He based his plans on the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, and the
construction began in 1830 A.D. The work
continued ceaselessly until the death of
Mohamed Ali in 1849, and had to be finished
during the reign of his successors. Mohamed
Ali was buried in the tomb situated on the
south-eastern side of Beit Al Salah, on the
right side of the entrance that leads to the
main section.
In 1899 the Mosque showed
signs of cracking and repairs were
undertaken, but some of these repairs were
not adequate. Therefore, in 1931, during the
reign of King Fuad I, a committee was set
up, comprising of several great architects,
which eventually presented a report
recommending the demolition of the big main
dome, the semi domes and the small domes,
and then reconstructing them according to
the original design. Between 1931 and 1939,
the project, including demolition, building
and rebuilding, painting and gilding, was
undertaken; the total cost being 100,000 LE.
The main material used for the construction was limestone, but the lower parts of the Mosque, and the forecourt, are faced to a height of 11.5m with alabaster.
The main material used for the construction was limestone, but the lower parts of the Mosque, and the forecourt, are faced to a height of 11.5m with alabaster.
The Mosque is rectangular in
shape and consists of two sections:
-
The Eastern Section, which is the main section, called “Beit al Salah" or “House of Prayer”.
-
The Western Section, called the “Sahn” "or “Courtyard".
The Eastern Section (The “Beit al Salah"
or “House of Prayer”)
The eastern section is the part that was dedicated to prayer. It is square in shape, each side measure 41m, and has a roof with a central dome (52m in height) resting on four large arches supported by massive piers. Surrounding the big central dome there are four half domes, while there are four more small domes covering the corners.
The eastern section is the part that was dedicated to prayer. It is square in shape, each side measure 41m, and has a roof with a central dome (52m in height) resting on four large arches supported by massive piers. Surrounding the big central dome there are four half domes, while there are four more small domes covering the corners.
The marble mihrab is covered
by a half-dome at the lower level. The domes
are pointed and covered with medallions and
other motifs. The interior dome is
impressive because of its size and shape,
similar to the Mosques of Istanbul. There
are 6 medallions around the dome, which
include the names of Allah (God) and Mohamed
(the Prophet), as well as the names of the
four rightly guided Caliphs, namely Abou
Bakr, Omar, Othman, and Ali.
The mosque has 2 Minbars or pulpits; the
original one is the larger, it is made of
wood decorated with gilded ornaments, while
the smaller one is of marble, it was gifted
to the mosque by king Farouk in 1939 A.D.
Above the
entrance is a grand gallery supported on
marble pillars with bronze balustrade. To
the right of the entrance is the tomb of
Mohamed Ali. It is made white marble
covered with floral motifs, and pointed and
gilded inscriptions. originally Mohamed Ali
was not buried in his mosque but later
during the time king Abbas I (1849-1854),
His body was transferred from Housh El
Basha to the inside of the mosque where
it rests inside The bronze grill.
The Western Section
(The Courtyard or the Sahn)
It is a large open courtyard of about 54 m in length and 53 m in width. It is surrounded by a single arched riwaqs or naves raised on pillars and roofed with small domes.
In the middle of the courtyard there is the ablution fountain, it is octagonal in shape and covered by a large leaded domed canopy resting on 8 pillars with natural ornaments. Inside the dome is another marble small dome and it is octagonal in shape, decorated with floral motifs. In the walls of the riwaqs of the courtyard there are 46 widows. While the Eastern wall which overlooks the Eastern Section, it has 8 windows above which there is a frieze of inscription of the Koran (Surat Al Fath),
It is a large open courtyard of about 54 m in length and 53 m in width. It is surrounded by a single arched riwaqs or naves raised on pillars and roofed with small domes.
In the middle of the courtyard there is the ablution fountain, it is octagonal in shape and covered by a large leaded domed canopy resting on 8 pillars with natural ornaments. Inside the dome is another marble small dome and it is octagonal in shape, decorated with floral motifs. In the walls of the riwaqs of the courtyard there are 46 widows. While the Eastern wall which overlooks the Eastern Section, it has 8 windows above which there is a frieze of inscription of the Koran (Surat Al Fath),
Above the entrance to the Easter section
there is frieze that bears the name of the
Turkish sultan Abd Al Maguid.
Opposite to the doorway of the prayer
House, at the far end of the centre of the
NW Riwaq is a pavilion, above which is an
elaborate French Clock, presented to Mohamed
Ali in 1845 by the King Luis Philip in
exchange of the obelisk which is now
standing in the Concorde square in Paris.
This clock has never been working properly!
At the west and the North Corners are 2 slender octagonal minarets that rise to 82 M in height. And has with 2 balconies.
At the west and the North Corners are 2 slender octagonal minarets that rise to 82 M in height. And has with 2 balconies.
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