Amr Ibn El-Aas Mosque
About Amr Ibn El-Aas Mosque
Elmanyal , Masr elqadeema
Cairo, Egypt
+20 (0)2 391 3454 (Tourist Information)
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Amr was the Arab general who conquest Egypt to fight against the Roman and he was hailed by the Copts as a liberator. Then he was appointed governor by the Caliph. Amr founded a new capital instead of Alexandria, and that was Al Fustat. In the center of Al Fustat was the mosque which later on was named “ The Mosque of Amr” It was surrounded by the plans and houses of Al Fustat.
Originally the mosque was overlooking the Nile from the Northwest side. The mosque was called “ the Crown of the Mosques” and the Antique Mosque. In fact the actual features of the mosque is very different of his first ancient aspect. Many reconstructions, and restorations took place since the time of its foundation till now. The mosque was built in a shape of rectangular low shed of wood and palm leaves supported on columns of palm stems, stones and mud bricks while the floor was covered with gravel. That first simple mosque measures about 29 m. in length and 17 m. in width.
Since the time of the foundation of the mosque many additions and extensions took place, but the most important one was made by the governor Abudllah Ibn Taher during the reign of Caliph Al Mamoun in the 9th century. He extended the mosque adding a new area at the S.W side and that extension was the last one. Thus at that time the mosque measures 120 m. in length and 112 m. in width, and that represents the actual area of the mosque. At the end of the Fatimid period, the mosque was ruined as a result of Al Fustat Fire which took place in 1175 AD. When Al Fustat was burnt by Shawer, the Vizier of the Fatimid Caliph Al Adid, to prevent the crusaders from invading Al Fustat, and that fire continued 54 days. Therefore Saladin rebuilt it and renovated it in 1179 AD. Just before the arrival of the French Expedition to Egypt Mourad Bey one of the Mameluke leaders in the end of the 18th century demolished the mosque and rebuilt it in 1796 AD. Mourad Bey changed the Iwan and the courtyard replacing the seven rows of coumns in the quibla liwan with 6 ones and changing the bays to be perpendicular to the quibla wall instead of being parallel to it. Most probably he built the remaining minarets, one above the right entrance in the façade and the other is situated above the right end of the quibla wall. He renovated the ceiling, and covered the floor with mats and provided the mosque with candelabras. Also he made 4 foundation tablets still existing, bearing poetic verses praising and dating his achievements. One of this tablets is fixed to the quibla wall to the left of the Mihrab.
In 1906 during the reign of khedive Abbas Helmy II, the mosque was restored entirely. These works were achieved by the Arab Antiquities Preservation committee. At the Southern corner of the quibla Riwaq there is a Mausoleum below a dome, Perhaps it belongs to Abdulla the son of Amr, some Historians cant confirm that, they believe that no honorable figure was buried in that Mausoleum.
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Getting there:
Its very easy to go there by a taxi either from Eltahreer square or from Gizza square .
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First To Review:
May 23, 2009
21 e / 641 m Date of Construction of the mosque
Amr Ibn El-Aas name of establishing
Inclusive type of impact
It was The beginning of the Blessed Islamic conquest of Egypt
Amr Ibn El-Aas name of establishing
Inclusive type of impact
It was The beginning of the Blessed Islamic conquest of Egypt
May 12, 2010
The mosque was erected in 642 AD (21 AH) by Amr Ibn al'As, the commander of the Muslim army that conquered Egypt . The mosque is considered the first and oldest mosque ever built on the land of Egypt. Erected in 642 AD (21 AH) by Amr Ibn al'As, the commander of the Muslim army that conquered Egypt. The mosque is said to have been built on the site of Amr Ibn el-As's tent at Fustat , is the oldest existing mosque, not just in Cairo, but the entire African Continent and was an Islamic learning center long before El-Azhar Mosque. It could hold up to 5,000 students. The mosque was originally built on an area of 1,500 square cubits, overlooking the Nile.
For further information go to :
http://www.memphistours.com/about-egypt/Amr-Ibn-Al-Ass-Mosque.php
For further information go to :
http://www.memphistours.com/about-egypt/Amr-Ibn-Al-Ass-Mosque.php
Aug 2, 2010
The Mosque of Amr Ibn El-Aas is the first and oldest mosque ever built in Egypt, erected in 642 AD by Amr Ibn al'As, the commander of the Muslim army that conquered Egypt. Located north of the Roman Fortress of Babylon it incorporates elements of Greek and Roman buildings, and has 150 white marble columns and three minarets. It's gorgeous, and worth taking the time to visit.
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