One of the first monuments, which are located at the end of Al-Mu'iz Street, a few meters near Bab Al Futuh, is the mosque known as Al Hakim Bi Amr Allah, which is approximately a thousand years old in construction. It was constructed over a period of 22 years. The construction was started in 990 AD at the time of Fatimid Khalif Al Aziz Bi El lah and completed in 1012 AD at the time of his son Al Hakim Bi Amr El lah. It was said that the cost of building this mosque came to 40 thousand dinars. The blocks of limestone were used as a building material. Looking at the condition of the building today, one will notice that it is in wonderful condition due to the restoration projects over different periods. Considering the size of this mosque, it is the second largest in Cairo after Ibn Tulun mosque.
The mosque is considered to be the fourth oldest in Cairo. It witnessed different activities and different events over a period of a thousand years as a part of its story. Its building was used to serve as headquarters for the French soldiers led by Napoleon when he invaded Cairo in 1798 AD; it is said that the minarets were used as watch towers by the French. The mosque was also hit by an earthquake in 1302 AD- 702 AH.
Al- Hakim bi-amr allah
The sixth Fatimid caliph, born in Egypt, assumed power from his father at the age of approximately 11 in 386 AH/996 CE. It was a strange period, as one of his bad deeds was the burning of the city of Fustat. His reign was 25 years, and his son Al-Zahir Abu Al-Hassan Ali took over the rule after him.
There are many names for the mosque
- Mosque "Gate of Futuh".
- Al, Anwar Mosque
- Al-Khatba mosque
- the main name was "Al- Hakim bi-amr allah".
Architectural description of the mosque
It Is a rectangle 120 meters long, 113 meters wide, and is considered the second largest mosque in Cairo after Ahmed Ibn Tulun Mosque
The mosque consists of:
Open court(sahn).
4 Porticoes, the largest of which is the Qibla Portico.
Monumental entrance.
Two minarets.
Qibla portico
It consists of 4 Aisles, and its arches run parallel to the Qibla wall.
Arches were used for architectural purposes, to relieve pressure on columns, to distribute porticoes, and to carry ceilings.
The arches of the mosque are connected by decorative wooden ties with floral motifs. It had a functional purpose, preventing the thrust of arches and carrying niches and skirts.
In the middle of the Qipla portico, a transept whose arches run perpendicular to the qibla wall and a ceiling rose on the portico of the qibla.
on its chest we find Mihrab surmounted by a cupola as well as there are two cupola at both ends of qibla portico which is from the influence of North Africa.
on the middle of qibla wall is the apse of Mihrab, which is a semicircular apse, It has a pointed arch resting on two marble columns.
Mihrab features gold decorations.
Northeast Portico
It consists of two Aisles whose arches are parallel to the Qibla wall and rests on brick buttresses. The other two porticos have 3 Aisles, and their arches are perpendicular to the Qibla wall.
Monumental Entrance:
It is considered one of the oldest prominent entrances in Islamic architecture.
Eleven meters high, 6 meters deep, in the middle of the entrance, is a small corridor covered with a pointed section; then, a door opens with a lintel on top of it. The two prominent sides are decorated with lush floral motifs. The mosque includes 13 entrances: 2 on the qibla wall, three on the northeast façade, three on the southwest façade, and five on the northwest façade.
North Minaret
It consists of a square base, surmounted by three cylindrical floors, then four octagonal floors, separated from the other by rows of Stalactites. This is followed by the top of the minaret, which takes the form of an incense burner.
West Minaret
It is similar to the northern minaret but 5 meters lower in height. There is a lot of decoration in it, represented in the Kufic writings on the body block, as well as the date of completion of the mosque by the " Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah " in 393 AH / 1002 AD.
Restoration of the mosque through the ages
Strengthening the wall and restoring the minarets by Prince Baibars Jashankir, which were destroyed In the earthquake of 1302 AD.
In the mid-seventies of the 20th century, it also saw Its restoration and return to Its original state.
Ali Mubarak also mentions that the head of the Ashraf syndicate, Omar Makram, restored the mosque, especially the Qibla wall, and put a mihrab and a pulpit in it in 1808AD \1222 AH.
It was restored by the Bohra sect, a Shiite sect, and they restored this mosque because it is considered a sacred place for them, just as the ruler Is a sacred figure for them
Currently, maintenance, restoration and cleansing of the area around the mosque are being carried out, and restoration operations are being carried out for the mosque in accordance with the foundations and rules of restoration as an archaeological and historical mosque.