Al Aqmar Mosque history returned to when Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah, the Fatimid Caliph, ordered the construction of the Al-Aqmar Mosque on Al-Muizz Street in 519 AH/ 1125 AD. The Vizier al-Ma’mun al-Bata’ihi oversaw the mosque’s construction, while Prince Yalbugha al-Salmi oversaw its renovation in 799 AH/1397 AD during Sultan Barquq’s rule.

 

One of Egypt’s oldest stone façades still standing is the Al Aqmar mosque’s main façade. Its architecture is distinguished by the elaborate stone carvings, the Kufic scripted Qur’anic texts, and the phrase “Muhammad and Ali” repeated several times. The ability of the engineer to align the façade with the street’s direction and preserve the mosque’s internal prayer orientation is a prime example of his inventiveness.

 

The Coptic Museum’s façade was designed in the 20th century with architectural inspiration from al-Aqmar Mosque but with Biblical passages along with Christian imagery. The mosque’s layout is as follows: an open courtyard sits in the middle, encircled by four riwaqs, or arcades, each with a small dome atop it that indicates the direction of prayer, or qibla. A plaque atop the mihrab, a mosque wall niche designating the direction of prayer, documents the repairs carried out by Yalbugha al-Salmi.

Al Aqmar Mosque, one of the most impressive structures of the Fatimid dynasty, is housed inside Al Muizz Street in Cairo City, one of the most spectacular buildings constructed by the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt. You might argue that this mosque still stands in its original surroundings.

 

The Architectural Marvel of Al Aqmar Mosque

Al Aqmar Mosque is undoubtedly one of the most exquisite and opulent mosques in Old Cairo, while not being one of the biggest.
The Fatimids’ use of bricks and stones in their architectural construction may have contributed to the beauty and quality of their structures. The Mosque was constructed using both bricks and stones.

 

Something that sets this Fatimid Mosque apart is its survival, something that Fatimid architecture is not particularly used to. The main facade of this mosque is one of the oldest in Egypt and is notable for its stone construction. Although some of the kings of the following eras intended to destroy it or build their buildings over it, this mosque stood out from them and chose to remain.

This mosque’s main facade stands out for its splendor because, although it was constructed with the orientation of the major street in mind outside the mosque, it faces the Qibla, which is the direction Muslims face when praying.

 

The mosque’s courtyard is divided into four areas, each of which has a colonnade, a roof or dome covering it. The arches of these columns are brick, but as we have already noted, one of the four areas is the mihrab, or prayer space, and it has more colonnades than the other three.

There is a minaret when you enter the mosque on the left. Being in a mosque shouldn’t be unusual, is it? The odd thing is that Al Amir All Salimi ordered the construction of this minaret in the Mamluk empire in 1396 AD. This indicates how all Islamic arts have blended together, each with its own subtleties and elegance.

Fascinating information about Al Aqmar Mosque

• ‘Al Aqmar’ means “the Moonlit.”
• It is said that Al Aqmar Mosque was influenced by Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo.
• Some scholars mentioned that Al Aqmar Mosque is built on a slightly higher level than the street, just a small elevation.
• When the Coptic Church was freshly built, its façade was similar to that of Al Aqmar Mosque but with different decorations.

 

Restoration Efforts of Al Aqmar Mosque

The mosque was once restored in 1397 AD, during Sultan Barquq’s reign, and it was overseen by Amir Al Salimi, whose name was previously mentioned in relation to the minaret’s construction to the left of the mosque’s entrance. These two events are thought to have occurred relatively close to one another in terms of time.
It is reported that the mosque’s roof was rebuilt by Amir Al Salimi. It appears that one mosque piqued his interest more than others.

A brief overview of the Fatimid dynasty

One of the oldest Islamic dynasties in Egypt was the Fatimid dynasty. The only thing that set them apart from Sunni rule was that they were Shiites. Additionally, if I may use the term “artists,” their monuments demonstrate the amazing skill and engineering of their builders, as well as the magnificent Al Aqmar Mosque. Al Muizz Street is one of their earliest pieces in Cairo, albeit it is not the only one that still exists.

 

Their first project was Cairo, which they constructed as a new capital for their rule. However, it still serves as the capital of Egypt today, and among their surviving monuments is the Al Azhar Mosque and University, which is highly regarded by Egyptians and Muslims worldwide. The Fatimids arrived in Egypt in 969 AD. Al Muizz Li Din Allah, the first Fatimid caliph, led their state until it was overthrown by Saladin Al-Ayyubi. The Ayyubid state was established in Egypt in 1174 AD. Al Muizz Li Din Allah is the name of the street.

In summary

There are many places in Islamic Cairo, also known as old Cairo, that are worth seeing, but in my opinion, Al Muizz Street and everything it has to offer is the most noteworthy. You should also pay attention to every stone that has been placed inside this historic street, as each one tells a historical tale that may not be able to be told by humans. Today, we’ll be looking at Al Aqmar Mosque, one of the most beautiful mosques from the Fatimid era, as well as Al Muizz Street.

 

We are going over the brief history of the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt and the changes made to this mosque by one of the Mamluk state’s kings. These changes have a profound impact on tourists and anyone who appreciates classical engineering architecture, regardless of the mosque’s construction date or king. However, an admirer of architecture cannot witness a work of art collapsing and neglect it, which is precisely what occurred.

 

Egypt is teeming with painters. From the time of the ancient Egyptians to the present, engineering has always been in our blood. Although Al Aqmar Mosque is not the biggest, oldest, or even the newest in Egypt, it stands out for its unique designs that set each building apart and ensure that no two mosques are alike, even if they were constructed at the same time. Additionally, the two stones that were used in the construction of one mosque are not alike in their origins.

 

Every structure, mosque, and stone in Egypt has a unique tale, which we should hear and learn from in order to understand our history, prevent it from being taken from us, and be proud of it. Regardless of whether it is modern, Islamic, Christian, or ancient Egyptian history, this is history.