Sayeda Aisha Mosque

Sayyida Aisha Mosque مسجد السيدة عائشة
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Region	Africa
Status	Active
Location
Location	Cairo, Egypt
Architecture
Type	Mosque
Style	Islamic
Completed	14th-century (foundation) 1971 (renovation)

Sayyida Aisha Mosque (مسجد السيدة عائشة) is a mosque in Cairo, Egypt. It contains the tomb of Aisha bint Ja'far al-Sadiq, a female scholar who was one of the daughters of Ja'far al-Sadiq.^[1] The mosque is named after her, and it is located outside Citadel Square on a similarly named street.^[2]

History

The original structure was a small shrine over the grave of Sayyidah Aisha, and it was topped by a dome. When Salahuddin al-Ayyubi ruled Egypt, he ordered the construction of a madrasah next to the shrine.^[2] Then in 1762, a new mosque was attached to the shrine and madrasah by Abd al-Rahman Katkhoda, a Mamluk emir during the time of Ali Bey al-Kabir.^[2]

In 1971, the old mosque, madrasah and shrine were demolished. A new mosque, the one which still stands to present day, was erected instead.^[2]

Architecture

The original building before the Ayyubid period had a dome resting on two layers of muqarnas, and was rather square in shape.^[2]

After the 1971 restoration, the mosque is now expanded. It has two doors; one for men, which leads to the prayer hall, and another side door for women, which leads directly to the tomb chamber.^[1] The mosque has a large dome, which is supported by eight concrete pillars in a circular formation.^[1] It is written on the dome: "Aisha has a bright light and joy, and her dome in which supplications are answered."^[2] Only one minaret is present.

See also

• Lists of mosques
• List of mosques in Africa
• List of mosques in Egypt

References

External links

AlexandriaCairo and
Greater CairoOther places