MOSQUE OF SOLIMAN PASHA al-KHADEM At The Citadel

MOSQUE OF SOLIMAN PASHA al-KHADEM

At The Citadel

Introduction

This Mosque of SOULIMAN PASHA al- KHADEM is the first mosque erected in Cairo under the Ottoman rule. It is located in the northern part of the Citadel.

This mosque was originally built at the Fatimid period in (535 .H) by ABU al-MANSOUR QASTTA, the governor of Alexandria at the Fatimid period who was buried in a mausoleum still standing inside the open court of the mosque. Then the mosque was rebuilt at the Ottoman period by SOULIMAN PASHA al- KHADEM in (935.H) as it's mentioned in a foundation text over the entrance door of the mosque. This mosque was popularly known as SIDI SARIYA, because the publics think that "SARIYAT al-GABAL" - one of the prophet's companions - is buried in the mausoleum of ABU al-MANSOUR QASTTA.

The Owner

SOULIMAN PASHA al- KHADEM was one of the most famous statesmen at the ottoman period, especially during the reign of al-SULTAN SOLIMAN al-QANOUNY. He ruled Egypt twice, the first time at (931- 942 H./1525- 1535 A.D.), and the second at (943-945 H./ 1536- 1538 A.D.)

­Description

This mosque has no façade, and its small entrance is an imitation of that of al-Nasser Muhammad's mosque nearby in the citadel (a half- dome on stalactites).

This entrance leads to the interior of the mosque which consists of two parts (Like most of the Ottoman mosques), the first Part is the Prayer hall, and the second part is the courtyard.

This prayer hall adopts the Ottoman T-form and is covered by a central dome, flanked by 3 half-domes from the Southern, Eastern, and Western sides. This central dome is supported by spherical triangle pendentives.

The lower parts of the inner walls are covered with marble dadoes in Mamluk style and a frieze of inlaid carved marble runs above the dadoes. These walls are also inscribed with floriated KUFIC inscriptions.

In the middle of the QIBLA wall, is a marble prayer niche (MIHRAB) crowned by a pointed arch decorated with colored arabesque decorations. This MIHRAB is divided into 3 parts, the upper part is decorated with zigzag decorations, the middle part is decorated with star patterns, and the lower part is decorated with vertical cavities with tri-lobed arches (looks like small MIHRABS). Over the MIHRAB, is a circle window (QAMARIYA) made of colored glass.

To the right of the MIHRAB, is a large marble pulpit (MINBAR) is surmounted by a conical top like that of the minaret, and its two sides are decorated with colored and gilded geometrical designs.

DIKKET AL-MUBALLIGH (Caller's podium) is attached to the upper part of the wall facing the MIHRAB, and it can be reached by an inner Staircase.

                                                                                                                    There is a door in the middle of the back wall of the prayer hall, leads to a courtyard, paved with marble. In front of this door, there is a dome supported by spherical triangle pendentives, and decorated with colored and gilded decorations.

The courtyard is surrounded from the 4 sides by only one arcade of marble columns, covered by shallow domes.

The minaret stands on the door between the prayer hall and the Courtyard. This minaret consists of a high cylindrical shaft topped by a conical top, and it has two balconies supported by 3 rows of stalactites.

The outer face of the central dome, the shallow domes around the courtyard , and the conical top of the minaret, all are covered by green tiles .

On the west side of the courtyard is a shrine built at the Fatimid period by ABU AL-MANSOUR IBN QASTTA, popularly Known as SIDI SARIYA.

This shrine is incorporated into the architecture of the mosque, and covered by a dome larger than those around the courtyard. This shrine includes the tombs of some ottoman officials. These tombs are topped by tomb stones inscribed with Arabic and Turkish inscriptions containing names of those officials.

Until recently there was a wooden boat hanging above the cenotaph of Ibn Qastta, It's a popular tradition in Egypt to place boats in Saints' shrines.

On the north side of the courtyard, another entrance leads to a second courtyard in front of a vaulted oblong building composed of two halls.

The outer hall opens to the courtyard and leads though a door into the inner hall. Both are roofed with tow half-domes on Spherical triangle pendentives, facing each other.

According to the foundation deed, this building is a Kuttab, and its domes were covered with blue tiles. This Kuttab has a prayer niche with Stalactites in the conch.