Islamic Cairo

One of Cairo’s most fascinating districts is Islamic Cairo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a treasure trove of Islamic history, architecture, and culture. This vibrant part of the city offers visitors a unique glimpse into the legacy of Egypt’s Islamic rulers and the enduring influence of Islamic civilization on the region.

Islamic Cairo refers to the area of the city that was developed during the Islamic period of Egyptian history, which began with the Arab conquest of Egypt in 640 AD and continued for over a thousand years.

The district is located around Cairo’s historic city center, which was founded in the 10th century by the Fatimid caliphate as the city of Al-Qahira (meaning “The Victorious”). Islamic Cairo expanded and flourished under successive Islamic dynasties, including the Fatimids, Ayyubids, Mamluks, and Ottomans, each of which contributed to the city’s architectural and cultural legacy.

The heart of Islamic Cairo was the old Fatimid city, which was designed to be a grand political and religious center. Throughout the centuries, the area saw the construction of many mosques, palaces, and institutions, establishing Cairo as a key center of Islamic scholarship, trade, and culture. In particular, the Mamluks, who ruled Egypt from the 13th to the 16th centuries, left a significant mark on the district with their grand mosques, schools, and monumental tombs.

Today, Islamic Cairo remains a vibrant and thriving part of the city, where ancient structures stand side by side with modern life. As you explore the district, you’ll be immersed in a world where history, culture, and religion intersect.

• Al Azhar Mosque:

With the start of the Fatimid Era in Egypt and the founding of Cairo, construction of Al Azhar Mosque began in 970 A.D. and was completed two years later; it is considered to be the first-ever mosque in the city of Cairo and is built in an area surrounded with remarkable Islamic monuments from the 10th century. The origin of the name of the mosque is unknown, but it is said that the Fatimids named it to commemorate the daughter of Prophet Mohammed, Fatima Al Zahra’a.

The mosque is renowned for its beautiful architectural design, featuring a large courtyard, elegant minarets, and stunning marble columns. Visitors can explore the mosque and its intricate decorations, which showcase the architectural brilliance of the Fatimids.

The Al-Azhar University, which continues to operate today, has historically played a central role in the education of Islamic scholars. It is still one of the leading centers for Sunni Islamic studies, attracting students from around the world.

• Al Hussein Mosque:

Al Hussein Mosque was built in 1154 A.D. to place the head and mausoleum of Al Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. It was built on a site that was previously used as a cemetery during the Fatimid Era. Early in the 20^th century, the mosque’s vicar discovered an underground room where a commemorative plaque was found and later moved to the Museum of Arab Art. Al Hussein Mosque has three entrances in the west, one in the north, and another in the south, all of which led to a large atrium with an area for ablution.

Al Hussein Mosque houses the oldest manuscript of the Holy Quran, attributed to the Caliph Othman Ibn Affan. The manuscript, written by Othman himself, is displayed in a glass case and is open at a bloodstained page; legend has it that Othman was reading this page when he was murdered.

The mosque includes 44 white marble columns, and the mausoleum is surmounted with a cupola that is decorated with gold. The mosque was entirely reconstructed over a period of nine years, in the reign of Khedive Ismail, and was completed in 1873.

• Sultan Hassan Mosque and School:

Considered one of Cairo’s most magnificent mosques, the Sultan Hassan Mosque was built between 1356 and 1363 by Sultan Hassan, one of the Mamluk sultans. This mosque is an exemplary representation of Mamluk architecture and is known for its grand scale and intricate design.

The mosque features a vast courtyard surrounded by high walls, and the prayer hall is crowned by a massive dome that is supported by four imposing minarets. The mosque also houses a madrasa (Islamic school) that was designed to teach religious scholars. The intricate carvings and calligraphy throughout the mosque are a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of the Mamluk period.

One of the highlights of the Sultan Hassan Mosque is its massive, open-air courtyard, which is surrounded by stunning arches and columns. The mosque is an essential stop for visitors looking to explore the history of Cairo’s religious and architectural heritage.

• Al Rifai Mosque:

Al Rifai Mosque was built in the nineteenth century to Equivalent its fourteenth-century neighbor, the mosque of Sultan Ḥassan. The mosque gets its name from the tomb of Ali who was known as “Abu Sheibak”, he was the grandson of imam Ahmad Al Rifai.

When the mosque was completed, it was imputed directly to Ahmad Al Rifai who founded the Rifai Sufi order. Although he was never buried there, the mosque witnesses a joyous annual Sufi celebrations commemorating his birth.

The original structure was a Fatimid Mosque, which was then transformed into a shrine for Ali Abu Sheibak.

Finally, Hoshiyar Hanim, the mother of Khedive Ismail, 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 family of Muhammad Ali as part of the extension, which was made by imported building materials from Europe, such as Italian marble. The construction has stopped for years until it was completed in the reign of Khedive Abbas Helmi II in 1912.​

Al Rifai 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. Additionally, cement was used in the construction of the mosque for the first time in any of Islamic monument in Egypt, signaling the transition into modern times.

While a section of the mosque is dedicated to prayers, another is reserved for the members of the family of Muhammad Ali Pasha, which was in power from the early nineteenth century until the 1953, when the modern Egyptian republic was born.

Khedive Ismail and his mother Hoshiyar Kadin, as well as Kings Fuad I and Farouk, the last two rulers of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, are buried there, all enshrined in elaborate tombs.

The mosque contains the burial chamber of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi who was buried there in 1980, the last Shah of Iran.

• The Mosque of Ibn Tulun:

The Mosque of Ibn Tulun, built in the 9th century, is one of Cairo’s oldest and most important mosques. It was constructed by Ahmad Ibn Tulun, the founder of the Tulunid dynasty, and is renowned for its simplicity and elegance.

The mosque is characterized by its spacious courtyard, a large central prayer hall, and a unique spiral minaret. The mosque is also home to beautiful geometric patterns and decorative carvings that highlight the early Islamic architectural style. Unlike many of the other mosques in Cairo, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun retains much of its original design and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of early Islamic architecture.

A visit to this mosque provides insight into the early years of Islamic architecture and religious practice in Egypt.