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'Crown of Mosques' much altered
Egypt, Local, 11/21/2002
The Mosque of Amr Ibn Al Aas, Egypt's oldest, is to be reopened in the last week of Ramadan after four years of restoration work.
ΚΚΚ The mosque, built after the Islamic conquest of Egypt in 641 AD, originally covered an area of 275 square metres. Over the years the mosque was extended until it could accommodate 10,000 worshippers during the age of the Abbasids.
ΚΚΚ Four years ago, part of the Qibla Iwan and several columns collapsed during restorations and the company assigned to the task was accused of negligence.
ΚΚΚ However the Antiquities Engineering Centre at Cairo University came up with a radical solution that would involve the total dismantling of the iwan of the qibla and reconstruct it on a firmer foundation.
ΚΚΚ After approval from the Antiquities Standing Committee, work went ahead to rescue what historians described as the Crown of Mosques.
ΚΚΚ The original plan of the mosque in 642 AD was simple, following the model of the Prophet's mosque in Al-Madina Al-Munawwara. The ceiling was made of palm leaves and the columns were palm trunks.
ΚΚΚ Mosailama al-Ansari, whom Muawiya Ibn Abou Sufyan appointed as ruler of Egypt, enlarged the mosque.
ΚΚΚ In the Fatimid Age, the mosque was built on 400 marble columns, the walls of the niche was covered with white marble decorated with Quranic verses.
ΚΚΚ Salah Eddin Al Ayyoubi later ordered the restoration of the mosque, especially its large niche.
ΚΚΚ The Fatimid and Ayyoubid rulers were not the only ones to take care of the architecture of the mosque. Sultans Bebars, Qalawoon and Qaitbey also added their touches.
ΚΚΚ Out of the hundreds of mosques in Cairo, the Amr Ibn Al Aas Mosque has a special place in Egyptians' hearts, since it pre-dates Al-Azhar University by four centuries as educational institute. Imam Al Shafie was one of its more celebrated students.
ΚΚΚ This mosque was also the centre of religious sciences in Islamic Cairo. Members of the public requested fatwas (decisions based on Islamic law) from sheikhs and answers to questions on theological matters.
ΚΚΚ This place of study and worship was damaged by fire twice, in the days of the Tulounid sultans and during the Crusades. When the crusaders pitched camp south of Fustat, the area was evacuated and set ablaze in order to prevent it from being taken.
ΚΚΚ The Ministry of Culture is intent on having restorations completed, since the Amr Ibn al-Aas Mosque is favoured by Muslims for the special Ramadan prayers, particularly on the last Friday of the month, the anniversary of the death of Amr Ibn Al Aas.
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