Mosque Al-Hakim, Cairo, Egypt, 928

Built in fatimid style, the mosque Al-Hakim in Cairo was named after Imam Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985–1021), the sixth Fatimid caliph- the first one to be born in Egypt. The mosque was built outside the city's northern wall as an enclosure but became incorporated within the city in 1087  giving its own northern wall and minarets to the extended fortifications. Today, it is located the area of the city which is known as "Islamic Cairo", just south of Bab Al-Futuh, the northern gate. 

Plan- Muslimheritage.com

The mosque is composed of a rectangle with four arcades surrounding the courtyard. On the interior of the "rectangle" there is a five aisled prayer hall or sanctuary similar to the plan of Al-Hzhar. The central nave in front of the mihrab was enlarged and raised higher above the roof and was pierced with clerestory windows like Al Aqsa in Jerusalem. The mihrab was defined by a semi-circular dome raised on squinches and standing at the center of two corner domes which are similar in design. One of the unusual features is the monumental entrance with a projecting porch. one of the features which makes the mosque stand out are the minarets on either side of the facade. originally, these were independent of the walls but have since been incorporated in to the corners. the minarets at the mosque AL-Hakim are the oldest ones in Cairo and have been restored various times in their history. the massive salient were added in 1010 to strengthen their structure and the northern one was incorporated into the city wall. the structures are hollow because they have been built around the original minarets which are still connected with brackets and can be seen from above. 

Image: muslimheritage.com

Image: muslimheritage.com

Over the years, the mosque has been used for purposes other than a place of religion and prayer. During the time of the Crusades, it was used as a prison for captured crusaders, and Napoleon used it as a fortress. Saladin used the mosque as a stable and it has also been used as a local school. Because of the various purposes the structure has been used for in its lifetime, unfortunately it fell out of use. 

In 1980, the mosque went under extensive construction and restoration. It was refurbished with white marble and gold trim by Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the head of an international Ismalli sect based in India. Some parts of the original decorations were restored at this time. These include stucco carvings, timber tie-beams and Quranic inscriptions. After these restorations, the mosque became a mosque again- a place of peace, quiet and a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Today, it is used as a place of worship and a tourist attraction. 

shaspo.com

Sources: 

1- muslimheritage.com

2- Creswell, K. A. C. Sir (Keppel Archibald Cameron). Early Muslim Architecture. Oxford : Clarendon P., 1969. Book

Mosque of Alaqmar H. Keles

                                                              Mosque of Alaqmar

Image by tripadvisor.com

The mosque of al-Aqmar was constructed in 1125 founded in Cairo, Egypt.  It was assembled by Fatimid vizier al-Ma’mun al-Bata’ihi. It is a medieval mosque in Cairo as its ancient and spiritual aesthetic significance has collected wide spread devotion  (Williams, Caroline, 1983). It is the first mosque and the first theological school to be built in Fatimid, Cairo strictly based on Islamic heritage. Since its manufacture, the mosque of al-Azhar has undergone some adjustments that include enlargements, redecorations and restorations. Apparently, all styles and periods of the history of the entire Cairo city are represented in the architecture of the mosque (Williams, Caroline, 1983).

The original variety of the mosque had a prayer hall that consisted of five aisles that were parallel to the Qibla wall. The aisles run perpendicular to the main wall, enhancing the prayer niche to which it leads from the courtyard to the outer root to prayer niche. More aisles were later added after the evidence of the Qibla wall right after the fall of the Fatimid. The original form was also smaller than the current version. Also, it was never located at the center of the capital. Originally, the mosque used to have only three arcades around the courtyard. Currently, it has four arcades. The original layout of the mosque was a common plan in North African and Andalusia architecture. The arcades are resting on pre-Islamic columns with Corinthian capitals. 

Originally its arches remained well constructed and are still in full effect. The current arcade is different from the original one. Unlike the initial version, the current version has a dome in front of the transept (Behrens Abouseif, Doris, 1992). The dome is hidden to the viewer sight from the courtyard by a screen wall. Also, the dome is decorated in curved stucco like print. The initial decorations included the conch of the prayer niche and the stucco inscriptions and arabesques on the arcades. Apparently, the prayer niche’s conch is decorated in a similar manner to that of mosque of Ibn Tulum.  The decorations come from the combination of samara style and the scrolls of palmettos. The combination entails Kufic script frames, which are slightly curved (Muqarnas, 1983).

The different periods of Fatimid decorations are represented in the stuccos of al-Azhar but scholars are yet to sort them out. There is a repetition of naturalistic depiction of palm trees on the wall. This actually opens an eye to the long lasting stability of Alaqmar. Its windowshave geometric grills framed with groups of Kufic inscriptions. The additional stucco decorations are very different from the initial forms. They are adorning the walls and the domes (Behrens Abouseif, Doris, 1992). This ring is made up of lobed arches that are pointing towards the center.  A ring is decorating the dome in front of the transept.

 Image by Archnet Drawing of Aslam Mosque: south elevation, main facade, and existing conditions

The arches have decorative inscription bands. The windows are decorated with bits of green and yellow glass. This makes the earliest known form of window decoration marking a pioneered movement in structure.  At some point in history, Fatimid’s silver belt is removed from the prayer niche and the tower troubled the entrance are replaced with higher more dependent altitudes. Other restorations were done during this period (Muqarnas, 1983).

In 1303 there was an earthquake that damaged some part of the mosque especially the monuments. Amir Salar restored the prayer niche and he also redecorated the spandrels.  He also introduced an extra beautiful prayer niche on the exterior wall of the mosque (Behrens Abouseif, Doris, 1992).

Work Cited:

1.     http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/timelines/rome/empire/vm/villaofthemysteries.html

Williams, Caroline. "The Cult of ʿAlid Saints in the Fatimid Monuments of Cairo Part I: The Mosque of al-Aqmar." Muqarnas (1983): 37-52.

Abouseda, Hassan. Building in Cairo, building over Cairo. Diss. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1987.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris. "The Façade of the Aqmar Mosque in the Context of Fatimid Ceremonial." Muqarnas 9 (1992): 29-38.