Al Azhar and the Muhammad Ali Pasha Mosques

Today, I went with a small group of other study abroad students to the Al Azhar Mosque and Citadel. The Al Azhar Mosque is considered a center of Islamic learning and one of the oldest mosques in the world. It is the second oldest degree granting university in the world, and now, it offers degrees in secular disciplines such as medicine and engineering. The courtyard in the main portion of the mosque is composed of beautiful white marble, surrounded by a covered walkway, which leads to the sajadah or musalla, the prayer room which is typically covered with soft carpeting. Within the prayer room, you find a myriad of columns supporting the ceiling above the floor. At Al Azhar, we were able to pay a small fee (the equivalent of $3) to go up a minaret, the tall spires from which the call to prayer is made, and had a fantastic view of the entire mosque. Al Azhar is less than a minute walk away from Khan al-Khalili. After visiting Al Azhar, we decided to venture up to the Citadel, or Al Aqla'a.

The area where the Citadel is located was used in the 9th century as a pavilion appropriately dubbed "the Dome of the Wind" because of its cool breezes. In the 12th century, the famed Muslim warrior Salah ad-Din fortified the area to ward off the Christian crusaders. The walls he constructed around the Citadel are 30 ft high and 10 ft thick. However, much of what we see at the Citadel was built by the Ottomans, who ruled Egypt (with a brief interruption by our friend Mr. Bonaparte) from the 15th until the early 20th century. The mosque I visited at the Citadel is the Muhammad Ali Pasha Mosque. Muhammad Ali Pasha is oftentimes considered chief architect of modern Egypt, having implemented a wide range of reforms aimed at bringing Egypt back to its seat of prominence in the region and the world. His mosque was built in the Ottoman baroque style, which is seen in the use of smaller domes surrounding a large central dome. This mosque is very similar in appearance to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the quintessential Ottoman mosque. Inside, it is absolutely beautiful. Hanging in the center of the complex is a dominating chandelier. Around this center piece are rings of lights. Unlike Al-Azhar, there were only four large columns supporting the ceiling. This made me feel much less constricted and free to move. The designs covering the the domes above were also beautifully and meticulously done as well.

These were the first mosques I have ever visited, and I couldn't have been more satisfied. Not only was I able to see two distinct types, but I was also able to see two of the most famous mosques in the world. Not too bad for a couple of hours on a Wednesday afternoon.

Ma'a salaama,

Blair