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List of mosques in Cairo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cairo skyline featuring numerous minarets.

This is a list of mosques in Cairo, the capital city of Egypt.

Cairo holds one of the greatest concentrations of historical monuments of Islamic architecture in the world, and includes mosques and Islamic religious complexes from diverse historical periods. Many buildings were primarily designated as madrasas, khanqahs or mausoleums, rather than mosques; yet have nonetheless served as places of worship or prayer at some time or another, if not today.[1]

List of mosques

[edit]
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.
Name Image Year (CE) Period Neighborhood Notes
Amr ibn al-As Mosque642RashidunFustat
30°0′37″N 31°13′59″E / 30.01028°N 31.23306°E / 30.01028; 31.23306		The oldest mosque in Africa; although the building has been rebuilt and modified many times after its foundation.[2][3]
Mosque of Ibn Tulun884AbbasidSayeda Zainab
30°01′44″N 31°14′58″E / 30.02889°N 31.24944°E / 30.02889; 31.24944		The oldest mosque in the city surviving in its original form, and the largest mosque in Cairo in terms of land area.[4]
Al-Azhar Mosque969FatimidEl-Hussein
30°02′45″N 31°15′46″E / 30.0457°N 31.2627°E / 30.0457; 31.2627		National mosque[5]
Jami al-Qarafa Mosque976FatimidAl-Qarafa
Founded by Al-Sayyida al-Mu'iziyya and her daughter, Sitt al-Malik[6]
Al-Hakim Mosque1013FatimidAl-Mu'izz Street
30°03′16″N 31°15′50″E / 30.05444°N 31.26389°E / 30.05444; 31.26389		Named in honour of al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allāh[7][8]
Lulua Mosquec. 1015FatimidMuqattam Hills
30°01′11″N 31°16′05″E / 30.01986°N 31.268187°E / 30.01986; 31.268187		Exact date of establishment is disputed;[9][10] extensively rebuilt in 1998.
Juyushi Mosque1085FatimidMuqattam Hills
30°01′19″N 31°16′07″E / 30.021992°N 31.2685°E / 30.021992; 31.2685		Described as a mashhad[1]: 163–164 
Aqmar Mosquec. 1126FatimidAl-Mu'izz Street
30°03′06″N 31°15′43″E / 30.051667°N 31.261944°E / 30.051667; 31.261944		An important monument of Fatimid architecture and of historic Cairo due to the exceptional decoration of its exterior façade and the innovative design of its floor plan.[11]
Mashhad of Sayyida Ruqayya1133Fatimidal-Khalifa
30°01′32″N 31°15′7″E / 30.02556°N 31.25194°E / 30.02556; 31.25194		One of the few and most important Fatimid-era preserved mausoleums in Cairo[12]
Al-Hussein Mosque1154FatimidEl-Hussein
30°2′52″N 31°15′47″E / 30.04778°N 31.26306°E / 30.04778; 31.26306		One of the holiest Islamic sites in Egypt, with an eclectic mix of architectural styles.[13]
Al-Salih Tala'i Mosque1160FatimidAl-Darb al-Ahmar
30°02′32″N 31°15′28″E / 30.04222°N 31.25778°E / 30.04222; 31.25778		Named in honour of Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, and is the last major Fatimid monument to have been built and survived.[1]: 124–126 [14]
Mosque of al-Zahir Baybars1269Mamlukal-Husayniya
30°03′44″N 31°15′48″E / 30.0623°N 31.2634°E / 30.0623; 31.2634		Named in honour of al-Zahir Baybars al-Bunduqdari[15]
Qalawun Mosque1285MamlukAl-Mu'izz Street
(Bayn al-Qasrayn)
30°02′58″N 31°15′39″E / 30.049528°N 31.260972°E / 30.049528; 31.260972		An expanisive religious complex that includes a bimaristan (hospital), madrasa, mausoleum, and mosque, built by and named in honour of Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun[1]: 219–224 [16]
Madrasa of al-Nasir Muhammad1303MamlukAl-Mu'izz Street
(Bayn al-Qasrayn)
30°02′59″N 31°15′40″E / 30.0497504112967°N 31.26106369365175°E / 30.0497504112967; 31.26106369365175		A madrasa and mausoleum named in honour of al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawu[1]: 225–226 
Khanqah of Baybars (II) al-Jashankir1310Mamlukal-Gamaliyya
30°03′6″N 31°15′50″E / 30.05167°N 31.26389°E / 30.05167; 31.26389		It is the oldest khanqah, or convent, that has survived in modern Cairo; named in honour of Baybars II[17]
Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque1318MamlukCairo Citadel
30°01′45″N 31°15′39″E / 30.029151°N 31.260945°E / 30.029151; 31.260945		Named in honour of Al-Nasr Muhammad[18][19]
Madrasa of Amir Sunqur Sa'di1321MamlukAl-Darb al-Ahmar
30°01′59″N 31°15′14″E / 30.033122257797206°N 31.253911689287595°E / 30.033122257797206; 31.253911689287595		Established as a madrasa and mausoleum, later repurposed as a Mevlevi Sufi takiyya, and in the 20th century, as an Islamic museum[1]: 134–135 [20]
Mosque of Amir al-Maridani1339MamlukAl-Darb al-Ahmar
30°02′10″N 31°15′36″E / 30.036°N 31.260°E / 30.036; 31.260		Built by Amir Altinbugha al-Maridani, with significant help from Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad[21]
Aqsunqur Mosque1347MamlukAl-Darb al-Ahmar
30°02′10″N 31°15′36″E / 30.036°N 31.260°E / 30.036; 31.260		Built by Shams ad-Din Aqsunqur and named in his honour; the site contains the mausoleum of Aqsunqur and his sons[11]
Shaykhu Mosque and Khanqah1349MamlukAl-Saleeba Street
30°01′50″N 31°15′11″E / 30.030511°N 31.252956°E / 30.030511; 31.252956		A mosque and khanqah, completed in 1349 and 1355 respectively, founded by Sayf al-Din Shaykhu al-Nasiri, a Grand Emir.[16][22]
Mosque of Amir al-Sayf Sarghatmish1356MamlukAl-Saleeba Street
30°01′49″N 31°15′05″E / 30.030385°N 31.251284°E / 30.030385; 31.251284		A madrasa, mosque, and mausoleum founded by Sayf al-Din Sarghatmish al-Nasiri.[16][23]
Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hasan1362MamlukSalah al-Din Square
30°01′57″N 31°15′25″E / 30.032495612245665°N 31.257015464682603°E / 30.032495612245665; 31.257015464682603		Also known as the Mosque of Sultan Hassan[4]: 125–129 
Madrasa of Umm al-Sultan Sha'ban1369MamlukAl-Darb al-Ahmar
30°02′14″N 31°15′34″E / 30.03722°N 31.25944°E / 30.03722; 31.25944		Built by Sultan al-Ashraf Sha'ban in honour of his mother, Khawand Baraka[1]
Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Barquq1386MamlukAl-Mu'izz Street
(Bayn al-Qasrayn)
30°03′1″N 31°15′41″E / 30.05028°N 31.26139°E / 30.05028; 31.26139		Founded by Sultan al-Zahir Barquq and comprises a mosque, madrasa, mausoleum, and khanqah[24][25]
Mahmud al-Kurdi Mosque1395MamlukAl-Darb al-Ahmar
30°02′28″N 31°15′27″E / 30.04111°N 31.25750°E / 30.04111; 31.25750		Founded by Mahmud al-Kurdi[1]
Amir Jamal al-Din al-Ustadar Mosque1407MamlukAl-Tambakshiya Street
30°03′03″N 31°15′48″E / 30.050778°N 31.263227°E / 30.050778; 31.263227		Founded by Jamal al-Din al-Ustadar
Khanqah of Faraj ibn Barquq1411MamlukNorthern Cemetery
30°02′57″N 31°16′44″E / 30.0491°N 31.2788°E / 30.0491; 31.2788		Founded by an-Nasir Faraj ibn Barquq, considered one of Cairo's finest Mamluk architecture buildings[16]: 231–237 [1]: 281–283 
Mosque of Qanibay al-Muhammadi1413MamlukAl-Saleeba Street
30°01′51″N 31°15′15″E / 30.030743°N 31.254103°E / 30.030743; 31.254103		Founded by Qanibay al-Muhammadi[26]
Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad1421MamlukAl-Mu'izz Street
30°02′35″N 31°15′27″E / 30.04306°N 31.25750°E / 30.04306; 31.25750		Founded by Al-Mu'ayyad Sayf ad-Din Shaykh and comprises a mosque and madrasa[16][27]
Al Ashraf Mosque1424MamlukAl-Mu'izz Street
30°02′51″N 31°15′28″E / 30.0474403°N 31.2578523°E / 30.0474403; 31.2578523		Founded by Sultan Al-Ashraf Al-Barsbay and comprises a mosque, madrasa, mausoleum, and khanaqah[28]: 215–217 
Khanqah-Mausoleum of al-Ashraf Barsbay1432MamlukNorthern Cemetery
30°2′51″N 31°16′38″E / 30.04750°N 31.27722°E / 30.04750; 31.27722		Founded by Sultan Al-Ashraf Al-Barsbay and comprises a mausoleum, khanqah and mosque[29]
Mosque of Taghribardi1440MamlukAl-Saleeba Street
30°01′50″N 31°15′05″E / 30.030595°N 31.251524°E / 30.030595; 31.251524		Founded by Amir Taghribird and comprises a mosque, madrasa, and khanaqah[30]
Funerary complex of Sultan Qaytbay1472MamlukNorthern Cemetery
30°02′38″N 31°16′30″E / 30.0439°N 31.2749°E / 30.0439; 31.2749		Founded by al-Ashraf Qaytbay and comprises a mosque, former madrasa, mausoleum and residential structures, that is featured on the E£1 banknote[31]: 244 
Amir Qijmas al-Ishaqi Mosque1481MamlukAl-Darb al-Ahmar
30°02′10″N 31°15′36″E / 30.036°N 31.260°E / 30.036; 31.260		Founded by Sayf al-Din Qijmas al-Ishaqi; also known as the Abu Hurayba Mosque[32]
Amir Khayrbak Funerary Complex1502MamlukAl-Darb al-Ahmar
30°02′10″N 31°15′36″E / 30.036°N 31.260°E / 30.036; 31.260		The mausoleum was completed in 1502; and the mosque-madrasa completed in 1520[33]
Mosque of Qani-Bay1503MamlukSalah al-Din Square
30°01′56″N 31°15′28″E / 30.0322°N 31.2579°E / 30.0322; 31.2579		Founded by Qani-Bay al-Sayfi;[34] featured on the E£200 banknote
Sultan Al-Ghuri Complex1503MamlukAl-Mu'izz Street
30°2′46″N 31°15′36″E / 30.04611°N 31.26000°E / 30.04611; 31.26000		Founded by Qansuh al-Ghuri; western part remains an active mosque, with the eastern part, a former khanqah-mausoleum, now a tourist site[35]
Demerdash Mosque1523OttomanAl-Wayli
30°04′31″N 31°16′38″E / 30.075166°N 31.277294°E / 30.075166; 31.277294		Named in honour of Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Al-Amir, known as Shaykh Demerdash, who is buried in the mosque.[36]
Sulayman Pasha Mosque1528OttomanCairo Citadel
30°03′29″N 31°13′44″E / 30.05806°N 31.22889°E / 30.05806; 31.22889		Founded by Hadim Suleiman Pasha and named in his honour; contains the grave and shrine of Sariat al-Jabal[37] It is the first mosque established in Egypt in Ottoman architectural style.[38]
Al-Mahmoudia Mosque1567OttomanSalah al-Din Square
30°01′54″N 31°15′28″E / 30.031608°N 31.257721°E / 30.031608; 31.257721		Founded by Mahmud Pasha, contains his grave, and named in his honour[39]
Sinan Pasha Mosquec. 1571OttomanBoulaq, Downtown
30°03′44″N 31°13′46″E / 30.062109°N 31.229399°E / 30.062109; 31.229399		Founded by Koca Sinan Pasha and named in his honour[11]: 161-162 
Al-Burdayni Mosque1629OttomanAl-Dawoudia
30°01′34″N 31°15′14″E / 30.0259745°N 31.2537894°E / 30.0259745; 31.2537894		Founded by Kareem al-din al-Bardayni and named in his honour[40]
Mosque of Abu al-Dhahab1774OttomanEl-Hussein
30°02′46″N 31°15′42″E / 30.046066°N 31.261755°E / 30.046066; 31.261755		Founded by Muhammad Bey Abu al-Dhahab and named in his honour[1]: 200–202 
Muhammad Ali Mosque1830OttomanCairo Citadel
30°01′43″N 31°15′35″E / 30.028611°N 31.259722°E / 30.028611; 31.259722		Founded by Muhammad Ali and named in his honour[41]
Mosque-Sabil of Sulayman Agha al-Silahdar1839OttomanMuizz Street
30°03′09″N 31°15′43″E / 30.052445°N 31.261878°E / 30.052445; 31.261878		Contains a mosque, sabil, and kuttab, located at the beginning of Burjouan alley[42]
Al-Sayyida Nafisa Mosque1897OttomanNorthern Cemetery
30°01′21″N 31°15′08″E / 30.022499°N 31.252136°E / 30.022499; 31.252136		Present structure was built on the site of a 9th-century mosque-mausoleum[1]: 147–148 
Al-Rifa'i Mosque1911OttomanSalah al-Din Square
30°9′17″N 31°18′37″E / 30.15472°N 31.31028°E / 30.15472; 31.31028		Also serves as the royal mausoleum of Muhammad Ali's family[43]
Sayyidah Zainab Mosque1940ModernAl-Saleeba Street
30°1′54″N 31°14′31″E / 30.03167°N 31.24194°E / 30.03167; 31.24194		Present structure was built on the site of an undated mausoleum; renovations in 1547 and 1768; rebuilt in 1940[44]
Sayeda Aisha Mosque1971ModernSalah al-Din Square
30°01′29″N 31°15′24″E / 30.024675°N 31.256782°E / 30.024675; 31.256782		Present structure built on the site of a 14th-century mosque-madrasa; renovated in 1762; rebuilt in 1971[45]
Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosquec. 1970sModernNasr City
30°04′00″N 31°19′33″E / 30.0668°N 31.3258°E / 30.0668; 31.3258		Location of the August 2013 Rabaa massacre where the mosque was partially destroyed;[46] and subsequently rebuilt
Al-Fath Mosque1990ModernRamses Square, Downtown
30°03′35″N 31°14′46″E / 30.059846°N 31.246056°E / 30.059846; 31.246056		The 130 m-tall (430 ft) minaret in the third largest minaret in the world[47]
Al-Rahman al-Rahim Mosque2009ModernSalah Salem, Abbassiya
30°03′41″N 31°16′59″E / 30.0615186°N 31.2829897°E / 30.0615186; 31.2829897
Islamic Cultural Center2022ModernNew Administrative CapitalCapacity for 137,000 worshippers; completed at a cost of E£800 million[48]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Williams, Caroline (2018). Islamic Monuments in Cairo: The Practical Guide (7th ed.). Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press.
  2. ↑ Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1993). "Early Islamic Architecture in Cairo". Islamic Architecture in Cairo: An Introduction. The American University in Cairo Press. p. 47.
  3. ↑ "Amr Ibn Al-As Mosque". sis.gov.eg. July 20, 2009. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  4. 1 2 O'Kane, Bernard (2016). The Mosques of Egypt. American University of Cairo Press. ISBN 9789774167324.
  5. ↑ Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1992). Islamic Architecture in Cairo (2nd ed.). Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-09626-4.
  6. ↑ Bloom, Jonathan M. (1987). "The Mosque of the Qarafa in Cairo". Muqarnas. 4. BRILL: 7–20. doi:10.2307/1523093 – via jstor.
  7. ↑ Bloom, Jonathan M. (1983). "The Mosque of al-Ḥākim in Cairo". Muqarnas. 1: 15–36. doi:10.2307/1523069. JSTOR 1523069.
  8. ↑ King, James Roy (1984). "The Restoration of the al-Ḥākim Mosque in Cairo". Islamic Studies. 23 (4): 325–335. ISSN 0578-8072. JSTOR 20847278.
  9. ↑ "5 – Fatimid Mosques in Cairo". Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  10. ↑ Yarshater, Ehsan, ed. (2003). "Hakem be-Amr Allah". Encyclopædia Iranica. Vol. 11. New York: Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation & Eisenbrauns, Inc. pp. 572–573. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019.
  11. 1 2 3 Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1989). "Islamic Architecture in Cairo: An Introduction". Leiden: E.J. Brill. pp. 72–74. ISBN 9789004096264. Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  12. ↑ "Mashhad al-Sayyida Ruqayya". ArchNet.org. n.d. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Masjid al-Husayn". ArchNet.org. n.d. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  14. ↑ Raymond, André (1993). Le Caire (in French). Fayard. p. 79.
  15. ↑ "عبر 775 عامًا".. جامع الظاهر بيبرس من الإنشاء وحتى الترميم. بوابة الفجر [elfagr.org] (in Arabic). May 6, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2007). Cairo of the Mamluks: A History of the Architecture and Its Culture. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press.
  17. ↑ Fernandes, Leonor (1987). "The Foundation of Baybars al-Jashankir: Its Waqf, History, and Architecture". Muqarnas. 4: 21–42. doi:10.2307/1523094. JSTOR 1523094.
  18. ↑ Lane-Poole, Stanley (1906). The Story of Cairo. London: J. M. Dent. p. 215.
  19. ↑ Watson, C. M.; Kay, H. C. (1886). "The Mosque of Sultan Nasir Muhammad Ebn Kalaoun, in the Citadel of Cairo". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland (18): 477–82.
  20. ↑ "Madrasat wa-Qubbat Sunqur al-Sa'di". Archnet. n.d. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  21. ↑ Williams, Caroline (1993). "The Mosque of Sitt Hadaq". Muqarnas. 11 (1): 58. doi:10.1163/22118993-90000332. ISSN 0732-2992.
  22. ↑ "Amir Shaykhu al 'Imari Mosque-Khanqah". ArchNet.org. n.d. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Amir Sarghitmish Funerary Complex". ArchNet.org. n.d. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  24. ↑ مسجد السلطان برقوق - البوابة الدينية. ahram.org.eg (in Arabic). Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  25. ↑ المسالك::وصف جامع السلطان برقوق. almasalik.com (in Arabic).
  26. ↑ مساجـد وعصــــور. ahram.org.eg (in Arabic). May 2, 2004. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Sultan al-Mu'ayyad Shaykh Complex". ArchNet Digital Library. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. n.d. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  28. ↑ Williams, Caroline (2002). Islamic monuments in Cairo: the practical guide. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 9774246950.
  29. ↑ Bloom, Jonathan M.; Blair, Sheila S., eds. (2009). "Mamluk; I. Barsbay". The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture. Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. p. 456. ISBN 9780195309911.
  30. ↑ "Madrasa of Taghri Bardi". Museum with no Frontiers. 2025. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  31. ↑ Williams, Caroline (2008). Islamic Monuments in Cairo: The Practical Guide (6th ed.). Cairo: American University in Cairo Press.
  32. ↑ بالصور: مسجد قجماس الأسحاقي الشهير بـ"أبو حريبة" وجامع الخمسين جنيه. Masrawy (in Arabic). Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Amir Khayrbak Funerary Complex". ArchNet.org. n.d. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Funerary Complex of Qanibay Amir Akhur". Archnet.org. n.d. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Sultan Qansuh al-Ghuri Complex". ArchNet. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  36. ↑ معالم تاريخية.. مسجد الدمرداش "22". www.albawabhnews.com (in Arabic). June 17, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Masjid Suleyman Pasha". Archnet.org. n.d.
  38. ↑ مسجد سليمان باشا الخادم. eternalegypt.org (in Arabic).
  39. ↑ بالصور..مسجد المحمودية بالقاهرة. Masrawy (in Arabic). Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Masjid al-Burdayni". 2000. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.892.6919. {{cite CiteSeerX}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter |citeseerx= (help)
  41. ↑ Hassan, Hassan (2000). In the House of Muhammad Ali: A Family Album, 1805-1952. American University in Cairo Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-977-424-554-1.
  42. ↑ "Sulayman Agha al-Silahdar Mosque and Sabil-Kuttab". ArchNet.org. n.d.
  43. ↑ Samir, Salwa (October 4, 2012). "Meeting a royal family at Al-Rifa'i". The Egyptian Gazette. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  44. ↑ Williams, Caroline (2008). "Mosque of Sayyida Zaynab". Islamic Monuments in Cairo: The Practical Guide (New Revised ed.). American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-1-61797-278-2.
  45. ↑ Abdulwahab, Hassan. History of Mosques. pp. 323–326.[full citation needed]
  46. ↑ Ezzat, Dina (September 24, 2013). "Rabaa Al-Adawiya: After the sit-in". ahram.org. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Al-Fath Mosque - Cairo - Egypt" (includes aerial view). Arab Contractors. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  48. ↑ James, Imogen (April 4, 2023). "New capital's lavish mosque angers Egyptians facing poverty". BBC News. Retrieved December 6, 2025.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • O'Kane, Bernard (2016). The Mosques of Egypt. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press.
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