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Sultan Hassan Mosque & Madrasa | Islamic Cairo
Although it stands in the shadow of the Citadel, Sultan Hassan’s Madrassa-Mosque still manages to make a strong impression. The building is a massive example of Mamluk architecture, constructed during the 14th century reign of a sultan who was famous for his extravagant spending.

Sultan Hassan Mosque | Sultan Hassan Information
Opened: 1359 AD
Architectural style: Islamic architecture
Function: Mosque
Affiliation: Islam
Father: Sultan Al Nasser Mohamed Ibn Qalawun
The Sultan Hassan Mosque is one of the most Islamic world’s valuable monument. As the giza Pyramids is the stunning of Ancient Pharaonic Egypt, Sultan Hassan Mosque is the one for ancient Islamic Egypt. It was founded by Sultan Hassan, son of the great Mamluk Sultan Al Nasser Mohamed Ibn Qalawun.
Sultan Hassan is not only famous for its size though. The mosque is noted as the most stylistically coherent of any of Cairo’s monumental mosques—a huge and prototypical example of architectural style of its day. The interior is beautifully decorated and the effect of its huge central court and imposing verticality is impressive.
The mosque was designed in the madrassa style, rather than as a congregational mosque. For this reason it is laid out in a cruciform pattern with a liwan (teaching areas) on each of the four walls of the inner courtyard for each of the 4 main schools of Sunni Islamic theology—Hanafi, Malaki, Hanbali, and Shafi’i. The building also included housing for up to 500 students, as well as the teachers and staff required to run a school on this size.
The Sultan Hassan Mosque is one of the most Islamic world’s valuable monument. As the giza Pyramids is the stunning of Ancient Pharaonic Egypt, Sultan Hassan Mosque is the one for ancient Islamic Egypt. It was founded by Sultan Hassan, son of the great Mamluk Sultan Al Nasser Mohamed Ibn Qalawun.
Sultan Hassan is not only famous for its size though. The mosque is noted as the most stylistically coherent of any of Cairo’s monumental mosques—a huge and prototypical example of architectural style of its day. The interior is beautifully decorated and the effect of its huge central court and imposing verticality is impressive.
The mosque was designed in the madrassa style, rather than as a congregational mosque. For this reason it is laid out in a cruciform pattern with a liwan (teaching areas) on each of the four walls of the inner courtyard for each of the 4 main schools of Sunni Islamic theology—Hanafi, Malaki, Hanbali, and Shafi’i. The building also included housing for up to 500 students, as well as the teachers and staff required to run a school on this size.
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Plan Your TripIn addition to the main courtyard, Sultan Hassan also constructed a mausoleum for himself behind the largest of the liwan, which is situated in the direction of prayer, or qibla. The mausoleum features an impressive dome and is beautifully decorated. Placing the mausoleum in the direction of prayer was unusual and controversial configuration since the worshippers were then forced to pray in the direction of the sultan’s body, as well as Mecca; however, the mausoleum remains empty because Sultan Hassan was assassinated before it could be complete.
ِAncient Egyptian History
- The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
- Alexander the Great | Egypt History
- Queen Hatshepsut | Luxor | Egypt
- Tutankhamoun King | Ancient Egypt Kingdom
- Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi
- King Ramses II: Facts, Accomplishments, Life and Death
- Sultan Mohammad Ali
- Amr Ibn Al-Aas
- The Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
- The New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
- Greco-Roman Period
- Early Islamic Period in Egypt
- Mamluk and Ottoman Period
- Egypt in the Modern Era
- Behind the Throne: Exploring the Life and Reign of Queen Cleopatra of Egypt
Cairo Attractions
- Al Aqmar Mosque | Cairo | Egypt
- Sultan Al Mansur Qalawun Mosque | Cairo
- Al Azhar Mosque | Cairo | Egypt
- Amr Ibn Al Aas Mosque | Old Cairo
- Mu’ayyad Mosque and Bab Zuweila
- Museum of Islamic Art | Cairo
- Sultan Hassan Mosque & Madrasa | Islamic Cairo
- Ibn Tulun Mosque and Gayer Anderson Museum
- Bayt Al Suhaymi in Cairo | Al Suhaymi House
- Cairo Opera House
- The Coptic Museum in Cairo
- The Egyptian Museum in Cairo
- El Ghorya | Attractions in Cairo Egypt
- Ben Ezra Synagogue | Coptic Cairo
- Khan El Khalili Bazaar
- Old Cairo and Coptic Cairo
- Salah El Din Citadel in Cairo | Egypt
- The Hanging Church | Coptic Cairo
- Al-Muizz Al-Deen Allah Street
- Downtown Cairo
- Zamalek / Gezira
- Islamic Cairo
- Souk Al Khayamiya | Tentmakers Bazaar
Alexandria Attractions
- Alexandria Travel Guide | Egypt
- Marsa Alam Information
- Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria | Fort Qaitbay Egypt
- Pompey's Pillar (Column) in Alexandria | Egypt
- Al Alamein | Mediterranean Sea Egypt
- Alexandria Library Egypt | Bibliotheca Alexandria
- Experience the Heart of the Mediterranean: Your Guide to the Best Things to Do in Alexandria, Egypt
- The Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa | Alexandria
- Greco-Roman Museum
- Lighthouse of Alexandria
- Montazah Park Alexandria | Egypt
Luxor Attractions
Aswan Attractions
Nile Valley
Red Sea and Sinai
Ports of Call
Lake Nasser
Egyptian Culture and Travel Info
Explore Cairo's museums, starting with the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and then head to the Egyptian Museum.
Sooth your night with Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise and oriental dance show on board of Nile Cruise Restaurant, Admire the lights of Cairo while enjoying a dinner with a belly dancing and Egyptian folklore show.
Combine the rich heritage of Cairo with a magical 5-day Nile cruise on this Egypt vacation package—a must for any lover of history. Follow the path of the pharaohs in Cairo, then fly continue the path in Luxor, and Aswan.
Do it all in one trip. Start in Cairo, then travel by flight to Aswan and embark on your Nile Cruise and explore the majestic attractions of Egypt between Aswan and Luxor. End your tour with a relaxing time on Hurghada beaches.
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