Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa/Islamic Cairo

Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa/Islamic Cairo. Considered to be one of the most important Land Marks in the City of Cairo, is The Mosque, Madrasah and Dome of Sultan Hasaan which was discovered in 1363 AD, and there is one interesting fact if you are a Visitor to Egypt take a look at the One Hundred Egyptian Pound Note and you will see the Mosque of Sultan Al-Nasir Hassan printed upon it. Sultan Al-Nasir Hassan commanded that the establishment of the Mosque and School should be in the place of the Old Market which was called the Horse Market. However the reign of the Sultan Hassan was not a long one and was full of Wars and Conflicts over the Throne, sadly even though he did not witness the completion of the Mosque when he died, he left a Legacy behind one of the most stunning Mosques in Egypt. Standing in the silhouette of the Citadel, Sultan Hassan’s Madrassa Mosque still manages to make a powerful statement. The construction is a great example of Mamluk architecture , which was built during the fourteenth Century reign of a Sultan who was famous for his extravagant spending. The vast size of the construction made it a display in it’s day, and even the Modern Day Visitors are certain to be impressed by the beauty of its archeitecture. The Sultan Hassan who’s namesake was that of the famous Mosque in Old Cairo, asked Prince Muhammad Ibn Babylik Al-Muhassani to oversee the construction of his Mosque and Madrassa in 1361 AD, the constructions carried on for four Years , when the work was almost finalized Sultan Hassan disappeared and it is believed that he was killed.However the work was finished by one of his assisstants, Bashir Al Gamdar. The Mosque site was known as Souk Al Khayl or another meaning of Horse Market. The Mosque was constructed of stones with some Sections of Bricks which were faced with the stones. Below is some information for Sultan Hassan Mosque.. Address….El-Darb El-Ahmar, Cairo Governate, Egypt. Opened….1359 AD Archeitectual Style…. Islamic Archietecture. Function….Mosque. Affiliation…. Islam Father…. Sultan Al Nasser Mohamed Ibn Qalawun. The Sultan Hassan took control of Egypt twice, the first time being in 1347 AD when he was just Thirteen Years of Age. The second one was in 1356 AD when he ended control of Princes and high Officials, so that became the reason why they revolted against him and was attacked by The Army. It is believed that he escaped and hid in Old Cairo before he was discovered and incarcerated and was never again seen, he had Ten Sons and Six Daughters. The Sultan Hassan Mosque is one of the most valuable Monuments of The Islamic World, which is what The Giza Pyramids is to The Ancient Pharaonic Egypt, and The Sultan Hassan Mosque is one in respect of The Ancient Islamic Egypt, which was discovered by The Sultan Hassan who was The Son of the Mighty Mamluk Sultan, Al Nasser Mohamed Ibn Qalawun. The Sultan Hassan Mosque is not only well known for its size, The Mosque is famed as the most stylistically rational of any of Cairo’s Monumental Mosques, which is a vast and typical example of the style of archietecture of that time. The interior is stunningly decorated, and the effects of its huge Central Court and imposing uprightness is most impressive. The Mosque which was designed in the style of Madrassa, instead of a congregational Mosque, however for this reason it is laid out in a Cross Pattern with a Liwan meaning Teaching Areas, on each side of the four Walls of the Inner Courtyard for each of the four Main Schools of Sunni Islamic Theology, being that of Hanafi, Malaki, Hanbali, and Shafi’i. The construction also included Housing for approx.. five hundred Students, including the Teachers and Staff which were required to run a School on this Scale. The Sultan Hassan in addition to the Main Courtyard also constructed a Mausoleum for Himself behind the Largest of the Liwan, which is situated in the direction of Prayer, or Qibla. The Mausoleum depicts an imposing Dome and is exquisitely decorated. By positioning the the Mausoleum in the direction of Prayer was very unusual and controversial configuration as this meant that the People who worshipped there were forced to Pray in the direction of The Body of The Sultan, including that of Mecca, however the Mausaleum remains empty and the reason being for this is because The Sultan Hassan was assassinated before it could be finalized.