Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
Facts about the ancient mosque and the Islamic Egypt History to establish the crown of mosques, the oldest and first Islamic Historical mosques in Egypt and Africa, the most important Islamic Egypt Archaeological Sites, the archaeological landmarks in the Islamic world, and more about the most famous Islamic Egyptian Antiquities and monuments.
Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque Facts
Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque is one of the mosques in the Al-Fustat City, which was founded by Muslims. Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque is considered one of the mosques that went through a group of events. Learn about it in addition to another group of information below..
The history of the story of building the Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque in Fustat, Egypt.
Useful information about the most important historical mosques in Cairo, the architectural design of the mosque from the inside, visiting hours, entrance ticket prices, and more.
Commander Amr ibn al-Aas built a large house for himself in the city of Fustat, which was considered the capital of Egypt at the time. In the year 21 AH, the commander received a royal order from the Caliph to build a large mosque inside the city. Its length was 50 cubits, equivalent to 25 meters, and the width of the mosque was 30 cubits..
The Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas in Fustat is considered the oldest mosque in Africa. At that time, the mosque overlooked the eastern side of the Nile River.
Over time, the course of the Nile River gradually changed towards the western side, until it was 500 metres away from the original position of the mosque..
Prince Muhammad Bey completely demolished the mosque and rebuilt it in a completely different way from the old architectural designs and decorations in the year 1211 AH..
All that remains of the old architecture and decorations is the mosque’s courtyard and behind it the Qibla corridor. In addition, you will find a small dome in the middle of the courtyard, dating back to 1212 AH..
Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque in Fustat, Cairo, Old Cairo, from the inside and outside, and learn about the planning, expansions, and construction story in Cairo, the most important Islamic heritage tourist places in Egypt, tourism
The mosque and the number of worshipers, which reaches thousands and more
When the Muslim leader, Amr ibn al-As, arrived in Cairo in 640 AD, the first thing he did was build a mosque, on the ruins of the Babylon fortress on the banks of the Nile, in the area now known as Old Cairo.
Although the ancient Egyptian capital was Alexandria, the just Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab ordered his commander Amr Ibn Al-Aas to establish a new capital near Medina. Amr Ibn Al-Aas chose the site of the city of Fustat and built his mosque, the first in Africa, in 642 AD..
About the history of building the Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas
It was originally built using palm trunks, bricks, and palm leaves were used to make the roof. The first version of the mosque was about 29 meters in length and 17 meters in width..
The mosque has been rebuilt several times since the 7th century, and the first columned arcades were erected in 827 AD, when it acquired its permanent form that it still has today. Its last renovation was in 1875 AD..
Although the original mosque structure has been replaced, the mosque’s historical significance as the site of the first Islamic city in Egypt and the first mosque in Africa still attracts tourists..
The mosque has been given many names, including “The Crown of Mosques” and “The Ancient Mosque.” In reality, the actual features of the mosque differ from its ancient aspects..
One of the most important updates that the Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque in Fustat received was what was done by the ruler Abdullah Ibn Tahir during the reign of Caliph Al-Ma’mun in the ninth century, where the mosque reached an area of 120 meters in length and 112 meters in width..
The mosque was destroyed as a result of the Fustat fire that occurred in 1175 AD. When the city of Fustat was burned by Shawar, the minister of the Fatimid Caliph, to prevent the Crusaders from invading Fustat, the fire lasted for 54 days; therefore, Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi rebuilt and renovated it in 1179 AD, and in 1906 during the reign of Khedive Abbas Hilmi II, the mosque was completely restored..
What can you see in Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque in Fustat?
In the Mosque of Amr ibn al-Aas, you can see many landmarks. In the southern corner of the mosque, you will see the qibla of the portico, where there is a shrine under the dome, and it is perhaps for Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas..
One of the most important facts about this mosque is that it was not only a place of prayer but also a kind of school and university 600 years before the establishment of Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, and it also served as a court at times..
There are many monuments and landmarks that highlight the great historical value of the Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas..
Visiting hours of Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque in Cairo
The mosque is open for tourist visits at any time, except for prayer times, as it is still open to worshippers during the five daily prayers.
Mosque entrance ticket price
Entry to the mosque is completely free.
Location of the mosque in Cairo
Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque is located in Fustat in Old Cairo (Fustat) near Mar Girgis Metro Station in Cairo. You can go to the mosque through this Google Map;
Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque was formerly called Al-Fath Mosque or the Old Mosque..
Another title for this mosque is the Crown of Mosques, and these names show us how important this mosque is..
The mosque is located east of the Nile, and it is said that the area of the mosque in the past was 50 cubits by 30 cubits, but that area increased with the expansion operations..
Muslima bin Mukhallad Al-Ansari, the governor of Egypt, was one of the saints who expanded the mosque, in addition to Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan..
Expansion operations continued after that at the hands of the wise men of Egypt, and now it has an area of 120 by 110 meters..
Minister Shawar, during the Crusades, burned Fustat for fear that it would be occupied, and the Mosque of Amr ibn al-Aas was demolished at that time..
During the reign of Saladin, he ordered the reconstruction of the mosque, equipped with a large mihrab..
The mihrab was covered with marble and inscribed with the name of Saladin..
Description
The mosque is considered the first Islamic university, even preceding Al-Azhar, Kairouan and Al-Zaytouna..
In the mosque, students receive instruction in the Arabic language and the Islamic religion..
Ibn Fadlallah al-Umari described the mosque in his encyclopedia dating back to the eighth century AH..
The mosque is said to have a mihrab, a pulpit and is furnished with white marble..
The columns of the mosque are all made of marble. Eight of the companions prayed in it, including Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad, Ubadah bin Al-Samit, and Abu Al-Darda..
In the past, the mosque had an unroofed courtyard and columns made of palm trunks, while the roof was made of palm fronds..
The floor of the mosque was covered with pebbles in the past..
In the northeastern corner of the mosque there is a shrine facing the qibla dating back to the era of Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas..
The windows of the mosque are decorated with ornaments..
About the founder
Amr ibn al-Aas is a companion and a Muslim military leader..
He is considered one of the four most important leaders who led the Islamic conquest of the Levant and Egypt..
Amr ibn al-Aas was the first governor of Egypt after the conquest..
Amr ibn al-Aas converted to Islam at the hands of the Negus in the eighth year of the Hijra in the year 629 AD..
Amr ibn al-Aas then headed to Medina and met Khalid ibn al-Walid and Uthman ibn Talha, and they all entered Medina..
Amr ibn al-Aas participated in many wars, including the Ridda Wars and the conquest of the Levant, in addition to his fighting in Palestine..
Amr also participated in the Battle of Ajnadayn against Heraclius..
Visiting hours
The mosque is open daily for the five daily prayers..
Note: Facts and secrets of the history will be added soon…
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