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Ibn Tulun Mosque - Cairo

History

The Mosque of Ibn Tulun was built about two kilometers from the old community of Fustat (now Cairo) on a hill called Gebel Yashkur. This mosque was commissioned by Ibn Tulun (the Abbassid governor of Egypt) in 876 and it was completed in 879.

 

It is surrounded by an enclosure that measures 118 x 138 meters and it was the main focal point of the Tulunid dynasty which last only 26 years. This mosque is approximately 26,318 square meters in size and it is the oldest surviving mosque in Cairo and some of the original structure dates back to the 9th century. In the past, this mosque was used as a shelter for pilgrims from North Africa to the Hejaz (modern day Saudi Arabia).

Looking at the entrance door of Ibn Tulun Mosque
Looking at the entrance door of Ibn Tulun Mosque
Footsteps outside the Mosque
Footsteps outside the Mosque
A view of the double doors of the mosque seen from outside
Decorative details of one of the external walls of the mosque
Decorative details of one of the external walls of the mosque
Outer wall of Ibn Tulun Mosque of Cairo
Outer wall of Ibn Tulun Mosque of Cairo
Courtyard of the Ibn Tulun Mosque seen through an arch of the prayer hall
Courtyard of the Ibn Tulun Mosque seen through an arch of the prayer hall
Interior of the prayer hall
Interior of the prayer hall
It is the oldest surviving mosque in Cairo
It is the oldest surviving mosque in Cairo
A lamp hanging from the ceiling of the prayer hall
A lamp hanging from the ceiling of the prayer hall
Minaret of Ibn Tulun Mosque seen from the prayer hall
Minaret of Ibn Tulun Mosque seen from the prayer hall
In this mosque, square halls are built around a central courtyard
In this mosque, square halls are built around a central courtyard
The central fountain is located on the left and the minaret of the mosque is towering above the arches
The central fountain is located on the left and the minaret of the mosque is towering above the arches
There are 13 arches on each side of the courtyard
There are 13 arches on each side of the courtyard
Arches of Ibn Tulun Mosque
Arches of Ibn Tulun Mosque
Dikka and mehrab of the mosque

Layout of Ibn Tulun Mosque

A palace was constructed next to the mosque by Ibn Tulun in it’s newly found capital called Al-Qattai which was destroyed later on. This beautiful minaret is designed similar to the one of the Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq. The plan of the mosque is very simple, square halls are built around a central courtyard. There are 13 arches on each side of the courtyard. Though the columns are of brick, decorative capitals and bases were modeled from wet plaster. The arches of the hall are on the taller side in order to allow more light and fresh air in the mosque.

 

Mosque’s original decorations mainly consisted of wood and stucco but later addition changed the style. Houses were built right next to the walls of the mosque but they were demolished around 1928 by the Committee for the Conservation of Arab Monuments to reveal the true beauty of this mosque.

This wooden roof above the mehrab area of the mosque was restored during the Mamluk period
Mehrab of the mosque - this mehrab is one of the oldest structures in the mosque
Mehrab of the mosque - this mehrab is one of the oldest structures in the mosque
A closeup view of the upper part of the mehrab
A closeup view of the upper part of the mehrab
Here Kalma Shaadat is written in arabic and it is associated with the Shia Fatimids rulers of the Egypt
Here Kalma Shaadat is written in arabic and it is associated with the Shia Fatimids rulers of the Egypt
Upper part of the wooden minbar (pulpit) of the mosque
Upper part of the wooden minbar (pulpit) of the mosque
A side view of the wooden minbar and the tall supporting columns of the mosque
A side view of the wooden minbar and the tall supporting columns of the mosque
One of the doors of the Dar al-Imara, which consists of three rooms connected to the mosque by doors on either side of the mehrab
One of the doors of the Dar al-Imara, which consists of three rooms connected to the mosque by doors on either side of the mehrab
One of the support columns
One of the support columns
A small arch is built between two large arches of the prayer hall, facing the courtyard
A small arch is built between two large arches of the prayer hall, facing the courtyard
The current fountain in the courtyard was added by Sultan Ladjin
The current fountain in the courtyard was added by Sultan Ladjin
The original fountain was destroyed by fire in 986
The original fountain was destroyed by fire in 986
Central area of the fountain of the mosque
Central area of the fountain of the mosque
Dome of the fountain seen from inside
Dome of the fountain seen from inside
Courtyard and the meeting point of the two halls
The unique minaret of the mosque rises above the arches
The unique minaret of the mosque rises above the arches

Minaret

The base of the minaret is from the very original construction of the mosque, the minaret at the top was re-built by the Mamluks. The minaret has three sections, the square bottom (original structure) the cylindrical middle part and more traditional is the upper part of this beautiful minaret. An external spiraling staircase which leads to the top of the minaret is one of only kind in Cairo.

 

The Gayer-Anderson Museum is located between the external and the main walls of the mosque. This house is named after the British general R.G. ‘John’ Gayer-Anderson, this house has preserved the 17th century Cairo for it’s visitors. 

 

A collection of photographs showing the restoration work being carried out on the mosque
A collection of photographs showing the restoration work being carried out on the mosque
The base of the minaret of Ahmad Ibn Tulun Mosque
The base of the minaret of Ahmad Ibn Tulun Mosque
In this photo, three parts of the minaret can be seen
This door leads to the staircase of the minaret - it was locked but keeper opened it for me in return for small baksheesh
This door leads to the staircase of the minaret - it was locked but keeper opened it for me in return for small baksheesh
The external spiraling staircase of this minaret
Looking downwards at a busy street of cairo from the minaret of the mosque
The tower in the foreground belongs to the mosque and madrassa of al-Amir Sarghatmish which is next to the Ibn Tulun Mosque
The tower in the foreground belongs to the mosque and madrassa of al-Amir Sarghatmish which is next to the Ibn Tulun Mosque
Two domes and a small courtyard of the Mosque and Madrassa of al-Amir Sarghatmish
The dome of the Mosque and Madrassa of al-Amir Sarghatmish is a typical Mumluk structure, built in 1356
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha and the walls of the Cairo Citadel can be seen in this photo
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha and the walls of the Cairo Citadel can be seen in this photo
The Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan and the al-Rifai Mosque are rising above the residential blocks of the city
Zaighum Abbas Ranjha at the Ibn Tulun Mosque Cairo
Zaighum Abbas Ranjha at the Ibn Tulun Mosque Cairo
This photo shows that how big the courtyard of the mosque is
In the distance, Cairo city spreads it's
In the distance, Cairo city spreads it's wings
When I was coming down from the minaret, I saw these scary looking hornets lurking around their nest
Andalusian horseshoe arches on the exterior of the minaret
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is located between the external and the main walls of the mosque
The Gayer-Anderson Museum is located between the external and the main walls of the mosque
This house is named after the British general R.G. 'John' Gayer-Anderson
This house is named after the British general R.G. 'John' Gayer-Anderson