Sayyida Aisha Mosque (Arabic: 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 is located outside Citadel Square on a similarly named street.[2]
| 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) |
History
editThe mosque is named after Aisha, daughter of Jaafar al-Sadiq, son of Muhammad al-Baqir, son of Ali Zain al-Abidin, son of Hussein, son of Ali bin Abi Talib. She was the sister of Musa al-Kazim. She died in 145 AH (762–3 CE). Her tombstone reads: "This is the tomb of the honorable Lady Aisha, one of the children of Jaafar al-Sadiq, son of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, son of Ali ibn Abi Talib."[3][full citation needed]
The original structure was a small shrine over the grave of Sayyidah Aisha, topped by a dome. When Saladin ruled Egypt, he ordered the construction of a madrasa next to the shrine.[2] When the new city walls of Cairo were built in the same era, the madrasa was separated from the tomb and a new gate was opened in the wall, called Bab Sayeda Aisha or Bab al-Qarafa.[3][full citation needed]
In 1762, a new mosque was attached to the shrine and madrasa by Abd al-Rahman Katkhuda, a Mamluk emir during the time of Ali Bey al-Kabir.[2]
In 1971, the old mosque, madrasa and shrine were demolished. A new mosque was erected in its place, which still stands today.[2] When the Sayeda Aisha Bridge was built,[when?] the Qarafa Gate was demolished and Fayda Kamel renovated the Sayeda Aisha Mosque to its current state.[3][full citation needed]
Architecture
editThe original building before the Ayyubid period had roughly square plan and had a dome resting on two layers of muqarnas.[2]
The 1971 restoration expanded the mosque into its present form. 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] On the dome is in inscription which reads: "Aisha has a bright light and joy, and her dome in which supplications are answered."[2] The mosque has one minaret.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c egyptopia.com. "Mosque of Sayyida Aisha in Cairo - Main Destinations in Egypt : Cairo, Much More Than a City : Mosques in Cairo : -". egyptopia.com. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Sayyida Aisha mosque". sis.gov.eg. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Hassan Abdulwahab: History of Mosques, pp. 323-326.