Mosque of al-Mu’ayed Shiekh

Mosque of al-Mu’ayed Shiekh

This Madrasa and mosque is built by al-Sultan al-Mu'ayad Sheikh (818 - 823 H.) during the Circassian Mamluk period, at the area of al-Darb al- Ahmar beside Bab Ziweela.

Al-Maqrizi relates the reason for building this mosque saying that during the reign of Faraj Ibn Barquq, al-Mu’ayad was captured and thrown into a prison on this site.

He suffered terribly of the lice and fleas, and vowed then that if Allah set him free and became the ruler of Egypt, he would replace this prison with a mosque and Madrasa.

The founder

al-Mu'ayad Sheikh was one of the Mamlukes of al-Sultan al-Zahir Barquq, then he still having high positions during the reign of al-Nassir Farag Ibn Barquq, till he became the governor of Tripoli. He was one of the rebellions against al-Nassir Farag, then he seized power and became the ruler of Egypt after the death of al-Nassir Farag in (815 H./ 1411 A.D.). He eventually died in (824 H./ 1421 A.D.)

The Description

The External Description

This mosque has four free façades, the main façade is the south eastern façade which overlooks al-Mu'iz Street. This façade contains the main entrance, the dome, and the facade of the Qibla Iwan.

This façade is colored Mushahar and is crowned by a cresting in the shape of a triple leaf. It consists of number of shallow vertical recesses. Each recess is crowned by stalactites and contains a lower metal grill window and upper simple "Qandiliya" (two arched rectangular windows "shamsiya", topped by a circle window "Qamariya").

The lower metal grill window is topped by a lintel decorated with floral joggled vaussoirs, then a tympanum and a relieving arch of joggled vaussoirs.

The main entrance located in the eastern corner of the main façade and is lined by continuous molding. This entrance is crowned by a tri-lobed arch supported by stalactites. The middle part of the entrance has a rectangular metal window surrounded by Ablaq decorations.

The lower part of the entrance contains a wooden entrance door plaited with bronze. Over it, is a plain lintel surrounded by geometrical decoration on blue back ground, then a tympanum and a relieving arch of joggled vaussoirs.

There are two inscription panels written with Ablaq square Kufic. Each panel of them is lined with a continuous molding.

The Internal Description

The entrance door leads to a square vestibule (Dirkah) roofed by a cross vault. This Dirkah has two doors, one of them leads to the eastern mausoleum and the other leads to the corridor. This corridor has a drinking jar "Mezmalah" with a wooden screen.

The corridor leads to an open court which has an octagonal fountain in the middle of it. This fountain is surrounded by eight marble columns carrying a sunshade topped by a cresting in the shape of a triple leaf.

The open court is surrounded by four Iwans, the main Iwan is Qibla Iwan "the south-eastern Iwan" that consists of three arcades, while each of the other three Iwans (the faced Iwan and the side Iwans) consists only of two arcades. Every arcade consists of a row of marble columns carrying pointed arches.

The Qibla wall is decorated with very beautiful colored marble panels. In the middle of this wall, there is the Mihrab which is crowned by double pointed arch decorated with Ablaq decoration, and supported by granite columns.

The Mihrab is divided to three decorative parts: The upper part with zigzag decoration, the middle part with floral decoration, and the lower part with arched shallow vertical cavities looking like small Mihrabs.

Over the Mihrab, there is a geometrical decoration in the shape of circles.

Beside the Mihrab, is a wooden pulpit that has a front door with an inscription panel over it. This front door leads to a staircase, then the Imam's seat which surrounded by a pavilion topped by a bulbous dome.

The two sides (two Rishas) of the pulpit are decorated with geometrical decoration in the shape of star patterns and inlaid with ivory. The two balustrades of the pulpit are made out of turned wood.

At the end of the Qibla Iwan is a marble caller's podium rests on eight columns.

The ceiling of Qibla Iwan is made of wooden beams with rectangles and squares decorated with gilded floral and geometrical ornaments.

The mausoleum

Is a square room covered by a dome supported by stalactites transitional zone. The drum of the dome contains a number of rectangular aches windows (Shamsya). The helmet of the dome is plain. The outer face of the dome is decorated with zigzag decorations.

At the ground of the mausoleum there are two tombs covered by marble cenotaphs.

The two minarets:

The mosque has two similar minarets built on the Mamluk style. These two minarets are built on the two towers of Ziweela Gate.

Each minaret consists of a square base topped by two octagonal shafts, a third shaft in the shape of an open pavilion, and finally a Bulbous top. The first octagonal shaft is decorated block niches, and is crowned by an octagonal balcony. The second octagonal shaft is decorated with zigzag decoration, and is crowned by an octagonal balcony. The open pavilion is crowned by an octagonal balcony supported by stalactites.