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This exceptional structure lies in the Darb al-Ahmar district next to Suq Al-

Silah Street in Cairo, which means the weapon Market Street thought this is

not the case.

The Darb al-Ahmar street is also sometimes called Darb al-Tabbana and is

extremel rich with !arious "slamic monuments such as the old #atimid gate,

$ab %uweila and opposite it is the Mosque o& Sultan al-Mu'aad Shakh both

o& which are !er impressing buildings.

Al-"shaqi Mosque dates back to the Circassian Mamluk period. "t was built

between ()*+ and ()( during the reign o& Sultan atba b rince Sa& al-

Din i/mas who occupied se!eral important posts at the time. 0e was the

master o& the Sultan's stables, held the post o& treasurer and was o1cer in

charge o& the earl pilgrimage to Mecca.

The "shaqi Mosque has the most remarkable &acades o!erlooking Darb Al-

Ahmar street and another narrow alle. "t pro/ects an ama2ing !iew with its

beauti&ul towering minaret and dome seen while walking down the street

&rom the direction o& $ab %uweila.

The dome is plain stone and the minaret has a central section, which issomehow un&amiliar &or this period.

Detail o& quranic inscription in the !estibule

3ooden ceiling o& the ibla iwan4 5ight6 Detail o& quranic inscription in the

!estibule

3ooden ceiling o& the ibla iwan

3ooden ceiling o& the ibla iwan

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The main &aade is abo!e the street le!el and is crenelated, with a muqarnas

7stalactites8 corbel and se!eral grilled windows. Abo!e the entrance portal is

a magni9cent panel o& ablaq marble panel &eaturing black, white and red lea&

&orms contained in a tri-lobed groin-!aulted arch.

:iew o& al-"shaqi Mosque minaret and dome

:iew o& al-"shaqi Mosque minaret and dome

Detail o& the ceiling inscriptions

Detail o& the ceiling inscriptions

Two stone bench are &ound on each side o& the entrance abo!e which is a

uranic inscription4 ;"n the name o&

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opens onto a roo=ess corridor that works as a distribution area, a lighting and

!entilation 2one &or the ground =oor.

Decorations o& the mosque ceiling.

The =oors are pa!ed with marble panels and are in a !er good state. The

interior is richl decorated with colored glass windows, 9ne stone car!ings,

marble panels and a care&ull decorated mihrab in the qibla iwan all roo&ed

b a mar!elous decorated wooden ceiling.

As was common, the mosque is built abo!e shops that occup the street

le!el. The are continuous all around the exterior walls o& the mosque. This

was generall the case in most o& the religious buildings to generate income

&or preser!ing the establishment in a good state.

$ridge leading to the >uttab on the opposite side o& the alle

$ridge leading to the >uttab on the opposite side o& the alle4

:iew o& the Sabil on the street &aade and the shops o!er which the mosque is

ele!ated

:iew o& the Sabil on the street &aade and the shops o!er which the mosque is

ele!ated

The Sabil is situated on the street &aade near the entrance.

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The mosque is attached to a separate structure, the sabil-kuttab situated

across the alle and reached &rom the interior o& the mosque b an ele!ated

passage or bridge co!ered with wooden mashrabbeas. This bridge created a

beauti&ul narrow arched alle where trades and cra&ts men displa their

products. This building is now used as an elementar school.

Stairwa within the Mosque

rince i/mas al-"shaqi died in Sria in ()* where he was go!ernor and was

buried in Damascus. "n (?@, a man named Abu 0uraba was buried in the

tomb chamber o& the complex is reached through the qibla iwan. This is wh

the mosque is mostl known as Abu 0uraba mosque.

The mosque was restored twice, in (+) and again in (+@ and so, it remains

toda in a good condition.

This complex is considered to be one the most important o& the reign o&

Sultan atba &or in it, high standards o& workmanship and skills were used

and are seen in it's design and decorati!e elements.

An interesting &act about this mosque is that its &aade appears on the

gptian 9&t-pound note indicating &urther more its importance up till this

da.