ՙAmr ibn al-ՙĀṣ Mosque
The ՙAmr ibn al-ՙĀṣ Mosque, located in Fustat, Egypt, holds the distinction of being the first mosque built in the country following the Muslim conquest in 642 AD. Founded by General ՙAmr ibn al-ՙĀṣ, the mosque began as a modest structure, initially serving the local community before evolving into a congregational mosque for the entire region. Over the centuries, it has undergone several renovations and expansions, with its current form achieved in 827 CE, and the most recent significant restoration completed in 1983, which included archaeological investigations.
The mosque is characterized by its historical significance and architectural evolution, originally constructed with mud bricks and palm log columns. The design has transformed over time, featuring a large columned hall for prayer, a central courtyard, and the addition of minarets in later reconstructions. The site is not only a place of worship but also a testament to the rich Islamic heritage in Egypt, reflecting the mosque’s role in the cultural and religious life of the community throughout history.
ՙAmr ibn al-ՙĀṣ Mosque
Related civilization: Islamic Egypt.
Date: founded 642 c.e.
Locale: Cairo, Egypt
ՙAmr ibn al-ՙĀṣ Mosque
ՙAmr ibn al-ՙĀṣ Mosque (am-rewb-nuh-LAHS mahsk) was the first mosque built in Egypt after the Muslim conquest of the country. It was founded on the site where ՙAmr ibn al-ՙĀṣ, the general who led the conquering army, was said to have pitched his tent. It was rebuilt and expanded, reaching its present size in 827 c.e. The most recent renovation was in 1983, at which time extensive archaeological investigation was conducted.
Although the mosque became a very large building, the original building was much smaller, located in the eastern corner of the modern structure. Situated roughly in the center of the central quarter of the Arab city of Al-Fusṭāṭ (which became a suburb of Cairo), its foundation rested on bedrock some ten to twelve feet (roughly three to four meters) above the general level of the surrounding city. It first served as the general mosque for only this quarter of the city but gradually became a congregational mosque, designed to serve the whole community. The original building was built with mud brick walls and palm log columns supporting what was probably a mud-and-thatch roof. In its first rebuilding some thirty-five years after the initial construction, a central court and four minarets were added to the enlarged mosque. The first building and subsequent reconstructions all featured a large columned hall used for prayer.
Bibliography
Ettinghausen, Richard, and Oleg Grabar. The Art and Architecture of Islam 650-1250. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2001.
Kubiak, Wladyslaw B. Al-Fusṭāṭ: Its Foundation and Early Urban Development. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 1987.