Sultan Hassan Mosque

Sultan Hassan Mosque

The Sultan Hassan Mosque is a renowned mosque in Egypt, located at the end of Muhammad Ali Street in southeastern Cairo, covering an area of 7,906 square meters. Construction began in 1356 and took 33 years to complete. It is rich in Islamic architectural artistry, and some consider it the most beautiful mosque in the Middle East. It is one of the representative buildings of the Mamluk dynasty, solemn and majestic. The mosque has two minarets; the southern one stands 85 meters tall, making it the tallest in Cairo—equivalent to a 30-story building. Climbing the minaret is quite challenging, but from the top, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Cairo, including the pyramids. The main gate is 37.7 meters high, and inside is a vast square courtyard that includes three halls and an inner court, resembling a smaller mosque. The inner courtyard is 32 meters long and 24–60 meters wide, with a large pool in the center used for washing, topped by a grand dome supported by numerous marble columns. Each corner of the inner courtyard has a door leading to four lecture halls, each dedicated to teaching one of the four Islamic prayer rituals. The largest of these halls covers an area of 898 square meters. Visitors are not allowed to wear shorts, and women must not wear sleeveless clothing. Before entering the mosque, visitors must put on shoe covers.