Muhammad Ali Pasha commissioned the great mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, or the Alabaster Mosque, between 1830 and 1848. It prominently stands between the summit of the Cairo Citadel in Egypt. The mosque honours Muhammad Ali’s oldest son, Tusun Pasha. Also, the structure is the largest in the first half of the 19th century.
The animated silhouette and twin minarets stand tall and grand in this beautiful mosque. A landmark structure and tourist attraction, this Ottoman-style building is a testament to the power of Muhammad Ali.
Location of Muhammad Ali Mosque
Muhammad Ali Mosque stands on the old site of Mamluk buildings in Cairo’s Citadel. It is on a landmass of the Mokattam hills near the centre of Cairo.
History of Muhammad Ali Mosque
Muhammed Ali couldn’t finish the construction of this mosque during his life. The structure of this grand mosque began in 1830. However, it lasted so long that Muhammed Ali couldn’t finish it before his death. Instead, the royal family couldn’t complete it until the rule of Said Pasha in 1857. Notably, Yusuf Boshnak from Istanbul is the architect of this remarkable structure.
Moreover, Muhammad Ali Mosque models come after the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Muhammad Ali Mosque stands on the ground, built from the debris of earlier buildings in the citadel.
The Alabaster Mosque
Alabaster mosque references the structure’s marble panelling on its interior and exterior walls. However, they removed the alabaster panels from the upper walls before fully completing the construction. Accordingly, they became a part of the palaces of Abbas I. Therefore, instead of alabaster, they used wood to constitute the striped panels. Finally, they painted it to look like marble.
However, in 1899, the mosque witnessed signs of cracking. Therefore, the ruler instructed some repair work. But, this work was inadequate. Later, the condition of the structure deteriorated rapidly.
When it became dangerous enough, they undertook a complete scheme of restoration. King Fuad ordered this restoration in 1931. However, the repair lasted until King Farouk in 1939.
Muhammad Ali Pasha found his last resting place in the courtyard of this mosque. His tomb is made of Carrara marble. The mausoleum is in the southwestern corner of the mosque, to the right-hand side of the entrance. Later, in 1857, the royal family transferred Pasha’s coffin from Hosh al-Barsha to his new tomb.
Muhammad Ali Of Egypt
Muhammad Ali Pasha al-Mas’ud ibn Agha was Egypt’s Ottoman governor and de facto ruler. He reigned from 1805 to 1848 and is also the founder of modern Egypt. At the peak of his leadership, the sultan ruled Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, Sudan, and Arabia.
Initially, thPashaha was commanded to recover Egypt from a French occupation. Later, through political manoeuvres, the king became the Wali of Egypt. Eventually, he gained the rank of oPashaha. After that, he initiated a violent purge of the Mamluks. Thus, he consolidated his power and permanently ended the rule of the Mamluks. Moreover, he also controlled the entire Levant.
Architectural reference
ThPashaha built his state mosque entirely in the architectural style of the Ottomans, his former overlords. This was in strict contrast to the type of the Mamluks. Despite their political submission, the Mamluks stuck to the architectural styles of their old Mamluk dynasties.
Style of the structure
The Muhammad Ali mosque has a central dome surrounded by four small semicircular domes. The central dome is 21 metres in diameter with a height of 52 metres. However, the crown has a square plan measuring forty-one to forty-one meters.
On the western side of the mosque, one can find two beautiful cylindrical minarets of Turkish type. Additionally, with two balconies and conical caps, they rise to 82 metres. This style was the declaration of de facto Egyptian independence by the ruler.
Two minarets and multiple half-domes surrounding the central dome are specific features. Mosques built on the authority of the sultan have these features.
Material of the building
The primary material, limestone, comes from the Great Pyramids of Giza. It reaches a height of 11,3 metres. The exterior buildings are severe and angular in shape. They rise to four storeys until the level of the lead-covered domes—however, the lower storey and forecourt are tiled with alabaster.
The layout of the structure
On the southeastern wall, a mihrab is three storeys high. On the second storey, there are two arcades. These arcades rise on columns and have domes. The typical entry is through the northeastern gate. However, there are three other entrances on each side of the forecourt.
The forecourt of Muhammad Ali Mosque is 50 x 50 metres. Arched riwaks rise on pillars and form an enclosure around them.
The outer open court contains a copper clock tower. It was a gift from Louis Philippe of France to Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1845 AD (1262 AH). ThPashaha returned the gesture with an obelisk of Ramesses II. This obelisk stands in the Palace de la Concorde Square, Paris. Earlier, it stood in front of the Luxor temple.
Interiors of the Muhammad Ali mosque
The interior structure measures 41 to 41 meters. The two levels of domes provide it with a much greater sense of space than reality. The central dome rises in four arches on colossal piers. It presents a person with an incredible feeling of open space.
Moreover, there are four semicircular domes around the central dome. The walls and pillars are covered in alabaster up to 11 metres high. Four smaller crowns are present on the corners as well. The domes are painted beautiful, and builders embellished them with motifs in relief.
In the middle of the courtyard, a marble ablution fountain is octagonal and covered by a marble dome. An outer wooden dome supports eight marble columns, and it has a wooden awning.
The inner surface of the wooden dome is a landscape painting in the Baroque style. Pointed conical pinnacles crown the slender minarets in the Ottoman style.
An inscription panel over the glasses of the eastern colonnade contains Quranic verses, and the date is 1262 (1843). Moreover, the ablution fountain has another inscription with Qur’anic verses.
Conclusion
Muhammad Ali Mosque presents as a sign of culture. It cemented the rule of thiPashaha. Also, its architecture reflects the state of society in the early 19th century. Moreover, to date, tourists visit the Cairo Citadel to witness the glory of this magnificent mosque.
Muhammad Ali Pasha has built this great mosque. It is also famous as the Alabaster Mosque. It stands between the summit of the Cairo Citadel. This is a landmark structure and was done in the Ottoman style and is a favorite spot for tourists. Mainly limestone from Giza was used to build this along with white marble, hence the name Alabaster mosque. The forecourt of the mosque was 50*50 meters and arched riwaks rise on them and form an enclosure. Even the ablution fountain was also made of marble. The inner surface of the wooden dome has a landscape painting in the baroque style. It even has Quranic verses engraved on its fountain and interiors as well. Another piece of attraction is the copper clock tower that the Pasha received from King Louis Phillipe of France. All these to date speak of the prosperity during the rule of the Pasha. Making it a must-see on the tourist’s list.