| Al-Hakim Mosque | |
|---|---|
mosque of Al-Hakim's interior courtyard |
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| Basic information | |
| Location |  Cairo, Egypt |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Year consecrated | 928 |
| Ecclesiastical status | Mosque |
| Leadership | Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Mosque |
| Architectural style | Fatimid |
| Year completed | 992 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Minaret(s) | 2 |
The al-Hakim Mosque is a major Islamic religious site in Cairo, Egypt. It is located in "Islamic Cairo", on the east side of Muizz Street, just south of Bab Al-Futuh (the northern gate). It is named after Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985-1021), the sixth Fatimid caliph and the first to be born in Egypt.
The Mosque was originally built as an enclosure by the Fatimid vizier Gawhar Al-Siqilli (c.928-992), but was incorporated into the extended fortifications built by Badr al-Gamali. It consists of an irregular rectangle with four arcades surrounding the courtyard. An unusual feature is the monumental entrance with its projecting stone porch.
Contents |
The most spectacular feature of the mosque are the minarets on either side of the facade, reminiscent of the propylon to a pharaonic temple.
Originally the two minarets stood independent of the brick walls at the corners. These are the earliest surviving minarets in the city and they have been restored at various times during their history. The massive salients were added in 1010 to strengthen their structure, and the northern minaret was incorporated into the city wall. Inside, these strange structures are hollow, for they have been built around the original minarets, which are connected with brackets and can still be seen from the minaret above.
At various times, the mosque was used as a prison for captured "Franks" during the Crusades, as a stable by Saladin, as a fortress by Napoleon, and as a local school. In 1980 the mosque was practically rebuilt in gleaming white marble and gold trim by the Bohra, a Shi'a sect based in India. However, remnants of the original decorations are still to be seen: stucco carvings, timber tie-beams, and Quranic inscriptions.
Today the mosque is more of a tourist destination than a place of worship. Its unique minarets have attracted local and foreign tourists. Al-Hakim Mosque is now a place for Egyptians to feed pigeons and enjoy the calm and peacefulness of the Mosque.
 map of Al-Muizz Street in Islamic Cairo |
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   | Al-Hakim Mosque - Egypt: The Fatimid Period Mosque of El-Hakim in Cairo |
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