The Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan is considered one of the largest Islamic buildings in Egypt. It was said about it “If Pharaonic Egypt is proud of its pyramids, Islamic Egypt is proud of Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan” that reflects the greatness of this building.
Who is Sultan Hassan?
Sultan Hassan is a Mamluk Sultan. He was the son of the Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Mohammed ibn Qalawun.
Sultan Hassan became a ruler of Egypt twice. The first time was in 1347 AD when he was thirteen years old, but the Mamluk princes deposed him from the throne.
The second time was in 1356 AD, but the Mamluk princes and the army chief made a revolution against him, but he fled from them. Then he was arrested, put in prison, and it was said that he was killed.
History of the Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan:
It is located in front of the Al Rifa’i Mosque in Midan al-Qal’a (Salah El-Din Square). Sultan Hassan ordered to construct this mosque in 757 AH / 1356 AD and is completed in 764 AH / 1363 AD.
Also, this building is considered a Madrasa, as it was used for teaching the four Islamic Madhhabs. Madrasa is an Arabic word that means a school. Al-Maqrizi mentioned that the cost of the establishing of this building exceeded one million dinars.
Because the mosque is close to the Salah El-Din Citadel, so the Mamluks used it as a fortress, as they used the height of the building to attack the Citadel.
The design of the Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan:
It was built on an area of 7906 meters. Its length is 150 meters, its walls are 36 meters high, and its minarets are 68 meters high. It consists of an open courtyard surrounded by four iwans. In the middle, there is a fountain covered with a wooden dome and stood on 8 marble columns.
The Qibla iwan is the largest of the mosque’s iwans. It has a mihrab, a minbar, and a bench of marble. This bench is carried on 8 marble columns and was used to hold a man who repeats the imam’s say to the worshipers during prayer. Behind the Qibla wall, there is a mausoleum.
