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Cairo Citadel - Muhammad Ali Pasha Mosque

 

Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha is located inside the Cairo Citadel. Sometimes this mosque is called the Alabaster Mosque due to the heavy use of the stone on its exterior. Another name of this mosque is Qila Mosque (the Mosque of the Citadel). In the central courtyard of the mosque, there is a ablution fountain. The clock tower of the mosque but now it is in ruins, it was a gift from Louis Philippe of France to Muhammad Ali of Egypt.

Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasah seen from the lower courtyard
A small veranda like corridor at the front of the mosque
Decorative details above the entrance
Central courtyard of the mosque with an ablution fountain
Top of the Turkish Baroque ablutions fountain
Colourful interior of the ablution fountain
Arabic inscription on one of the walls of the ablution area fountain
It looks that this shaft was used to pull out from the reservoir and use it for the ablution
Clock tower of the mosque
Arches of the central courtyard have iron beams to support them

 

It was built between 1830 and 1848, built in Ottoman style and its architect was Yusuf Bushnak and he modeled it on the Yeni Mosque in Istanbul.

The main dome of the mosque is surrounded by four small and four semicircular domes. The central dome of the mosque is 21 meters in diameter. Interestingly this mosque has two minbars. 

These arches are built around the ablution fountain
Interior of the Muhammad Ali Mosque
This photo shows the effects of pollution on this building
Stained glass is used above one of the doors
Cupola of the mosque
Minbar of the mosque
Inside of the mosque - it resembles to that of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul
Lights hanging from the ceiling
A chandelier in the middle of the mosque
Another view of the chandelier

 

The mosque was restored between 1931-1939. Muhammad Ali Pasha is buried inside the mosque, he passed away in 1849. Muhammad Ali was born around 1769 in Kavala (modern day Greece), the surname Pasha, a designation of high noble rank in the Ottoman Turkish empire, was given to him after he assumed Egyptian rule. 

Muhammad Ali Pasha is buried inside the mosque
Burial chamber of Muhammad Ali Pasha
Central dome of the mosque seen from inside
Inner domes and semi circular domes are built around the central dome
Beautiful ceiling of the mosque
Mosque seen from the al-Gawhara Palace