Hussein Mosque

Hussein Mosque

As one of Egypt’s most sacred shrines, the Hussein Mosque is located next to the famous Khan el-Khalili bazaar in Cairo. During the foundation excavation in 1900, the site of a Fatimid Caliph cemetery was discovered underground. It serves as a dedicated holy place where celebrities and even the Egyptian president come to pray on special occasions.

In 680 AD, during the war against the Umayyad Dynasty, Hussein was killed in Karbala, Iraq. He was the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the second son of Ali, the leader of the Shia Muslims. In 1153, his skull was brought to the Fatimid Dynasty’s capital, Cairo (while the rest of his body remained in Iraq), and it is enshrined in this ancient mosque.

In addition to housing sacred relics, the Hussein Mosque also contains renowned handwritten copies of the Quran by Osman and Ali. In fact, the Hussein Mosque was an ancient center of Islamic jurisprudence studies and is well known for its Islamic law lecture halls.

The current Hussein Mosque was rebuilt in the 19th century, and its services are among the grandest ceremonies in Egypt. Every Friday prayer, the mosque is always packed with Muslims coming to worship, creating a majestic and awe-inspiring scene. On this day, the nearby famous Khan el-Khalili market and even the entire city of Cairo temporarily quiet down—the usual hustle and bustle disappears, many shops close, and devout Muslims flock to the mosque to recite the beautiful Quran and listen to passionate sermons from scholars.

Al-Hussein Mosque

Reason to visit: One of Egypt’s most sacred shrines

Continent: Africa【Africa】

Country/Region: Egypt[Egypt]

Province/State: Cairo Governorate [Cairo Governorate]

City: Cairo [Cairo]