Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque – Alexandria’s Historic Site

Where is Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque located?

The mosque of Abu Al-Abbas is located in Alexandria, the capital of Egypt, and was built centuries ago during the reign of Alexander the Great and the reign of the Greeks and Romans.

 

When was Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque established?

The mosque of Abu Al-Abbas was first established in the thirteenth century AD, but the mosque that currently exists is modern in appearance due to the renovations and renovations that the mosque has undergone, which we will learn about later.

 

Who is Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi?

It is said that the main owner of one of the most famous mosques in Egypt was originally a saint from Andalusia, but he left Spain with his family, which was wealthy.

Abu Al-Abbas was born in the year 1219 AD. Abu Al-Abbas received a good education, and when he arrived in Egypt (specifically in Alexandria), he became one of the most famous sheikhs there, and it is said that he was promoted By his son, one of the sheikhs, and Abu Al-Abbas was a prominent teacher, but he died in 1286AD (approximately, some scholars say that he died In the year 1287 AD) and Sheikh Abu Al Abbas was buried in the mausoleum of a mosque that currently bears his name… Abu Al Abbas Al Morsi Mosque.

 

Facts about Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque

• Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque is one of the most famous mosques in Egypt, and specifically one of the most famous mosques in Alexandria. Its beauty and vibrant cultural significance distinguish it.
•  The mosque is distinguished by its tower and is distinguished in its construction by the merging of tiles with wood to produce an artistic masterpiece that still exists to this day.
• Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque takes up a very large area and can be viewed from far away.
• it is characterized by engravings and decorations that swallow up the entire mosque, from the ground to the highest point, from the entrance to the interior, and even to all of the openings of the mosque. Stone intervenes in the construction of the mosque as well, and marble intervenes in its construction on the ground.
• Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque is distinguished by its high minaret and its many decorations, as well as by the mihrab in which these decorations are present and its large number of columns, as it contains about 16 columns. These columns end with a decoration in the shape of a crown and are( the columns) mainly composed of marble and granite.
• The mosque is built in the Andalusian style as a reminder of the deceased Sheikh and his origins.
• The decorations that fill the mosque are Arabic and Andalusian decorations combined to express the life of Sheikh Abu Al-Abbas.
• Every year, Something like a birthday is held in Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque and take several days, and celebrations are held in the presence of many important people.

 

Restoration and renovations of Abu Al Abas Mosque

As we mentioned, the Abu Al-Abbas Mosque was originally a tomb only to bury him in, At the beginning of the 13^th century, a shrine or mausoleum was built for the tomb out of honor for the buried Sheikh.

 Shortly thereafter, a small mosque was built with a dome for the mosque, and underneath it was the mausoleum.

In the 15^th century AD, signs of neglect and a lack of care were noticed in the mosque, so it was ordered to be renovated to suit the level of the Sheikh.

It is clear that we noticed a pattern here, where the mosque is renewed every century, and this also happened at the end of the 16^th century the mosque was renewed again, and the last time was two centuries after this time, when the mosque was built, the image of which is still alive until now.

 

Major Restoration Events for the Mosque

• In the year 1477 AD, the first restoration of Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque
• In the year 1596 AD, the mosque was renewed again
• In the year 1775, the current image of the mosque was founded and it’s said that those who helped to establish it were Algerians

Another restoration happened, but we didn’t mention it above. In 1863 or the 19th century, the houses around the mosque were taking up space from the mosque. Therefore, these houses were demolished to provide more space for the mosque.

• In 1943 AD, King Farouk ordered the construction of a large courtyard for Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque, which included several tombs of other important people. They restored the tomb of Abu Al-Abbas once again so that it would receive all the attention it deserved. This square is called Mosque Square.

 

The Historical Significance of Alexandria

The city of Alexandria is prominent in the history of Egypt, as it was at one time the capital of Egypt and a very important capital, it was built by the historical ruler Alexander the Great because he wanted a place with beautiful weather and available water, as Alexandria is located on the banks of the Mediterranean Sea, and it is the most popular place for Egyptians to travel to In the summer to enjoy it, and therefore for three centuries before history until now it has been important, famous and beloved, and therefore it has many monuments and tourist places such as

 

Conclusion

• Abu Al Abbas Al Morsi Mosque is one of the masterpieces that merges Arab art with Andalusian art.
•  The mosque includes one of the masterpieces of the stories of a person migrating from one country to another until he finds a happy life in it and he decides to settle down, work, get married, and even be buried in it, which indicates his love for his new country.
• Egyptian architecture has made clear throughout history that whatever its history or cause, it still exists to this day and is still beautiful and eye-catching.
• The subsequent rulers’ love for this remarkable architecture made them, when they noticed any poor care of the mosque or shrine or any error in the structure, order the immediate restoration and repair of this error, as we discussed previously.
• Abu Al Abbas Al Mursi Mosque is distinguished by its decoration, its history, its story, and the history of its restorations, and it is still standing to this day and still enjoys its special splendor.
• The mosque and the body of the deceased Sheikh Abu Al-Abbas are located in a city with a wonderful appearance and a wonderful history, and it is distinguished by its many varied antiquities from different eras and different religions.
• Alexandria is a city distinguished by its admirable architecture, but in the end, Alexandria is an Egyptian city, and Egypt contains antiquities from different eras. It is not new or strange for a city to contain various antiquities from different eras.