Mosque of Al-Aqmar
The mosque consists of an open courtyard at its center surrounded by four riwaqs (arcades) topped by shallow domes, the largest of which marks the qibla, the direction of prayer. An inscription above the mihrab (niche in the wall of a mosque marking the qibla) records the renovations that were undertaken by Yalbugha Al‑Salmi.
Al-Rifa’i Mosque
The original structure was a Fatimid mosque, which was then transformed into a shrine for Ali Abu Sheibak. Finally, Ottoman queen Kosheir Hanim commissioned the current design of the mosque and put in charge of the construction the architect Hussein Pasha Fahmi. Part of the plan was to have a mausoleum for the royal family as part of the extension, which was made by imported building materials from Europe, such as Italian marble. In addition to traditional raw materials, cement has also been employed in the construction of the mosque—a first for any Islamic monument in Egypt—signaling the transition into modern times.
Al‑Rifa’i Mosque’s architectural design is as interesting as its construction history. Visitors stand in awe of the detailed decoration of the outer walls and massive columns of the outer gate. The minarets are distinguished by their beauty and elegance.
Sultan Hasan Mosque
Its proximity to the citadel ultimately resulted in its use as a fort by enemies several times throughout its history. Some sultans seriously considered demolishing it because enemy armies would use the mosques high platforms to launch attacks on the citadel.
A monumental iwan opens up on each of the four sides of the interior square courtyard. An iwan is a vaulted rectangular space that is open on one side. Doorways at the four corners of the courtyard allow access into four madrasas, educational institutions, where the four Sunni Islamic schools were taught.
Al‑Hakim bi‑Amr Allah Mosque
Al-Hussein Mosque
The Mosque was built during the Fatimid reign and it has three white-marble doors overlooking Khan El-Khalili area and another door next to the mosque’s dome known as the green door.
When Khedive Ismail ruled Egypt, he ordered to restore and expand the mosque, which took ten years to complete. Then in 1953, the Egyptian government expanded the mosque to be on a total area of 3340 m2. It established an administrative building, a library at the eastern side along the mosque’s dome, and a women’s prayer area.
In the first year of the eighties of the 20th century, the Egyptian Antiquities Authority restored the holy shrine and the mosque.
Al-Hussein Mosque has a prophetic monuments hall built by Khedive Abbas Helmi II in 18963, Imam Al-Hussein’s shrine, and the world’s biggest chandelier.
Al-Fakahany Mosque
Suliman Agha El-Silehdar Mosque
The Mosque, Sabil, Kuttab of Suliman Agha El-Silehdar
The mosque is located on El-Mo’ez Street and it was built by Prince Suliman Agha El-Silehdar in the ottoman style. It is divided into three riwaqs (arcades) and attached to it a sabil, a kuttab, and several rooms.
The main façade of the buildings which overlook El-Mo’ez Street includes the facades of the mosque, madrassa, and Sabil, which all built of stone, while the sabil façade covered with white marble and inscriptions. In the entrance, there is a staircase leads to the mosque’s courtyard which is surrounded by four arcades (riwaqs) supported by marble columns.
The mosque is famous for its pencil-like minaret, and it is full of wooden decorations combining oriental and western features.
Al-Muayyad Mosque
The Mosque’s Description
The mosque has two minarets built on top of the two towers of Bab Zuweila. Each has three decorated and inscribed levels. The mosque also has four facades, the main entrance of the mosque is on the eastern façade and has a double staircase and a tall door covered with marble.
Al-Azhar Mosque
Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the most ancient mosques built in Egypt for more than a thousand years, during which it became one of the world’s leading Islamic universities. In recognition of its significant role as a beacon of moderate Islam, Al-Azhar Mosque is featured on the Egyptian 50 piasters banknote.
Al-Azhar Mosque History
Al-Azhar Mosque was the first mosque constructed in Cairo by the Fatimid Leader Jawhar El-Siqilli by order of the Fatimid Caliph El-Moez Le Din Allah. Leader Jawhar El-Siqilli began its establishment in 359 AH- 970 AD and was completed in 361 AH- 972 AD.
The mosque was built to be a congregational mosque, similar to the Amr ibn Al-Aas Mosque in the Fustat area. Additionally, it meant to be an institute for teaching Shi’ism. However, when Salah El-Din assumed power, he prohibited prayers at the mosque because he was a Sunni, and it remained so until the end of Ayyubid era. During the Mamluk era, Al-Azhar Mosque flourished once again as Mamluk sultans and rulers raced to develop and upgrade the mosque and support its students and scholars and eventually it became the Islamic world’s most renowned mosque and university.
Al-Azhar Mosque Name
Historians argued about the origin of Al-Azhar Mosque’s name, and it is most likely that the Fatimid named the mosque after the daughter of Prophet Mohammad “Peace and Prayers be upon him” Fatima Al-Zahraa in honor of her memory.
The Mosque’s Planning
Al-Azhar Mosque was firstly built on half of its current area. Later, it underwent several renovations, including expansions and constructions, until it reached its current state.
The ground plan at the time of its construction consisted of an open surrounded by three arcades, the largest of which is the qibla arcade on the eastern side. The arcade overlooking the courtyard is supported by piers, while the remaining arcades are supported by marble columns. The western side of the courtyard was not originally colonnaded, and in the middle of it was the main entrance.
Expansions of the Azhar Mosque
The Fatimid Era
The Azhar Mosque received the attention of the Fatimid. For 200 years, the mosque remained the same without any additions to its structure. It only underwent some renovation and redecoration. In 544 AH- 1149 AD, the Caliph El-Hafez Le Din Allah added an arcade around all four sides of the courtyard. He also constructed a dome decorated with Kufic inscriptions, one of the Fatimid’s most amazing inscriptions, over the entrance to the corridor in the middle of the arcade adjacent to the qibla arcade.
Al-Hafiz li Din Allah undertook the construction of a dome over the entrance of the transept. It is considered the oldest inscribed dome in Egypt and some of its carvings and Kufic inscriptions are still preserved.
The Mamluk Era
Al-Madrasa Al-Taybarsiyya (709 AH- 1309 AD): It was built by Prince Alaa El-Din Taybres, commander of the armies during the reign of Sultan Al-Naser Mohammad ibn Qalawun, for Shi’a scholars lessons. It is located on the mosque’s right-side entrance.
Al-Madrasa Al-Aqbughawiyya: It was built by Amir Alaa El-Din Aqbugha, supervisor of the royal kitchen and sultan’s food, on the mosque’s left-side entrance.
Al-Madrasa Al-Gawhariyya: It is located at the northeastern of the mosque. It was built by Amir Gawhar Al-Qunquba’I, Khazandar of Sultan Al-Ashraf Saif El-Din Barsbay, and it consists of four iwans centered by a colored marble courtyard with Amir Gawhar mausoleum inside it.
In 873 AH- 1468 AD: Sultan Qaitbay ordered the demolition of the main gate on the mosque's western side and built the current one, with a three-tiered minaret to its right.
While in 915 AH- 1510 AD: Sultan Qanswa Al-Ghory ordered the construction of a double-headed minaret for the mosque. Its second tier was cladded with tiles, and it had two staircases between its first and second tiers so that those who ascended one staircase could not see those on the other.
The Ottoman Era
The Azhar Mosque received full attention from rulers and dignitaries of Egypt during this era, including renovation and expansion works. The most important and largest of which was carried out by Prince Abdel Rahman Katkhuda in 1167 AH- 1753 AD. He expanded the mosque, adding arcades behind the mihrab called the "Abdul Rahman Katkhuda Iwan."
Prince Katkhuda made the iwan’s ceiling and floor higher than those of the mosque and built a new mihrab and minbar. The new iwan had two gates. One was known as “Bab Al-Sa’aida,” above which there was a Kuttab to teach the Quran to poor people and next to it a minaret.
Moreover, Prince Katkhuda built a mausoleum on the left side of that gate. The other gate “Bab El-Shourba” was built on the eastern side, adjacent to a minaret.
In the 19th century, the mosque underwent several important reforms and renovations, notably during the reign of Khedive Abbas Helmi II, who established the library of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif inside Al-Madrasa Al-Aqbughawiyya.
In 1961, Al-Azhar University was officially established, along with other colleges. Some of the most famous scholars associated with Al-Azhar include Ibn Khaldun, Ibn Hagar Al-Asqalani, Al-Sakhawi, Ibn Taghribirdi, Al-Qalqashandi, and others.
The historical significance of Al-Azhar University throughout the history of Islamic Egypt cannot be overlooked, along with the role of its scholars in the educational, religious, and political movement against the French campaign and the struggle against British occupation.
The mosque still stands proudly to this day, with its towering minarets defying time and its scholars’ stature reaching the sky, unyielding to aggressors, unbowed to tyrants, steadfastly defending the truth as long as its walls and minarets remain.
Al-Azhar Mosque on Google Maps
Last Update: 2024
