Founder of building the Mosque
- This mosque was built by the founder of Alawi family which ruled Egypt for 147 years.
- The mosque is built of local limestone .
- Muhammad Ali was born in kavala, in Macedonia in 1768 His father died while he still young so his uncle adopted him .
- He joined city schools where he learned some of the primary sciences in Turkish and then he got involved in military service until he became a commander.
- He worked in Commercial trading after marrying one of The Kavala’s governor relatives .
- He was chosen from the marine troops which were sent to free the Country from the French occupation .
- However , after a while he was promoted to higher ranks . He became the general and Commander of 4000 Soldiers . ( Albanians )
- In 1805 The Egyptian choose him to be The ruler of Egypt.
( The date of the Mosque’s Construction)
1- The Construction of the Mosque began in 1830 .
The Mosque was designed by a Turkish architect and is a reproduction of the Sultan Ahmed mosque in Istanbul.
2- The works continued Ceaselessly until the death of in Muhammad Ali 1849 .
3- The Mosque was completed including the walls , the minarets and the writing on the external windows.
4- When Abbas Pasha ruled Egypt in 1842 , The architect began The gilding and inscription works as well as some of the marble work in the mosque.
Abbas Pasha ordered the Construction with marble and the brass gilded .
When Khedive Ismail ruled Egypt in 1863 , He made new doors with brass handles and built a bath for it .
When Khedive Tawfiq ruled Egypt in 1879 he ordered the restoration of the marble courtyard and reset its dooms .
( The description of the Mosque)
1- It is rectangular in shape and it has 2 parts , the western part is the courtyard which contains in the middle, a marble ablution fountain. It has 3 entrances, one on the north and other on the south
2- The Eastern part is the prayer hall , it is square .
In measure 41 * 41 M .
It has a Central dome the measuring 21 m .
In diameter and 52 m in high resting on 4 large arches, supported by 4 massive Piers .
The Central dome is surrounded by 4 Semi-doom’s , one on each side , with 4 smaller domes one on each Corner .
Another half-dome Covers the prayer niche on the eastern side of the mosque.
( The Courtyard)
1- it is a large open Courtyard 52 m length and 54 m in width .
2- It is surrounded by 4 round arcades carrying small domes and decoration from inside , it is covered from outside with sheets of lead like the great dome .
3- There are 64 windows overlooking the outside of the mosque from 3 sides .
While the eastern walls which overlook the eastern section has 8 windows above .
There is a freize with quararic inscription in beautiful persiom writing by the famous Calligraphist Snklakih 1262 H .
4- in the middle of the Courtyard is a fountain were Muslims perform their ablution before entering the mosque to pray .
Supported by 8 marble columns with natural European ornaments .
A quranic inscription made of wood adorns The Fountain .
( The Cistern opening )
It is next to the ablution fountain .
It is used to store the water for prayers and it is about 17 M in depth .
The clock tower
On the west wall of the courtyard is on ornate brass Clock tower presented to in 1845 by French King Louis in exchange for the Egyptian obelisk from Luxor that still stands in the place . Di la Concorde in Paris.
The Minarets
The Mosque has 2 Slender Minarets .
Each 84 M in height above the ground level of the Courtyard.
The style of the minarets is totally ottoman pencil-shaped Minare .
( The wooden Pulpit )
1- It is made of gilded wood , it is original and it is decorative scheme Consisting of sun burst Wreaths , it is one of the largest pulpit in Egypt.
2- The smaller Pulpit next to the prayer niche which is made of alabaster with a raised marble .
Geometric Pattern was constructed in 1939 by order of King FAROUK .
3- The door of the Pulpit is inlaid with brass its decoration is a geometric pattern of Floral decoration.
The door bearing the name of Craft man Ahmed Hussain Jamal Al-Din date and place of manufacture 1360 H.Egypt .
4- The existence of 2 pulpits in the prayer house is a wonderful thing .
Many opinions have been expressed
Some people believe that the use of louder Speaker is the reason for the use of the Second pulpit .
While the other believe the reason is the distance of the first pulpit from the proper niche so the khatib ( The prayer Leader ) had to overpass The Crowds of the believers ( congregation ) in Friday to reach the Prayer niche which is Considered a hateful thing .
5- The motive King Farouk to order building a marble Pulpit next to the Prayer niche it might also be to Commemorate his name by building this pulpit .
So he Could be immortalized for the works he did in the mosque . The position of this new pulpit enables the speaker to face the whole Congregation.
The second floor
- It is located on the northwestern side Supported by 8 marbles Columns with a Copper balustrade all around .
Can be reached through the stair of the 2 minarets
- Some people believe this floor was used for women to pray .
- While other believe that it was the Dikka-al Muballigh .
The tomb of Muhammad Ali Pasha
- To The right of the main entrance is the tomb of Surrounded by an ornate geometric brass grille .
- His grave is covered by on enormous three tiered white cenotaph with craved floral designs .
- At the end of the cenotaph is a towering head stone surmounted by a representation of fez Muhammad Ali .
The reason why the mosque is called Alabaster
- The mosque called the Alabaster Mosque because the walls and the 4 Piers are covered with alabaster to the height of 11 M brought from Bani Sweif quarries in Middle Egypt .
- The Chandelier of the Mosque Consists of dozens of Crystal balls hung from huge rings Suspended from the middle of the great dome , presented to Muhammad Ali by of France .
- The great dome and half domes are decorated with projecting Floral decorations and grit ornaments Containing flowers and Arches with Crescents in the middle.
- The Central dome Contains a series of Koran Inscription which can be read in Sequence The name of God , God willing and blessing.
- In addition to there are paintings and decorations re presenting Clusters of grapes and floral Leaves .
- Medallions around the central dome which includes the name of the first 4 Caliphs [ Successors ] after Prophet Muhammad .
- The rightly guided ones Abu Bakr , Omar , Othman and Ali .
- The Calligraphist from Azmir signed his name under the name of Ali may god honor him .
- Overlooking The Prayer hall
- There are decorative windows with ornate grills .
- Above the windows there are Sufi Poetry from the borda of Imam Al-Busiri .
- The Chandelier of the Mosque Consists of dozens of Crystal balls hung from huge rings Suspended from the middle of the great dome , presented to Muhammad Ali by of France .
- The great dome and half domes are decorated with projecting Floral decorations and grit ornaments Containing flowers and Arches with Crescents in the middle.
- The Central dome Contains a series of Koran Inscription which can be read in Sequence The name of God , God willing and blessing.
- In addition to there are paintings and decorations re presenting Clusters of grapes and floral Leaves .
- Medallions around the central dome which includes the name of the first 4 Caliphs [ Successors ] after Prophet Muhammad .
- The rightly guided ones Abu Bakr , Omar , Othman and Ali .
- The Calligraphist from Azmir signed his name under the name of Ali may god honor him .
- Overlooking The Prayer hall
- There are decorative windows with ornate grills .
- Above the windows there are Sufi Poetry from the borda of Imam Al-Busiri .
Qasr al-Gawhara
1- El Gawhara Palace built in Mameluke ruins dating from Qaitbay and Sultan both built the Palace 1468 .
Which later became in 1496 the residence of the ottoman governors in the Citadel .
2- These building demolished by Muhammad Ali and replaced in 1814 by his European - inspired Gawhara Palace.
3- The Gawhara is divided into 2 wings that originally housed the offices administration in the east .
And his audience Hall and private apartments in the west .
4- The East wing overlooking the palace square in the Koshak is today in ruins and is closed to the public.
6- You first pass through a series of rooms destroyed in fire in 1972 before coming to an enclosed staircase at the foot of the stairs is a small vestibule leading into the audience hall .
7- The main entrance of the Palace is located in the east side with portico carried on marble columns in front of it .
8- The Palace was specialized in Pashas receptions , it has a big hall known as Throne hall which has an oval Ceiling decorated with figures representing military musical instruments and the center a wooden medallion.
5- The west wing is built up against raised platform and is entered the terrace outside the upper story of the Palace .
Saria Al Adel The Palace of Justice
1- Is located on the left of the mint house , it can be reached by a double staircase .
This stair leads to rectangular hall with long corridor at the end which has stone Arches .
This Corridor ends with El Gawhara Palace .
This stair leads to rectangular hall with long corridor at the end which has stone Arches .
This Corridor ends with El Gawhara Palace .
2- The Palace contains a number of a big and small Chambers with a view of battle-ships on its lintels .
Muhammad Ali Pasha received many Famous persons in this Palace and Khedive Ismail also received and celebrated Sultan Abd El Aziz in 1886 in this palace in which he stayed for 7 days .
Then the Palace became a Museum for exhibiting some of the valuable masterpieces and antiques.
At the far end of the great hall is a mannequin display of Muhammad Ali seated on his broad Diwan listening to petitioners while surrounded by his ministers and Soldiers.
The Great Hall
1- Contains a big chandelier which weights half ton and was given to Muhammad Ali by king Louis Philippe of France.
2- The hall contains a number of clocks , which were given to some of his family .
3- There is a maquette of the dome of the rock mode of mother of pearl .
Famous rooms of the Palace
1- Room representing the marriage of King Farouk and his wife Queen Nariman.
2- Another side room contains 8 Fragments of the Kiswa [ black brocade drapery] used to cover the Kaaba .
3- Room contains Muhammad Ali Throne .
To the right side of the throne portrait of Muhammad Ali.
To the left side of the throne portrait of Muhammad Ali .
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