Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque

The Mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad at the Citadel in Cairo is one of the most important structures of Al -Malik al-Nasir Muhammad Ibn Qalawun (* 1284, † 1341 ). She was the Friday mosque of the sultans.

The mosque replaced an older and was part of a palace complex on the citadel of Cairo. The previous building was completed in 1312. This building was built within two years. 1318 this mosque but was in turn replaced by a new one, which is attested by an inscription. 1335 the building was greatly expanded.

The mosque covers an area of 57.6 x 60 m. It is free standing. The facade is mostly smooth with only a few projections and a series of windows in the upper part. It is crowned by stepped battlements. It consists of a large courtyard in the middle and four rows of arcades on the back and two rows of arcades on the other sides, making the whole construction is virtually a large hall with an open courtyard in the center. The columns used for the arcades are spoils of buildings from pre-Islamic times. The different lengths of the columns is offset by different high bases. The mosque has four inputs, all of which are designed differently.

The mosque has in the back of a dome, but collapsed in 1468, but was rebuilt. It is supported on three sides by arches, which are in turn supported by ten granite columns. The building has two minarets, but they are not arranged symmetrically. One of them is located in the north and flanked the main entrance, the other is on the east corner of the building.