Summary

• Al-Aqmar Mosque, known as “The Moonlight Mosque,” is a remarkable example of Fatimid architecture located on Al-Muiz Street in Cairo.
• The mosque was constructed around 1125 AD during the Fatimid era, either during Imam Al-Amir Bi-Ahkami-Lah’s reign or that of the Caliphate of Al-Mustansir. It features an offset façade, a unique feature for its time.
• The mosque’s history includes various renovations and restorations, with the addition of a minaret and shop stalls during the Mamluk era and further restorations in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• The architecture of the mosque is known for its alignment with the street, a hypostyle layout, and a beautifully decorated interior, featuring Kufic inscriptions and vaulted ceilings.
• The mosque’s façade is adorned with intricate geometric designs and inscriptions, displaying the artistic and cultural achievements of the Fatimid period.

The moonlit Al-Aqmar mosque is a celestial gem that radiates blessed alluring rays of wonder and greatness showcasing the excellence and brilliance of the Fatimid artistic and architectural styles. Al Aqmar Mosque is found in the heart of Al-Muiz Street which is one of the biggest and richest streets all over Cairo that contains lots of hypnotic Islamic sights and attractions that reflect a great part of Egypt’s great history, traditions, and customs and it was the essential street in Cairo when it was rebuilt during the 11th century. The northern part of El-Muiz Street was recently renovated & opened to the public and it is currently considered one of the most attractive parts of Cairo.

Although it is a small one, it is really amazing and it is usually called “The Moonlight Mosque” and has some incredible architectural features that make it a unique one when compared with the other mosques around. Al-Aqmar Mosque was established around 1125 AD during the Fatimid era when Al-Ma’mun Al-Bata’ihi was ruling Egypt. Lots of historians believe that that mosque was constructed during the reign of Imam Al-Amir Bi-Ahkami-Lah but others believe that it was the reign of the Caliphate of Al-Mustansir what really matters is to know that it was the first mosque all around Cairo to use an offset façade.

Location and How to Get Al-Aqmar Mosque

Al Aqmar Mosque is one of the most incredible Fatimid examples of architecture which is found in the heart of Cairo in Muizz Street within a magical neighborhood filled with majestic Fatimid caliphal palaces.

The place is very easy to reach from any place in Cairo but it is advisable to hire a travel agency that will provide a vehicle with a skilled driver plus a seasoned tour guide who will uncover all the interesting facts and tales about these epic attractions.

History of Al-Aqmar Mosque

The Al-Aqmar mosque was constructed by the Legendary Fatimid vizier by the name of al-Ma’mun al-Bata’ihi during his tenure from 1121 all the way to 1125. This took this position in a time of a religious and political crisis during the Fatimid Caliphate, following the First Crusade.

Al-Ma’mun implemented reforms and restored ceremonial elements of the powerful caliphate. He also undertook other construction projects and renovations in the Fatimid Incredible Palaces. His background in poverty and early exposure to building skills may have contributed to his architectural achievements. However, he was arrested and executed in 1128. The mosque’s location near the Fatimid Great Palace, along with concerns about security, resulted in its lack of a minaret.

The mosque’s name, “Al-Aqmar” is an epithet of the patron associated with light, akin to other mosques like Al-Azhar mosque and Al-Hakim mosque. It underwent restoration by a Mamluk prince known as Yalbugha al-Salimi in 1393 or 1397, including the addition of a minaret and shop stalls. Various elements like the minbar, mihrab, and ablutions area were also restored or replaced.

During Muhammad Ali Pasha’s rule in the 19th century, Prince Sulayman Agha al-Silahdar further restored the mosque and constructed a nearby mosque. The Dawoodi Bohras in 1993 extensively renovated the mosque, which included replacing the mihrab with a marble Minbar and reconstructing part of the southern half of the exterior façade which was criticized for sacrificing historical elements, especially in the interior.

Architecture of the Mosque of Al-Aqmar

The is renowned for its architectural brilliance because of two magnificent elements the façade’s decorations and the floor’s plan design. The mosque is known to be the first building in the history of Cairo to be alignment with the street. The layout of the mosque is hypostyle which has an internal square courtyard which is surrounded by epic roofed sections which are defined by great rows of 4 centered arches.

The mosque’s prayer hall contains three bays and the courtyard’s gallery has one bay, where every bay is covered by a shallow brick dome that features several phenomenal Fatimid monuments. The mosque has a very magical vaulted ceiling that was added in the 14th-century restoration process.

The vaulted ceilings resemble the types that were used in the Mamluk monument Khanqah of Faraj ibn Barquq during the early days of the 15th century. The mosque holds a marvelous floor plan which aligns its façade with the street which at the same time maintains interior orientation toward the epic qibla.

The mosque has some different variations in the wall thickness to achieve internal symmetry and accommodate the difference in the angle. The alignment of the mosque was highly affected by Muizz Street becoming marmorized by all the Fatimid caliphal palaces.

The mosque held a number of a row of ships which provided rental income that led to the enlargement and preservation of the mosque for ages until the shops were buried with time as the street rose in height. The amazing architectural design is very similar to the Mosque of al-Salih Tala’i, constructed later in the same century, where excavated shops are visible below street level.

The mosque has a very magnificent interior filled with marvelous Kufic inscriptions with a floriated background along the arches in the courtyard which much of it is not very preserved. In the 14th century, the Fatimid mihrab was replaced by a mamluk-style mihrab with marvelous marble paneling. In the 90s, a restoration process took place to add modern marble.

During the Bohra restoration, the simple stepped crenellations at the climax of the courtyard. All the original decorative crenellations disappeared in the early 20th century which was recorded during the 19th century openwork designs and drawings which are filled with spectacular geometric and interlacing motifs.

The mosque’s minaret was constructed in the Mamluk period during a restoration work in 1393 or 1397 by Prince Yalbugha al-Salimi. The lower part of the minaret is crested from a brick covered in stucco which is adorned with convex molding, stone muqarnas, and a band of carved arabesques with openwork bosses in the middle. The upper part of the minaret fell in 1412 and was replaced by a cylindrical finial during the Ottoman age.

The Facade of Al Aqmar Mosque

The most enchanting aspect of Al Aqmar is the renowned elaborate façade, distinguished by its decorative elements that carry artistic symbolic magic. Above the entrance is a huge magnificent epigraphic medallion that truly stands out featuring amazing inscriptions of famous names which are “Muhammad and ‘Ali” surrounded by a Qur’anic verse emphasizing the concept of purity.

The Fatimid has declared that these verses were statements of their legitimacy and Shi’i ideology. The façade is adorned with rich recesses that have flat muqarnas panels and scalloped-shell hoods.  The left beveled corner is a unique feature that helps facilitate traffic to turn around the corner. The left side of the façade is Ali’s name in the center while it is encircled by five linked names of Muhammads.

The Bohras resorted to the right side of the portal which was covered by another building. The façade has many abstract symbols, like a window grille with a hanging lamp and a six-pointed star symbolizing “ shubbāk “ the Fatimid victory. There are a number of carved panels that look like doors that hold interpretations which is a reference of a famous hadith.

The panels of the façade symbolize the doors of the caliph’s court and al-Ma’mun al-Bata’ihi the mosque’s founder a pivotal position as master of the panels of the door and the window will provide tangible objects displaying metaphorical meanings which are connected to the historical context of the rituals of the great Fatimid caliphal. The inscription of the main foundation of the mosques is found on the summit of the façade just below the cornice. it mentions the reigning caliph al-Amir, his father al-Musta’li, and the vizier al-Bata’ihi.

The reigning caliph’s father name, al-Musta’li, takes a central position on top of the entrance door for the most absolute exposure. The inscriptions’ upper band is carved in relief with floriated letters while the lower band is known to feature small letters in the background with a floriated stem.

Facts about Al-Aqmar Mosque

• The Al-Aqmar Mosque was constructed during the Fatimid Caliphate, specifically in the 12th century. It was built in 1125 AD by the Fatimid vizier Al-Ma’mun Al-Bata’ihi.
• The mosque is renowned for its architectural beauty and is considered one of the finest examples of Fatimid architecture. It features a distinctive and intricate façade adorned with various geometric designs and inscriptions.
• The façade of the Al-Aqmar Mosque is adorned with geometric patterns and inscriptions in Kufic script. The use of stucco and carved stone is a characteristic feature of Fatimid architecture, and the mosque’s façade showcases this craftsmanship.
• The mosque is situated in the historic district of Cairo, Muizz Street, and near Al-Azhar Mosque, which is one of the oldest and most significant Islamic universities in the world.
• The interior of the mosque boasts the use of stalactite vaulting, which is a common element in Islamic architecture. These intricate stalactite patterns can be seen in the mosque’s mihrab (prayer niche) and dome.
• The Al-Aqmar Mosque is historically significant as it represents the architecture and culture of the Fatimid period, a Shia Muslim dynasty that ruled Egypt and parts of North Africa from the 10th to the 12th centuries. The mosque is a testament to the artistic and architectural achievements of this era.
  Over the centuries, the Al-Aqmar Mosque has undergone various renovations and restoration efforts to preserve its historical and architectural significance. These efforts have ensured the continued existence of this beautiful monument.
• The mosque is open to visitors, and its intricate design and historical importance make it a popular attraction for tourists interested in Islamic art and history.