Mosque Sultan Hassan Old Cairo
On your visit to Cairo, you cannot miss the Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, which is part of the architectural ensemble called Historic Cairo, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
It covers an area of approximately 8,000 square metres, making it one of the largest mosques in the world. It is also one of the finest examples of Mamluk architecture in Cairo and one of the most beautiful Islamic temples in Egypt.
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History of the mosque
This jewel of Islamic art was built in the mid-14th century and was chosen for its location as one of the highest points of the Citadel of Saladin and among the best panoramic views to be found in Cairo. Constructed of massive and towering stone blocks, the mosque is undoubtedly the ultimate symbol of architectural strength in the century of Mamluk rule in the region.
It was built by order of Sultan Hassan but he could not see his monumental work ending in some strange circumstances of which there are at least two different versions.
The first and most widespread is the bad omen caused by the collapse of the minaret. When it collapsed, it killed more than 300 people, leading many to believe that there was a tragic divine message surrounding the accident. Rumors began to circulate and soon became confirmed, leading to the assassination of Sultan Hassan 33 days after the fall of the minaret. After the death of the Sultan, the construction of the mosque continued.
The other version of the sultan's death has to deal, on the one hand, with the extent of labor depletion of the workers (Hassan is said to have ordered that there was not a single day in which they did not work), on the other hand, with the spread of corruption within his government, by placing people associated with him in positions he occupied other people for years. In short, Hassan angered many in different classes, so it was not long before a plot to assassinate him was hatched, which was carried out through the commander-in-chief of his army, Jalbugha al-Umari, a Mamluk. The Sultan thought he was loyal to him.
It is located next to the Al-Rifai Mosque and the two are usually visited together, most of the time as part of a tour that includes other points of interest in the Citadel of Saladin, the Ibn Tulun Mosque, and the Alabaster Mosque.
The most comfortable way to go is by taxi or private car from your hotel, at the pre-agreed price. Many excursions to Saladin Citadel include transportation to and from the Citadel.
The Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa contains some details that were new at the time it was built and this meant a change in the construction of subsequent mosques in the Arab world.
The first is a huge egg-shaped dome, which was unusual for that time and unprecedented in other mosques built in several Arab countries: Egypt, Syria, the Maghreb or Yemen. The second innovation is the arrangement of the mausoleum between two minarets, as well as the fact that it is placed behind the prayer hall, something that at other times would have been considered sacrilegious but was not at the time.
The third innovation is the four minarets plan, with twin minarets on each side, something that has not been done in any other mosque in the world, but which also fails to bear fruit. Only three minarets have been completed.
Some Arab historians point to a fourth innovation in the construction of the Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, which has to do with its gigantic dimensions, which was very unusual up to that time, but which, no doubt, influenced the construction of huge mosques during the following centuries.
According to the Arab historian al-Maqrizi, the Sultan Hassan Mosque costs 30,000 dirhams per day, making it the most expensive mosque in medieval Cairo. Supervising the construction was Emir Muhammad ibn Belik, as evidenced by an inscription on the mosque, who was also involved in other important constructions in Cairo.
The dimensions of the Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa are enormous. It is 150 meters long and occupies over 7,900 square meters of surface area. The walls of the temple are 35 meters high, and its minaret is almost 70 meters high.
The first thing you see when crossing its facade is a huge central courtyard with a very impressive mosaic design and a pool for ablutions in the middle, whose function is to purify some parts of the body before praying or praying. From this courtyard one can access the central hall dedicated to prayer and to four secondary rooms with madrasahs built as a space for studying the sacred books of the Qur'an. In the background is a mausoleum dedicated to Sultan Hassan.
The four secondary rooms (also called iwans) feature chain-linked chandeliers and red and black borders. Each of these rooms is assigned to one of the four Sunni schools. Each school has its own courtyard and four floors of cells for students and teachers.
The mosque is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
To visit the Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa, you must purchase the combined ticket with the Rifai Mosque. Prices are 60 pounds for regular admission for adults and 30 pounds for approved students.
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