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Islam was introduced to Egypt with the Arab invasion in 642 and was quickly adopted by the local population. Currently, about 90% of the Egyptian population are followers of Islam, mainly Sunni. According to the assumptions of this religion, all activities that a person undertakes are dependent on God. Every Muslim must obey the five pillars of faith: Shahada - a confession of faith: "There is no other God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet", Salat - praying five times a day, Saum - fasting in the holy month of Ramadan, Zakat - alms for the poor and Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in a lifetime).
Islamic architecture draws its influence from the older cultures of Mesopotamia, Iran, and the Nile Valley, but it nevertheless has its own characteristics, which are recognizable around the world. In Egypt, the largest concentration of Islamic buildings is in Cairo, but you can also find great examples of national architecture in the city of Rosetta in the Nile Delta, and in the settlements in Dakhla.
The mosque is a holy place for Muslims and an interesting monument for tourists to visit. Cairo is packed full with soaring minarets and medieval schools and mosques and is home to some of the greatest architecture of medieval Islam. The tranquil, shady arcades of a medieval mosque are perfect for taking a break from the modern world. Far from being just places of worship, many mosques function as peaceful places in an incredibly noisy city as well as being prayer halls and many Cairenes drop in for a quiet chat or an afternoon nap. While some mosques bustle with theological students and others have become national monuments, the Mosque madrassa of Sultan Hassan is a medieval monument, working mosque and architecture wonder.
Why not kick your shoes off, sit down and stay a while.
The Amr ibn Al-A'as Mosque rises to the northeast of the Coptic Quarter in Cairo. It was built north of the Roman fortifications in 642 by Amr ibn Al-A'as, the commander of the Muslim army that had conquered Egypt.
There is a legend associated with the construction of the mosque. After a long siege of the Roman fortress of Babylon, the Arab commander Amr ibn Al-A'as was victorious. The next stage of their conquest of Egypt was to be Alexandria. The military camp then collapsed with only the commander's tent remaining. Two pigeons made a nest on it and the general took this as a good omen and left the tent. When the chicks left the nest and flew away, a mosque was built in its place.
In 827, the temple was thoroughly rebuilt, but the old shape of the building, built of dried brick, with a roof covered with palm leaves, without a mihrab, courtyard or minaret, has still been preserved.
During the Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, the mosque was extended and a mihrab and a wooden pulpit (minibar) were added. Many changes then took place during the Turkish rule. Greek and Roman columns (150) were placed in the temple and three minarets were erected.
The present mosque has a courtyard surrounded on four sides by a colonnade. Many Byzantine plaques with Byzantine carvings and floral motifs draw your attention.
Join our Egypt Luxury Tours and visit this wonderful mosque!
