Mosques, Cairo

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It's a bit of a climb to reach the mosque, but well worth it. You are able to enter the buildings and roam freely. As opposed to other places in Cairo there are very few vendors here. The architecture is stunning as are the views.

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This impressive and huge complex is something that can't be missed when you're walking along Muizz Street in Islamic Cairo. Right at the main entrance/gate, it says "Madrasa and Dome of Sultan Al-Nassir Mohammed Ibn Qalawun.

It's a huge complex that includes a madrasa, a mosque, a mausoleum and a mauristan. Built in 1284 by Sultan el-Mansur Qala'un. The complex is the earliest example of a new Syrian style of those times, and displays typical Mameluke architecture.

It takes its inspiration from the Crusader's churches. The entrance leads you to a long and somewhat dark corridor with its original beam and coffered ceiling, to the left is the mosque-medersa, and on the right, opposite the medersa, is the mausoleum.

The details are very intricate and the mihrab glass mosaics are impressive letting a slight amount of lights.

The Mausoleum of Sultan Qalawun is considered to be the second most beautiful mausoleum, second only to the Taj Mahal in India.

The second floor looks like a mosque extention with a courtyard too.

Go to the next tip/stop on this old Islamic Cairo walking tour...

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Continuing my walk along Muizz Street, I entered a mosque few meteres after the Kamiliya Madrasa along the same side.

This was the Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Barquq. I find this mosque very charming, with the hallway a bit of a drama and a courtyard with a nice ablution fountain right in the middle, surrounded by 4 iwans. Making it more dramatic are the several lovely arabic lamps hanging on the celilings, so many of them. The mosque was built in 1386 by Sultan az- Zahir Abu Sa'id Barquq, the first Circassian Mamluk to rule Egypt. It is built according to the cruciform madrasa plan.

You should not miss this one, it's really lovely.

Onto the next tip/stop on my walking tour of the old Islamic Cairo...

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Al-Hakim Mosque, (next to Bab al-Futuh). One of the largest Fatimid mosques in Cairo. It was originally decreed in 990 by the famously eccentric caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah ("Ruler by God's Command") who, among other things, prohibited eating grapes or playing chess. Increasingly paranoid towards the end of his reign, he disappeared without a trace at age 36. The mosque has been used as a prison, a warehouse and an elementary school before being restored (or, rather, rebuilt) as a mosque in 1980. {wikipedia}

This mosque will be the first stop on your Islamic Cairo walking tour -- that is -- if you started from Bab AlFutuh which happens to be beside the mosque.

Go click on to the next tip/stop on this Islamic Cairo walk....

Al-Azhar is one of Cairo's most historic places. It is a mosque, university and cultural center. Built by Gawhar Al-Sikilly, Al Azhar was the first mosque in the Fatimid Cairo. Construction started in 970 AD and finished in 972 AD. Al-Azhar is named to honor Fatima Az-Zahraa, the daughter of Muhammad, from whom the Fatimid Dynasty claimed descent.

Al-Azhar is considered by most Sunni Muslims to be the most prestigious school of Islamic law, and its scholars are seen as the highest scholars in the Muslim world. Its stated objectives remain the propagation of Islamic culture and the Arabic language. It maintains a committee to judge on individual Islamic questions, a printing establishment for printing the Qur'an, and trains preachers.

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This is the one of the oldest mosques in Cairo and sources like Encyclopaedia Britannica state 'arguably the oldest mosque in Egypt in its original form'. It was constructed from mud bricks and was completed in 879 AD. It is also the third largest mosque in the world.

It is famous for its minaret. Only one other minaret in the world (Iraq) has an external spiral staircase. It is worth the climb of 168 steps (Yes - I counted!) - the views from the lower balcony are spectacular - only the imam can go to the top.

The courtyard is surrounded by beautifully arched arcades with intricate detail on top of the outer walls. Inside are examples of stucco wall panels and window grilles. The wood carving on the minbar is particularly fine.

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This is the most impressive mediaeval mosque in Cairo. It is also one of the largest [2.5 sq km] and oldest in the world..
The mosque was built about 876-879, and it is still functioning. It is built in the Iraqi style, but it has a pointed arch. It was built of mud-brick and timber. on a rocky outcrop to protect it from the annual flooding of the Nile.
The mosque eventually fell into ruin, but was restored in the 13th century.
The walls have a paper-doll-like crenellation. There are six large gates A wooden band [of sycamore wood] with Koranic verses goes all the way round the mosque, just under the ceiling. The courtyard is massive, about six and a half acres, and a climb up the spiral minaret , the only one like it in Egypt, gives a magnificent view.
Entrance costs about 6 Egyptian pounds. Take your shoes off, or pay to use slippers.

One of the early mosques. It is large and inside there is a wonderful sense of light and shadow.
The hanging lanterns, the arches, the muwaddah for ablutions, the minbar all are interesting. The entrance to the mosque is also beautiful with its vertical panels and spiral pilasters..
It is an example of Mamluke architecture
Inside has a cruciform shape common in 14th C mosques.
The courtyard is paved with marble, with a restored fountain in the centre. There are 4 halls entered by four enormous arches.
The mausoleum has bronze doors with gold incrustations. There is a lso a wood painted frieze.