Mosque of Mahidya, Mahdiya Tunisia, 916

Entrance of the Mosque of Mahdiya

If it was one thing the Fatimid dynasty was known for, it was its construction of some of the greatest mosques in architectural history. One of these mosques include the mosque of Mahdiya. Located in Mahdiya, Tunisian, it was built during the 10th century. The mosque was built close to the peninsula on land that had to be in-filled and reclaimed from the sea. During the time of construction, Fatimid Caliph al-Mahdi was in ruling. 

Built in 916 by Obayd Allah El-Medhi who led a military campaign for Egypt, the mosque’s materials included stone and marble. However, similar to other mosques and architectural structures throughout history, the mosque of Mahdiya has seen several renovations and expansions. As a result, the only part of the mosque that remains from its original construction is the entrance porch and the northern gallery of the courtyard. 2

Plan of the mosque

The mosque of Mahdiya was built like a fortress. It was built on a rectangular plan measuring only 75 meters by 55 meters. On each side of the mosque can be found two round towers which served to catch water running from the terraces. This as because the mosque did not have minaret. The flanking towers is similar to the plan of the mosque of Ajdabiya, except the towers of the mosque of Mahdiya leads up to the monumental entrance whereas the other one does not. 

Like other mosques in the region, the mosque includes a transverse aisle paralleled qibla wall with nine aisles at right angles to the transverse. Due to sea erosion, the original able wall was destroyed and had to be rebuilt. As a result of rebuilding, the size of the prayer hall had to be reduced. 1

In 1554, the mosque was almost entirely destroyed along with the ramparts on which it was built. In the early eighteenth century it was rebuilt with a new prayer hall, a free standing minaret in the Moorishp-Andalusian style and two courtyards on either side of the main structure. In addition, a narrow courtyard was added in front of the entrance, facing the city. 

Horseshoe arches supported by double columns

In 1961-65, the mosque saw another restoration. During this renovation, the eighteenth century additions were removed and the mosque was rebuilt according to the excavations of the original Fatimid mosque. This meant the prayer hall was adjusted to resemble the original size along with the porticoed courtyard. In addition, in the middle of the courtyard was a walkway that connected the entrance porch to the prayer hall. Inside the prayer hall can be seen the nine naves along with arches resting on double columns. The central nave, enhanced by the presence of columns grouped in fours, meets the bay of the qibla wall to form a T shape that is reminiscent of the layout of the Great Mosque of Kairouan. Carved into the niche are narrow semicircular ribs crowned with shells. The half dome overhanging the niche opens in a horseshoe arch supported by two corner columns. 3

Works Cited

1 Ali, Wijdan. The Arab Contribution to Islamic Art: From the Seventh to the Fifteenth Centuries. Jordan: Royal Society of Fine Arts, 1999. Print.

2 Jairazbhoy, R. A. An Outline of Islamic Architecture. New York: Asia Pub. House, 1972. Print.

3 Lézine, Alexandre. Mahdiya: Recherches D'archéologie Islamique. Paris: Klincksieck, 1965. Print.

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

Al – Azhar Mosque, Cairo Egypt, 972

Xiaoyu Zeng

ARCH161 – M21 LEC(2587)

Al – Azhar Mosque, Cairo Egypt, 972

Hypostyle Mosque, Fatimid

Architect: It was designated initially ot teach Shi’ite jurisprudence (later Sunni)

Introduction:

The Mosque of al – Azhar, was the first to be built in the Fatimid city of Cairo, and also is the oldest and biggest Islamic university in the Islamic world, attracting students from a multiplicity of nations. It is arguably one of the chief centres Islamic learning and the greatest and the most influential in the Sunni Islamic world. Although the patron is the Fatimid Caliph al- Muizz li Din Allah , however, now the structure of building is not the original Fatimid mosque. 

                                          

It is the one of the important place for Islamic and Arabic learning in the world, the complex of Al- Azhar centred on the mosque of that name n the medieval quarter of Cairo, Egypt. 

Layout and structure: 

The name of present main entrance is Bab al-Muzayinīn, which opens into the white marble – paved courtyard at the opposite end of the main prayer hall. The northeast courtyard of the Bab al-Muzayinīn is franked by the façade of the Madrasa al – Aqbaghawiyya; the southwestern end of the courtyard leads to the Madrasa al-Taybarsiyya. Directly across the courtyard from the entrance to the Bab al-Muzayinīn is the Bab al-Gindi (Gate of Qaytbay), built in 1495, above which stands the minaret of Qaytbay.^[93] Through this gate lies the courtyard of the prayer hall.

Reference : 

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Azhar_Mosque

2. http://www.discoverislamicart.org/database_item.php?id=monument;isl;eg;mon01;3;en

3. http://www.muslimheritage.com/article/al-azhar-university