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Amr Ibn Al'as Mosque
This is the first and oldest mosque ever built on the land of Egypt, after the Islamic conquest. It is erected in 642 AD (21 AH) by Amr Ibn Al'As, the commander of the Muslim army that conquered Egypt, he founded the city of Fustat, then the mosque. The mosque is also known as Taj al-Jawamie (Crown of Mosques), Al-Jamie Al-Ateeq (the Ancient Mosque) and Masjid Ahl Al-Rayah (Mosque of Banner Holders). According to Moslem historians Al-Kindy and Yazid Ibn Abi Habib, 80 Companions of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) had built the “Qiblah”, or shrine, of the Mosque. The mosque is said to have been built on the site of Amr Ibn Al'as tent at El-Fustat, it is the oldest existing mosque, not just in Cairo, but the entire African Continent. Located north of the Roman Fortress of Babylon, it is actually on the edge of Fustat, the temporary city founded by Amr, 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. The initial structure was quite simple; with walls empty of any plaster or decorations. Its walls were built of mud brick and the roof was constructed of split palm trunks, supported by palm trunk columns, and covered with a thatching of palm leaves and mud. It had two doors on the north and two others facing Amr's house. It had no pulpit, minaret, or hollow mihrab, or "prayer niche." It included two doors at each side facing the Qibla, or direction of prayer. History has recorded the successive alterations and modifications which this mosque has undergone from its foundation down to the present day. Its area was extended, the roof was raised, the palm trunk columns were replaced by marble ones, the walls were decorated, the number of entrances was increased, and many features of architectural importance were introduced. In year 53 H. (672- 73), Mu'awiya ordered Maslama Ibn Mukhallad, Governor of Egypt, to build the four sawami' (towers), similar to those which stood at the corners of the old temple of Damascus; access to these sawami' was effected by means of outside ladders. These sawami' or square towers, were actually the origin of the minarets which were built in Egypt; later on a number of types were evolved, some of elaborate design. Another architectural feature which was introduced later on in this mosque was the concave mihrab, which was copied by Qurrah Ibn Sharik from that erected by 'Umar Ibn 'Abd al- 'Aziz in Al Madina Mosque in 88 H. (706- 707); the first mihrabs had been flat. In 212 H. (827), 'Abd Allah Ibn Tahir, who had been appointed Governor of Egypt by the 'Abbasid Khalif al- Ma'mum, ordered that the mosque be doubled in size, by the addition to the west of its exact area. Its dimensions then became about 112 X 120 m. This was the last recorded extension of the mosque proper, and its area has remained unchanged up to the present day. It then consisted of an open sahn, surrounded by four riwaqs. The sanctuary had seven arcades parallel to the qibla wall and extending for the whole width of the mosque. The back riwaq was similar. The side riwaqs had seven arcades, parallel to the qibla wall, and extending from the side walls up to the sahn. The mosque had thirteen entrances, three in the north wall, five in the east, four in the west and one in the qibla wall. In the upper part of the walls was a row of windows, between each two of which was a niche with a fluted hood. This mosque has passed through periods of ruin and destruction, and has been repaired and restored many times. It consists at present of a large space, entered by three doorways in its north façade; to the south is the sanctuary, which has nineteen arcades, supported by marble columns and running perpendicular to the qibla wall. These arcades were built in the middle of the nineteenth century. The fragments of timber architraves, placed over the capitals of columns, next the west wall of the qibla riwaq, are of the greatest importance, for their carved decoration shows that they must belong to the time of 'Abd Allah Ibn Tahir, 212H. (827). the external walls are of several periods; the most important parts of them date back to 'Abd Allah Ibn Tahir, and include windows in the west façade, with remains of carved woodwork. Some of the windows in this façade, as well as in the north one, are due to the Amir Salar who restored the mosque in 703H. (1304). this restoration included the beautiful stucco mihrab still to be seen in the north façade. Amr Mosque was not merely a place of worship but also served as a court for settling religious and civil disputes. Moreover, teaching circles were organized either for general religious preaching or teaching lessons in Quranic sciences, jurisprudence and Prophet Muhammad's Tradition (Hadith) as well as letters. |
