A composite of Fine Islamic Architecture
Egypt, Culture, 12/21/1999

Ibn Toulon Mosque is the third mosque that was built in Egypt and is named after the Abbasid Prince Ahmed Ibn Toulon.

Son of a Turkish Mameleuke from Mogolia,Ibn Toulon was born in Baghdad in 200 AH /835 AD.

He was known for his loyalty and courage, as well being well versed in various religious subject such as legislation, Islamic jurisprudence and interpretation of the Quran.
In 259 AH /Caliph El -Mutamed Allah appointed Ibn Toulon as ruler of Egypt and Syria and great prosperity and wealth followed until his death in 270 AH /884 AD.

During his rul, Ibn Toulon was concerned with protecting the country, so he developed the Egyptian fleet and built many warships. He was also interested in architecture, and the Nilometre ( Nile water level gauge). He established the el-Tanour Mosque, el-Qataa city and palace, and the big mosque named after him.

The construction of Ibn Toulon Mosque lasted for two years and was completed in 265 A.H/878 AD. The huge mosque is built on six acres following the collective design with a large open square patio surrounded by porticos with many pillars.

Most researches agree that the Ibn Toulon Mosque was built by the Iraqi architect, Ahmed ibn Mohamed el-Hasseb, who came to Egypt in 245 AH/724 AD.

Ibn Toulon's mosque has twenty-one doors, each of them leading to the court in the middle of which there is a large portico demonstrating fine architectural design. The ibn Toulon Mosque is famous for its minaret, located in the western annex, with an outside spiral ladder similar to that of the "Samara" minaret.

The mosque has been renovated and restored many times. Ibn Toulon's Mosque, however, was neglected when in 1263 AH/AD it was into a nursing home under the supervision of Clot Bey, causing extensive damage to the mosque. In 1882 AD, the Islamic antiquities preservation Committee renovated and restored the Ibn Toulon Mosque which is one of Egypt's oldest mosques demonstrating fine Islamic architecture.

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