Mosque of Abu Dahab

　　   The Mosque of Abu Dahab is located in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on Al-Azhar Street, right beside the main entrance of the Al-Azhar Mosque. It was built in 1774 AD and took one year to complete. The mosque is considered the fourth Ottoman-style mosque constructed in Cairo.

　　   The mosque was built by the prominent politician Muhammad Abu Dahab, who was originally a Mamluk but defected to the Ottomans during a mutiny. Interestingly, the mosque he established incorporates both Mamluk and Ottoman architectural styles. The structure is a rectangle measuring 33 meters from south to north and 24 meters from east to west. Its prayer area is surrounded by Rewaqs (arcades), with Arabic calligraphy inscribed on two opposing pillars. These Rewaqs are adorned with plant motifs. At the top of the prayer area is the mosque’s main dome, which covers half a square meter. The prayer hall itself is 15 meters on each side, with two windows on each side covered in alabaster and framed in copper.

　　   The Mosque of Abu Dahab is considered a “hanging mosque” because it is elevated above street level. On the eastern and northern sides at the base of the mosque, there are various shops primarily selling books. On its northern side, a staircase made of colored alabaster leads to the mosque’s main gate, while another set of circular stairs leads to the eastern entrance. Though these staircases have been modified, the mosque’s main gate remains in its original form.

　　   Mosque of Abu Dahab Must-visit reason: One of the most uniquely styled mosques in Cairo Continent: Africa [Africa] Country/Region: Egypt [Egypt] Province/State: Cairo Governorate [Cairo Governorate] City: Cairo [Cairo]