Citadel mosque featuring blend of designs
Egypt, Culture, 12/27/1999

In 718 A.H., King Mohammad ben Qalawun built the mosque named after him at the Cairo Citadel. It was also known an an-Nasseri or el-Khotbah Mosque, and replaced an older one dating back to the time of King el-Kamel.

King an-Nasser Mohammed renovated the old mosque and added new buildings to it. Magnificent granite pillars were brought from Upper Egypt and a larger dome was built in place of the old one. Over a years it became known as the green dome, because it was entirely covered with green porcelain.

In 893 A.H., this dome was pulled down during the rule of Sultan Qaytbai. A new one was built and a minbar (prayer niche) decorated with colored marble was added to the mosque of el-Nasser Mohammad.

During the Mameluke period, the mosque became a famous place in which various religious rites and celebrations were held, and where the Mameluke kings performed their prayers.

However, during the Ottoman age, the condition of the mosque badly deteriorated. In 1882 during the British occupation of Egypt, the mosque was misused as an arms depot and prison for rebels. In 1947, the Islamic Antiquities Preservation Committee began a huge restoration project in an attempt to save the ruined mosque. The mosque's old dome was rebuilt, and a new magnificent wooden minbar, similar to that of the al-Mardani Mosque, was constructed. The pillars were also renovated and redecorated.

An-Nasser Mohammed's Mosque is rather square in shape and its entrance is in the western side, opposite the mihrab (niche). The mosque windows are made of gypsum with simple decoration. The marble pillars of the mosque's prayer hall are of different Byzantine and Coptic designs, similar to those found in the Ommayyad Mosque in Damascus.

There is a large mihrab in the middle of the qibla wall, in addition to other two small mihrabs with colored marble and magnificent mosaic work. The mosque's minbar dates back to 740 A.H. and is inlaid with ivory, much like that found on the minbar of the el-Mardani Mosque.

The roof of the porticos is covered with colored and golden decorations, a style that was dominant in the Ayubid era and also found in the domes of al-Imam el-Shafii and King Qalawun's mosque. The two long minarets of the an-Nasser Mohammad Mosque are located in the western and eastern sides of the mosque. They are also distinct for their decorations and engravings.

An-Nasser Mohammad's Mosque, named after King Qalawun, indeed demonstrates fine Islamic architecture.

Previous Stories:
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  EL-Sayeda Aisha's Mosque typifies Islamic architecture   (12/21/1999)

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