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Sultan al-Muayyad Shaykh was a Burgi or Circassian Mamluk who served as sultan between 1412 and 1421. Al-Maqrizi relates that during the reign of Farag ibn Barquq, al-Mu'ayyad, a great intriguer during a time of great intrigues, was captured and thrown into the prison on this site. He suffered terribly from the lice and the fleas, and vowed then that if he ever came to power he would transform the infested prison into a "saintly place for the education of scholars." Once he became sultan, he soon fulfilled his promise, spending some 40,000 dinars on its construction. "Marble was taken from everywhere", relates the 15th century historian al-Taghribirdi, "even from (private) houses and palaces ... The prize of marble in Egypt soon rose to astronomical height for the vast demand and the big dimensions of the mosque. Thus, what regards decoration and the use of marbles, this mosque became the most beautiful ever to be built in Cairo".
Numerous donkeys were occupied for days carrying away loads of bones of the dead found in the prison. Due to the Sultan's lavish endowments, the madrasa became one of the most prominent academic institutions of the 15th century. A large library was collected, and the most eminent scholars of the day filled professorial chairs. the most famous specialist in Quranic exegesis in Egypt, Ibn Hagar al-'Asqalani, was installed as lecturer in Shafi'i jurisprudence.
Finally, there was a great ceremony for its opening, when al-Mu'ayyad and his Mamluk entourage came down from the Citadel. According to reports, the water basin in the middle of the vast courtyard was filled with liquefied sugar and sweets were offered, along with lectures and much ceremony.
Numerous donkeys were occupied for days carrying away loads of bones of the dead found in the prison. Due to the Sultan's lavish endowments, the madrasa became one of the most prominent academic institutions of the 15th century. A large library was collected, and the most eminent scholars of the day filled professorial chairs. the most famous specialist in Quranic exegesis in Egypt, Ibn Hagar al-'Asqalani, was installed as lecturer in Shafi'i jurisprudence.
Finally, there was a great ceremony for its opening, when al-Mu'ayyad and his Mamluk entourage came down from the Citadel. According to reports, the water basin in the middle of the vast courtyard was filled with liquefied sugar and sweets were offered, along with lectures and much ceremony.
The Mosque of Sultan al-Mu'ayyad is a Mosque in Cairo, Egypt next to Bab Zuwayla built under the rule of sultan Al-Mu'ayyad Sayf ad-Din Shaykh and it’s often described as the pride of the Mamluk architecture during the Circassian Mamluks’ era.
Construction began in 1415 and the mosque was completed in 1421. The complex included a Friday mosque and a madrasa. It replaced a prison which originally stood next to Bab Zuwayla.
Its architecture is very beautiful and the interior decorations are extremely beautiful as well.
Construction began in 1415 and the mosque was completed in 1421. The complex included a Friday mosque and a madrasa. It replaced a prison which originally stood next to Bab Zuwayla.
Its architecture is very beautiful and the interior decorations are extremely beautiful as well.
Best mamluk mosque in cairo with it's fine art and exotic minarets
The wooden doors and minber are a piece of art
The wooden doors and minber are a piece of art
This is the first mosque on the left, after passing through Bab Zuwayla gate. As one looks north through the arched opening of Bab Zuwayla, the massive façade ending in the portal and the majestic dome of the mosque fills the vista. The elevated portal, with its red and turquoise frame around the door, carved arabesque patterns and Kufic script are particularly beautiful.
The magnificent bronze door originally belonged to Sultan Hassan Mosque. The patterns of the ceiling decoration, above the men’s praying area, are of a spectacular richness, looking like suspended carpets.
However, the ceiling above the women praying area has no decoration.
This majestic mosque was built on the place of a notorious prison, where al-Mu’ayyad himself was once confined. He suffered terribly from the lice and fleas and vowed that if he would ever came to power he would transform the infested jail into “a holly place for the education of scholars”. Which he actually did, as he became the Mameluke Sultan al-Mu’ayyad Shaykh, ruling from 1412 to 1421.
Despite of its beauty, visiting this mosque requires foreign visitors to pay some attention. There’s a guy hanging around and pretending that he’s a guide. He asks money from foreign tourists for a “mosque guided tour”. This is a hoax, as visiting the mosque is free of charge.
The magnificent bronze door originally belonged to Sultan Hassan Mosque. The patterns of the ceiling decoration, above the men’s praying area, are of a spectacular richness, looking like suspended carpets.
However, the ceiling above the women praying area has no decoration.
This majestic mosque was built on the place of a notorious prison, where al-Mu’ayyad himself was once confined. He suffered terribly from the lice and fleas and vowed that if he would ever came to power he would transform the infested jail into “a holly place for the education of scholars”. Which he actually did, as he became the Mameluke Sultan al-Mu’ayyad Shaykh, ruling from 1412 to 1421.
Despite of its beauty, visiting this mosque requires foreign visitors to pay some attention. There’s a guy hanging around and pretending that he’s a guide. He asks money from foreign tourists for a “mosque guided tour”. This is a hoax, as visiting the mosque is free of charge.
I had the pleasure of attending eid prayers there, a beautiful hypostyle mosque that has an interesting back story.
Sultan Al-Moayad Sheikh Mosque or Al-Moayad Mosque or Al-Muayyad Mosque is one of the famous archaeological mosques in Cairo, and is described as the pride of the mosques of the Circassian Mamluk era. Its construction began in 818 AH / 1415 AD by order of Sultan Al-Moayad Abu Al-Nasr Saif Al-Din Sheikh bin Abdullah Al-Mahmudi Al-Dhahiri, one of the rulers of the Mamluk state during the Circassian Mamluk era. The dome of the mosque was still under construction, and it was completed in Ramadan 824 AH / 1421 AD, and until that time many of the mosque’s annexes had not begun to be built as planned, such as the tribal dome and Sufi houses in Khanaqah. In the mosque there are two mausoleums under the dome, one for Sultan Al-Mu'ayyad Sheikh, and the other for his sons Al-Sarmi Ibrahim, Al-Muzaffar Ahmad and Abu Al-Fath Musa.
Visited here in March, 2018.
I happened to arrive at this historical mosque while I was strolling on the street without a specific destination. This place is pretty huge and kind of sacred atmosphere was coming out of here, so I guess it made me interested in the inside of this mosque. The inside here is somehow very quiet even in this hectic metropolis. Also I don't know if it is because the time I visited was not for pray or gathering here, but just only a few guys were walking there. One of them spoke to me and even asked me for an entrance fee, but actually I couldn't recognize him as an official staff there, so I didn't pay after all. Was it correct ? If this info is wrong, excuse me.
Anyway the views from the minaret top is awesome as well as of course worth visiting. Pyramids are the symbol of Egypt which everyone knows, but personally as for this mosque, it shows more real life in Cairo including its cityscape with curious architecture. I love it.
I happened to arrive at this historical mosque while I was strolling on the street without a specific destination. This place is pretty huge and kind of sacred atmosphere was coming out of here, so I guess it made me interested in the inside of this mosque. The inside here is somehow very quiet even in this hectic metropolis. Also I don't know if it is because the time I visited was not for pray or gathering here, but just only a few guys were walking there. One of them spoke to me and even asked me for an entrance fee, but actually I couldn't recognize him as an official staff there, so I didn't pay after all. Was it correct ? If this info is wrong, excuse me.
Anyway the views from the minaret top is awesome as well as of course worth visiting. Pyramids are the symbol of Egypt which everyone knows, but personally as for this mosque, it shows more real life in Cairo including its cityscape with curious architecture. I love it.