The Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque, or more formally, the Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun Mosque, is a mosque located in the Citadel of Cairo, Egypt. Completed in 1318 CE, the mosque was built by the Mamluk sultan Al-Nasr Muhammad as the royal mosque of the Citadel, where the sultans of Cairo performed their Friday prayers. The mosque is located across the street from the courtyard access to the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. The Sultan also built a religious complex in the center of the city, adjacent to the one by his father Qalawun.

History

alt=|thumb|The layout of the Citadel today, with the mosque in its center.

Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun

Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad was one of the sons of Sultan Qalawun (d. 1290). He was reportedly short, had a lame foot, and a cataract in one eye as well. However, he still managed to rally the support of his people because he was smart and energetic. He also managed to remain on good terms with other countries. The historical chronicler Ibn Batuta says that he was of “noble character and great virtue”.

Though surprisingly popular, al-Nasir did not keep control of his city throughout his life. Much of that has to do with him becoming sultan as a nine-year-old. Because the city was ripe with power mongers, his tutor, Kitbuqa sent him away to grow up and come home when he was better able to deal with the responsibility of ruling a country. Kitbuqa was killed shortly thereafter and was succeeded by a short succession of other rulers. Finally Lagin, an advisor loyal to the sultan took control and informed the young sultan he had nothing to fear and could return to Cairo.

At the time, rulers of Cairo would support the city by sponsoring massive building projects which brought them prestige and created jobs. Al-Nasir’s claim to fame was building up the Citadel area that the Mamluk Empire ruled from. The Citadel resided aside from the more day-to-day people’s market place. Al-Nasir wiped out the library and audience halls of his predecessor and sponsored the building of a grand palace, aqueduct, and mosque for his own personal use in their place.

Early history

thumb|Sundial of Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque

Around 1318, when the mosque was completed, the Sultan al-Nasir used it for his daily prayer. A side room enclosed by intricate iron work served as a private place of thought for the busy sultan. The call to prayer was broadcast to the North where the palace troops would be able to hear it.

The main entrance to the mosque is a door at its north side. The south door would have been the Sultan’s private entrance, but at the time the British were taking over the eastern and southern entrance were packed with trash.

The walls of the mosque were constructed using limestone pillaged by the pyramids.

Minarets

The most striking and unique feature of this mosque are its two minarets. The first is placed at the north-east corner of the Mosque where it could call troops to prayer. The other is also near the main entrance. What makes these minarets unique is their bulbous sections with finely carved decoration. Other minarets from the time are not nearly as extensively decorated.

See also

  • Islam in Egypt
  • List of mosques in Cairo
  • List of mosques in Egypt

References

Further reading

  • Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1989) 'Architecture of the Bahri Mamluks'. In Islamic Architecture in Cairo: An Introduction. Leiden/New York: E.J. Brill, pp.&nbsp;94&ndash;132. <!-- Note: see esp. pp. 108-110 -->
  • Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qala'un Mosque at Archnet.
  • Mosque of Sultan Al-Nasir Moh Smith, Martyn. "Mosque of the Citadel." Muhammad Ibn Qala'un at Eternal Egypt
  • Maqrizi website page on Citadel Mosque