Ibn Tulun Mosque symbol of Egyptian resilience
Egypt, Local, 11/16/2002

Al Astadar Mosque on Gamaliya street in Fatimid Cairo is the latest Islamic monument to undergo restorations.

Officially inaugurated by the Minister of Culture, the restoration project cost LE 6 million, took five years, and is considered the first in a series of similar projects such as Amr Ibn Al Ass, Ibn Tulun, Saraghatmash and Qaitbay Al Mohamadi mosques, which will be successively nearing completion within the coming few weeks.

The work was plagued with difficulties arising from underground water, which threatens most antiquities in Egypt.

The Ibn Tulun Mosque, built 1123 years ago by Emir Abul Abbas Ahmed Ibn Tulun, may be the first to be re-opened by the beginning of the new year.

Before the first stone was laid, Ibn Tulun declared that he wanted a mosque that would be indestructible, and ordered his workers not to use marble columns from temples or churches.

The Ibn Tulun Mosque did survive the fire that destroyed many of the landmarks of Al Qatai'.

The mosque with its minaret that resembled that of Samarra in Iraq stood tall, untouched by the flames.

With its solid architectural style and unique position in the heart of Cairo, the mosque has a special place in the hearts of Egyptians not only for its religious significance but also because it is a symbol of Egyptian endurance.

The mosque was used at certain periods for purposes other than religious. In the 18th century, it was a wool store, a house for the old and the disabled, and later an asylum for the mentally ill.

During these periods, the ornamentation on the arches and the wooden ceiling were damaged.

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