into a place for leisure, sometimes serving as a guest residence or a detention center for those princes who fell out of favor. Sometimes, it served as a residence for the governor when ousted by the Mamluk princes.
Qasr Al-Ainy during the French Expedition to Egypt
During the French Expedition to Egypt, the Ainy mansion became a military hospital, as Napoleon Bonaparte requested that it be allocated for the soldiers and officers of the French Expedition. After the assassination of Kléber by Suleiman Al-Halabi, his body was moved to the garden of the Ainy mansion and buried there. The remains were later taken after the evacuation of the expedition. The mansion was neglected until Muhammad Ali Pasha established a military school in 1825. Thus began Al-Ainy mansion's journey in medicine during Muhammad Ali's era, and he later transformed it into a hospital led by "Clot Bey."
The Establishment of Qasr Al-Ainy Medical School
Clot Bey was a French doctor and was the founder of the Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital. He was chosen by Muhammad Ali Pasha to introduce European medical techniques into the Egyptian army, which he was preparing at the time. In 1825, Muhammad Ali appointed Clot Bey as the chief surgeon, making him the first French surgeon in the Egyptian army, assisted by several doctors and pharmacists.
Clot Bey began establishing a military hospital and a medical school that comprised all medical branches, natural sciences, and languages. He initially selected the area of Abu Zaabal to set up this institution.
In 1837, the school and hospital moved from Abu Zaabal area to the Ainy mansion. Later, Clot Bey traveled to Marseille due to health reasons, until he was called back by Khedive Said Pasha to manage the medical school, which had suffered from noticeable neglect in his absence.
It was decided that Clot Bey would return as the director of the Medical School and the Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital in 1855 until he died in 1868.
In 1925, the Faculty of Medicine and Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital were incorporated into the Egyptian University, and Dr. Wilson was appointed its director. In 1929, Dr. Ali Pasha Ibrahim was appointed dean of the faculty and hospital and continued to serve as a dean until 1940.
Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital Renovation and Establishing New Teaching Hospital
The old Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital served the Faculty of Medicine for many years, from 1837 until it was demolished and renovated in the early 1980s. The construction of the new building project began in 1984, and it was equipped with the latest medical and engineering equipment to support medical education and patient care. It aimed to establish a distinguished center for medical research in the Middle East.
The contract for the new Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital was signed with a French consortium composed of three companies in 1984.
In November 1995, Cairo University issued a certificate of receipt for the new Qasr Al-Ainy Teaching Hospital from the French group, marking the beginning of its initial operational phase. It is noteworthy that the new building, occupying a large area on the island of El-Rhoda Island, is no longer referred to as "new" since the French hospital has now taken on the title of the new teaching hospital.
Today, Qasr Al-Aini Hospital is a source of pride for its students as it is the best university for medical education in the Arab world.
Qasr Al-Ainy Street Now
Currently, Qasr El-Aini Street is known as the Resort of Princes or the Square of Employees due to housing numerous significant Egyptian political decision-making institutions.
It houses Egypt’s Cabinet, the ministries of education, interior, and housing, in addition to various press institutions such as Rose Al-Youssef, professional syndicates like the Medical Syndicate, and cultural entities like the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, Al-Salam Theater, and Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital.
Ibn Sender Street
Location:
Ibn Sender Street begins from the garden in Hadaak El-Qobba district to El-Tahra Palace in Tahra Square. El-Tahra Palace was built by the Italian architect Antonio Lasciac for Princess Amina Aziz, daughter of Khedive Ismail in the early 20th century.
Name:
Ibn Sender Street was named after Al-Sahabi Masroh ibn Sender, one of Prophet Mohammad’s companions. Ibn Sender was a slave to Rawh Ibn Zinba El-Guthami and one day Ibn Zinba got angry at Ibn Sender and punished him by piercing his nose and ears. So, Ibn Sender rushed to Prophet Mohammad complaining from Ibn Zinba. Prophet Mohammad then sent a letter to Ibn Zinba asking him to free ibn Sender. After his freedom, Ibn Sender asked Caliph Omar ibn El-Khattab to send him to Egypt. When he came to Egypt, Amr ibn Al-Aas gave him a plot of land, which is surrounding Ibn Sender Street now.
Ezz Al- Arab Street
Mohammad Ezz Al- Arab Street “Mobtadayan”
The history of Mohammad Ezz Street
Mohammad Ezz Al-Arab Street is located at the beginning of the Monira neighborhood. It extends from Qasr Al-Ainy Street to Al-Sayeda Zeinab in front of El-Saneya Girls Secondary School. It was established by Al-Nasir Mohammad ibn Qalawun, one of the prominent sultans of the Mamluk dynasty. He also built palaces on its sides. However, one does not attain all his heart's desires, as the street later fell into decline and neglect due to Mamluk wars and conspiracies. Upon the arrival of the French Expedition, the street became a scaffold for rebels opposing the occupation.
Suleiman Al-Halabi and his comrades were executed on that scaffold in front of the people of Cairo following their trial for the assassination of General Kléber, the leader of the French campaign after Napoleon Bonaparte. Now, the execution site is occupied by Dar Al-Oulum Public Park.
Mobtadayan
Ali Youssef's name became associated with various issues, one of which was infamously known as the "Telegraph Case." The Mu'ayyad newspaper published a telegram sent by the commander of the Egyptian army in Sudan to the Minister of War in Egypt regarding the military campaign in Dongola, which was highly classified.
That made the British authorities angry, and they brought Ali Youssef to trial, but the court acquitted him.
Another case that contributed to Ali Youssef's notoriety among the public was his marriage to Mrs. Safia, daughter of Sadat. After their engagement, her father delayed the wedding, realizing it was inappropriate to marry his daughter, a descendant of the noble family of Sadat to a young man working as a journalist, a profession that did not command enough respect at the time.
However, with the help of Naqib Al-Ashraf, they eloped. When her father learned of this, he became furious and filed a case to annul the marriage due to social disparity. The brilliant lawyer Mohammad Ezz Al-Arab succeeded in separating the couple and dissolving their marriage. The couple later reunited in 1905, due to a change in society’s perspective on the profession of journalism.
He is the same brilliant lawyer who succeeded in the case mentioned above, and his name was given to the street as if he wanted to defeat him historically, just as he beat him legally by winning the case and separating him from his wife. To please Ali Yusuf, Monira Street was changed to his name.
