0 KHANQXH OF AL-NASIR FARA6 IBN BARQUQ ( 801 - 813 A.H./1399-1411 A.D.)

       Sultan King al-Nasir Farag ibn Barqoq ibn Anas (Anas) al-6arcassy ordered the construction of this Khanqah in execution of his father's will to be buried next to the Saints (Awliya) in Hosh al-Sultan.

He built this Khanqah after the death of his father in the Mamluks desert cemetery, north of Cairo and adjacent to the Khanqah of Yunus al-Dawadar, also in an attempt to develop the area as a new extension outside Cairo walls in the desert land .

The Khanqah's location in the past was an equestrian areas and remained as such until it was deserted by Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad and all racing activities were suspended, however, after the year 780 A.H/1378 A.D.

Maqrizi caught up with several of its marble columns .

The Khanqah was built during a pointed of approx. 13 years as the project was suspended several times due to the severe economic conditions through which Egypt passed, from spread of epidemics and diseases to shortage of water due to the repeated decline in the Nile water level, in addition several military campaigns to al-Sham (Syria) because of struggles between the Sultan and his deputy there, The Khanqah is composed of a central open courtyard with an octagonal fountain in the middle (Photo 1/149) surrounded by four iwans (Plate 1/149) the largest of which is the qibta iwans .

It is composed of a rectangular area divided into three arcades containing three riwaqs parallel to the qibla wall, where each arcade consists of aix pylons carrying pointed arches.

            The riwaqs are covered by shallow vaults built on pendentives .

In the middle of the iwan's forefront is a plain stone mihrab in the shape of a semi-circular niche topped by a pointed hood supported on two circular marble columns preceded by an arched recess, supported in turn on two circular marble columns, and on top of the mihrab is a round grill defined by a protruding stone framer; its opposite area is covered by a dome mounted on three rows of stalactites ( Photo 2/149 ).

On the right is a stone minbar that dates back to the period of Sultan Qaytbay in its formation that resembles the Mamluk wooden minbars with its two balustrsades decorated with geometrical and floral onrnamentations (Photo 3/149).

On both sides of the mihrab are six recesses, three on each side, with the window in the center of each transformed into a plain stone mihrab of a semi-circular niche topped by a pointed arched hood preceded by a recess and supported on two octagonal marble columns .

Each of the four other recesses has a window in the forefront, opening onto the outside, and on top of the six recesses are elongated stucco lattice grills .

In each of the south-west and north-east sides of the iwan is a pointed arched recess that has a wooden screen on its facades, the first leading to the women tombs (dome) whilst the second to the men's tombs (dome).       

0 MOSQUE AND MADRASA OF AL-MU'AYYAD SHAIKH ( 818 – 823 A.H. / 1415 -1420 A.D.)

          This mosque was founded by Sultan King al-mu'ayyad  Abu al-Nasr Shaikh al-MaHmudi al-Garcassy in 818 A.H /1415 A.D…..

And was completed five years later in 823 A.H /1420 A.D….References point out that when the Sultan died many of buildings elements were not completed of which was the dome of the mausoleum and the residence of the sufis, which was due to the poor economic conditions in Egypt during that period and the unnecessarily large and huge structure of the building , to the extent that Maqrizi compared it to the throne of Queen Balqis of sheeba and palace of Kisra in old Persia. The building is located inside the walls of Cairo adjacent to Bab Zuwayla. al-Mu'ayyad was one of those Sultan who were known as "builders" as he erected several other buildings of which was this mosque and the Ham- mam (bath) annexed to it; he also established the bimaristan and the Kharouby Khanqah, a sabil in the citadel and a minaret in al-Azhar mosque, in addition to renovating the mosque of al-Miqyas and other building in Egypt and al-Sham (Syria).

The mosque was founded to serve as a mosque, a madrasa and a Khanqah. Its plan consists of a central large open courtyard with an area of 1750 sq.m i.e. the raito between the areas of the courtyard and that of the madrasa is 1:2.85.

Surrounding the courtyard are four iwans (Plate 1/190). The original plan of the mosque included several elements: four entrance –three of which are main whilst the fourth is the secret door. The mosque also contains four iwans for studies and prayers, two mausoleums on both sides of the main iwan, a sitting loggia for the Sultan next to Bab Zuwayla and a fountain in the middle of the courtyard.

               Annexed to the mosque are 200 residences for sufi students grouped around a durqa'a the northwest of the mosque, and a hammam (bath) to the west.

The ablutary lies in a central location between the Hammam and the mosque, and it used to contain 19 basins – according to the drawings made up Pascal coast in 1818/1825 A.D. distributed along three sides around a large basin of water. Also, the necessary services for such a compound (a well, a water wheel, and a kitchen and its utilities  ) are annexed to it. The mosque has three minarets of which the one at the western.            

0 MADRASA OF AL-ASHRAF BARSBAY ( 829 A.H./1425 A.D. )

       Sultan King al-Ashraf Barsbay al-Duqmaqi al-Zahir who ordered the building of this madrasa was a mamluk of al-Zahir Barquq who released him and kept him in his service. He held several positions such as the  deputy of the Tripoli and prince of Dawadar Kabir until he came to Ipower ruling the Mamluks Sultanic throne on 8^th Rabi al-Akhir 825 A.H., 1^st April 1422 A.D.

The madrasa is located in al-Mu'izz street in a section known as Ashrafiya near al-Sagha (Goldsmith); the site was previously occupied by old shops and tenant houses, yards and markets that were demolished for building the madrasa.

                 The madrasa consists of a central open courtyard surrounded by four iwans the largest of which is the qibla iwan (Plate 1/175, Photo 1/175)

Which is a rectangular area overlooking the courtyard through a pointed arch behind which, from the inside, are two wooden consoles with stalactites and a soffit in between.

In the center of the iwan's forefront stands the mihrab whose formation is similar to Mamluk mihrabs with its hood arched with a pointed arch with a pointed arch with compound joggled voussoirs, preceded by an arched recess mounted on two marble octagonal columns (photo 2/175);

To the left is a minbar decorated with star plates and parts of lathed wood (photo 3/175).

On both sides of the mihrab are four recesses, two on each side with a window in the forefront crowned by a pointed arch with compound joggled voussoirs topped by an elongated grill of stucco lattice and in between is the round grill of the mihrab. The iwan is covered by a wooden ceiting of girders supported on a frieze with comer and central niches, extending to the bottom In a trefoil form .

The iwan opposite the qibla iwan consists of a rectangular area overlooking the courtyard through a pointed arch, and has a smalt pointed – arched recess in its forefront, while on both sides of the recess opens a door leading to a vaulted room and a wall cupboard; each of the two sides of the iwan contains a door topped by two windows each leading to a smalt vaulted room.

The iwan has a flat wooden ceiling with a joggled edged nave supported on a caliigraphic frieze with corner stalactites extending to the bottom in a trefoil form .

Each of the two side iwans are in the shape of a rectangular area overlooking the courtyard through a stilted pointed arch. In the forefront of each iwan is a trefoil arched recess ending grill.

Both iwans are roofed with a wooden ceiling of girders enclosing two triangles and two squares, supported on a frieze.          

           

0 MOSQUE OF AL-ZAHIR BAYBARS (667 A.H./1269 A.D.)

LIST NO,(1)

                    This mosque was founded by sultan AL – Zahir Rukn al – Din Abu al – Fatu Baybars al – salihi al – Nagmi al – Bunduqdarri in 667 A.H./1269 A.D.

It may have been an experession of the Sultan's wish to establish a memorial building reflecting his great victories and military achievements against the Mongols and crusaders; 

In addition to the need  for a greater mosque to meet the growing demand  by a growing population .

Al – Maqrizi said that sultan baybars came down personally to the square on Thursday 8 Rabi'll 665 A.H.  ,    and the design concept was introduced during this attendance" demanding that the gate recalls that of his madrasa in Bain al – Qasrayn , and a dome to be built over the mihrab as large as the dome of Imam al – Shafi'i .

The general plan adhered to the design of riwaqs surrounding the great sahn (Plate 1/1) and is made up of a square with the dimensions of 111 x 108m. , with a surface area 12,000m2 , including four covered areas , the largest of which is the qibla covered area surrounding a large open sahn which is a rectangle with dimensions of 60 x70m and the ratio of its surface area to the area of the mosque is 1: 3 , with an ablutary but the lavatory was most probably outside the mosque .

The qibla covered area is composed of a rectangular area divided by six arcades , each is made up of six riwaqs parallel to the mihrab wall , and are divided by an intersecting aisle perpendicular to the mihrab and is made up of two arcades each is formed with six pointed arches . The mihrab is at the center of the front ri-waq of the qibia covered area, and is in the form of a semi-circular niche topped by a pointed, archec  hood.  The mihrab is directed a little to the right of the qibla as its oblique angle is 141 degrees in-stead of 135 which is common in cairo .

The square area preceding the mihrab is covered by a wooden dome; historical references indicate that it resembled the dome of Imam al-Shafi'i.

0 COMPLEX OF SULTANᶺQALA'UN:AMA-DRASA, A MAUSOLEUM AND A MARI-STAN (683-684 A.H./1284-1285 A.D).

              Sultan al-Mansur Saif al-Din Qala'un al-Alfi al-Salih ordered the building of this complex in 683 A.H.'/1284 A.D., using part of the land of the Fatimid western palace on the main qasaba of al-Mu'izz .

The complex was named after the maristan of Nur al-Din when he was an amir (prince ) and vowed that he would build his won in Egypt, if he ever became a ruler .

The complex represents a new trend in design, as the building contains a madrasa, a mausoleum and a maristan grouped along an ambulatory five meters wide.

On its side, the madrasa and the mausoleum are located, and at the end lies the muristan. The entrance of the complex is located on the south eastern façade between each of the two the two blocks of the madrasa and the mausoleum. It lies in a deep rectangular niche crowned by a horse-shoe arch. The entrance door is located in. a recess topped by a pointed arch supported on two marble columns, and above the entrance door is a lintel with a foundation  script (photo 1/43).

The ma-drasa is connected to the ambulatory through two entrances, one is in the north eastern iwan leading directly to the courtyard space, which is presently used, and the other is a bent entrance at the end of the ambulatory.

The plan of the madrasa consists of a central courtyard with an octagonal fountain in the center and four iwans (Plate 1/43). Its surface area is about 25,00  x 55,00meters, the courtyard is 17,00 x 20,50 meter, and the ratio between the courtyard area to the total area is 1:3.95.

The main iwan is influenced ѣ by European architecture, as the iwan is divided into three riwaqs perpendicular to the qibia wall as in the basilica, the larger of which being the nave with its ceilings higher than that of the side aisles.

The ceilings are all in wood with girders that lost their decorations. The iwan overlooks the courtyard through a triple arched façade in two piers supported by marble columns, the middle one, which is the largest, is topped by a round stucco grill, its intrados and edges are covered with fine stucco decorations and the arches are set in a shallow pointed arched panel, and on each side is an opening with a straight lintel topped by two tiersof arched windows, (photo 2/43). In the central front of the iwan is a circular mihrab with a circular arched hood, flanked by two round marble columns; the hood and the spandrels are decorated with gold mosaic, and the mihrab is ornamented by marble strips and rows of small marble mihrabs  (photo 3/43). On the southwest side of courtyard is a small riwaq consisting of an arcade of three arches supported on two marble columns, attributed to the renovations of 'Abd al Rahman Katkhuda .

The north eastern side of the courtyard includes at the center: a pointed-arched small iwan the present entrance and six doors of vaulted cells on its sides.  

0 KHANQAH OF BAYBARS

AL-GASHANKIR

(706-709 A.H./1306-1310 A.DD)

    Sultan Rukn al-Din baybars al-Gashankir ordered the foundation of the Khanqah in 706 A.H./1306 A.D, on part of the Fatimids great ministry house which was founded by al-'Afdal Shahinshah ibn Badr al-Gamali, where the Khanqah is located on Gamaliya street to the right of those heading to Bab al-Nasr.

         The plan relied on the prototype design of ma-drasas which is composed of two opposite iwans; one was for the poor Shafeyite sufis and the other was for the Hanafite.

It also contained two opposite gathering halls perpendicular to the iwans, each containing a group of solitaries for the Arabs and Persian sufis. The building also contains a mausoleum for baybars which occupies the larger part of the façade overlooking the street, preceded by a riwaq allocated for students of the (Hadith).

  The total area of the Khanqah is 1650 m2 containing a courtyard, without fountains, with an area of 315 m2 making the ratio between its area and that of the Khanqah is 1:5, which is less than the ratio followed in other former buildings (Plate 1/32)

The qibla iwan, which is in the southeast, is considered the larger of the two Khanqah iwans.

It consists of a rectangular area covered by a pointed vault, (Photo 1/32), and on both sides are two recesses overlooking it through a pointed arch, also in both the southeast and northeast sides are recesses with an open ceiling used as a wind catcher .

The mihrab is located in the center of the front wall of the iwan.

It is on the form of a semi-circular niche topped by a pointed arched hood preceded by a pointed arched shallow recess. The mihrab is free from decorations, whereas the arches of the hood and the recesses are enclosed by projected decorative profile .

On the right side of the mihrab ther is a recent wooden minbar (photo 2/32) .