Aldarb Alahmar district
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the Aldarb Alahmar district is part of Greater Cairo , Cairo old wall .
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the Aldarb Alahmar district is part of Greater Cairo , Cairo old wall .
Location is derived from the great work of WikiMapia
Check this place on Socialmapia
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having a kip..
Made by purplicious*
Al-Azhar Mosque - Cairo, Egypt ... Located in Islamic Caironext to the famous Khan al-Khalili bazaar, Al-Azhar Mosque was founded by Jawhar al-Siqilly, the Fatimid conqueror of Egypt, in 970 as the congregational mosque for the new city of al-Qahira. It was the first mosque established in Cairo, a city that has since gained the nickname the city of a thousand minarets. It was called Al-Azhar (the most blooming) after Fatama al-Zahraa, daughter of the Prophet Mohamed. The first khutba was delivered from its minbar in 972 and a university was established there in 988. It claims to be the oldest Islamic university in the world, but this is disputed by the Kairaouine Mosque in Fes, Morocco. The school of theology (madrassa) connected with it was founded in 988 as an Ismaili Shia school, but it later became a Sunni school, which it remains to this day and is considered the most important of Sunni Muslim schools until today. Today the university classes are performed impending buildings and the mosque is reserved for prayer. Though the latticework-screened residential quarters of the madrassas are rarely open to visitors, the huge prayer hall supported by alabaster pillars is open to public. It is very common to find Muslim scholars performing prayer or sitting on the floor studying books, or some simply take their nap on the warmly carpeted floor. Academic life has remained much the same. Students study the Qur'an and Islamic law in detail, Islamic culture and the Arabic language, while gathering in a circle at the feet of a sheikh. Graduates receive a certificate which indicates that they have memorized the teacher's curriculum. Addition to religious studies, modern schools of medicine, science and foreign languages were added in 1961. In the same year an Islamic women's faculty was established – six years after Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah, Pakistan’s first female editor and columnist also became the first woman to speak at al-Azhar University. The university's library is considered second in range and importance only to the Egyptian National Library and Archives (Dar al Kutob) with most precious rare books and manuscripts, some as old as the 8th century. Third in line is the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Among students of al Azhar University were famous figures like Taha Hussein, Egypt's influential writer and intellectual, whose book ‘Pre-Islamic Poetry” was banned by al Azhar but later with some modifications published under the title ‘Pre-Islamic Literature' , and Saad Zaghloul, who became Egypt's first prime minister in 192. The architecture is an amalgam of styles built over the ages, all coming together to create one harmonious house of worship. Detailed information about al-Azhar Mosque’s architectural design ................................................................................................................................................................... Please do not leave awards, invitations, banners or badges.. Cheers!
The Great Escape
Made by modenadude
Al-Ahzar Mosque has five minarets -- two Ottoman and three Mamluk, there are no surviving Fatimid minarets. And if you go up one, you can see a lot of the city. Sometimes however, getting up there may not be as easy as it sounds. Depending on your skin color. Blake and I decided to get up one, so we went searching. Went to the south corner, where there was a minaret sticking out from above. You'd think, hey, there's a minaret popping out from the roof, the entrance should be right underneath it. Well it was, but there were a few... obstacles. In the form of Egyptian men. In the form of Gineih (Egyptian Pounds). 50 said the man. For those who aren't familiar, it's about a 6:1 EGP aka LE to USD ratio. So LE 50 is roughly $9. $9 to go up a minaret is kind of pricey, considering it costs around $9 to go to the Egyptian museum... and 25 cents for a bottle of water and 17 cents to take any bus or subway. Blake looked utterly shocked at this amount. I laughed in the guy's face and walked away, telling Blake, we'll get up on our own. So we turn the corner left to exit the mosque, the extended part that was added long after the Fatimids (al-Ahzar is a very interesting mosque in that it is so very unlike its original 970 CE form. Rooms, madrasas, library, tombs, domes, minarets and even extra prayer halls were added over the past 1,000 years) and end up passed one of the madrasas in this room with a staircase. I pspsss (a very Egyptian hissing sound to get one's attention) Blake and we scale the steps. We were tight on time as our class was going to leave any minute for our walk through the area where the historic palaces of Cairo once stood, so we had to be quick. We went all the way to the roof (a little higher than we needed to) passing by hallways of bedrooms and floors covered in millimeters of dust (my socks will never be white again). We took a few photos from the roof which was cool, but which was not the entrance to the minarets, so we headed back down the stairs and got a little lost... but time was running short so, we had to back out of the mission. Pictured is our quick getaway out of the... well, whatever it was we were in. Sleeping quarters for the madrasa? Perhaps. We rejoined our class and I vowed I'd be back. I'd be back to conquer al-Azhar. I've spoken to Egyptians who are into mosques and the such and even they say they've never really conquered al-Azhar completely. It's just so expansive and there have been just so many additions that it's difficult to take in everything... but I got three more months :) ---------- blog: modenadude.com
Eid al-Fitr @ al-Azhar Mosque
Made by modenadude
Eid Said to all! I'm a bit late, I know, but I couldn't find time to edit this panoramic photo yesterday during the actual Eid celebrations. Kiran's out of town and Sofi and I wanted to go somewhere big for our first Egyptian Eid, so we decided on the ancient and historic al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo. It was a good choice, I thought, because massive amounts of people showed up to pray on a beautiful Friday morning. I got a couple cool shots of families wandering the giant courtyard and some good photos / videos of inside the mosque as well. We weren't sure when the prayer would start. Friends and taxi drivers told me times ranging anywhere from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., and it didn't help that Egypt was pushing its clocks forward an hour now that Ramadan had ended but we had no idea when the clocks were changed... so we were pretty much in the blue whether we'd even get to pray Eid prayer at all! Eid in Egypt also fell on the kickoff of the NFL season... and my Saints kept Brett Favre and the Vikings to just 9 points. What a great Eid present :) After watching the game on my laptop (as Ahmad Mickey at the Sports Cafe in Mohandeseen couldn't find the game on their TVs) from Channel Surfing -- which got its feed from ESPN America -- Sofi and I quickly grabbed a taxi at around 5:30 in the morning (getting one was easier than I thought) and Sofi and I headed over to Al-Azhar. The streets weren't completely dead, to my surprise. There were people randomly walking around instead of heading to mosques. Egypt is a strange Muslim country... I really don't know what to make of it. The people are great, but shops are open during the day during Ramadan and it seemed like less people were fasting as Ramadan continued. It's the only Muslim country I've ever been to, but it's not what I've come to expect at all... but I still love it here! After Eid prayer, we wandered around Khan al-Khalili a bit, even went to visit the al-Hussein Mosque across the street as it's one of the holiest spots in Cairo. I'll have a few pictures up from there a bit later... because I have a few words I want to say on that matter. But until then, enjoy this panorama that I manually stitched together in Photoshop CS5 from eight frames. It was really hard matching the people in the crowd... really hard, haha. Hope all your Eid celebrations were good and that they continue throughout the weekend. Eid Said! ----------- modenadude.com/blog/2010/09/11/eid-al-fitr-al-azhar-mosque blog: modenadude.com
Delight
Made by Marwa Morgan
Another photo of Fanous Ramadan. Fanous Ramadan is one of the traditional symbols of the holy month of Ramadan... It originally goes back to the Fatimid Era, where the Fatimid people where going out with lanterns during Ramadan's eve, since then they became connected. Original lanterns are made from Copper (some times still sheets in poor areas), having colourful glass/plastics with Islamic phrases written on them, for example, this one has the word Allah Akrab (God is the greatest), Al Hamdulillah (Thanks to God). Ramadan is the most important month in the Muslim (Hijri) Calender. It's a month where Muslims fast from Dawn to Dusk (they stop eating, drinking and sexual relationships). Allah gives Muslims chances for forgiveness and mercy more than he gives ever, Special prayers are preferred during the holy month's nights. It has a special atmosphere especially in Islamic countries. It's a month of unity and mercy, All Muslims start eating (the meal is called Iftar) at dusk, they all eat at the same moment, say the same prayers at the same time, at night, people in all mosques perform the same prayers at the same time, people stop eating at the same time, share the same feelings, where the rich and the poor feel the same, the rich gives the poor charity (this is very recommended in Ramadan more that any time else). In Ramadan, The prophet Mohammed started being told the Qur'an (the holy book for Muslims). Special traditions are linked with this months, special food types, desserts, music, lights, lanterns and mosques prayers. This photo is a part of Exploring the unexplored.
One of Doors Pattern - Masjid of Sultan Hassan مسجد ومدرسة السلطان حسن / Cairo / Egypt - 28 05 2010
Made by Ahmed Al.Badawy
The Sultan Hassan Mosque is considered stylistically the most compact and unified of all Cairo monuments. It is one of the masterpieces of Mamluk architecture. The building was commissioned by Sultan Hassan bin Al-Nasir Muhammad bin Qalawun in 1356 AD as a mosque and religious school for all four juristic branches of Sunni Islam. It was designed so that each of the four schools of thought - Shafi, Maliki, Hanafi and Hanbali - has its own area while sharing the mosque.[1]. Construction started in 1356 AD and ended 7 years later in 1363 AD. Building materials used were harvested from the casing stones of the Giza Necropolis. One of the minarets collapsed during construction killing 300 people. The state was able to fund the massive structure through the properties that were left behind by the victims of the Black Death. The Sultan was assassinated before the mosque was completed and his body was never recovered. The magnificent burial chamber that was intended for him holds his two sons instead. The facade is 76 meters long and 36 meters high. The cornices, the entrance portal, the burial chamber, and the monumental staircase are particularly noteworthy. Verses from the Quran in elegant Kufic and Thuluth scripts adorn the inner walls. Source. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosque-Madrassa_of_Sultan_Hassan
Tunbga Almardany 's Mosque15
Made by ahmed_eldaly
Created in 740 Hijri -1430 AD in the reign of King Al-Nasser Street, there Sendero Way Red Cairo City Description of the Whole Consists of an open courtyard surrounded by four iwans largest qibla iwan The arches of the iwan-mounted columns of marble and red granite, ceiling decorations and colorful gold and its walls covered with Buserp of marble to a height of three meters and has three doors made of wood and decorated and there over these doors three windows are made of faience from several colors shown by the green, white and black, this decoration is unprecedented in any other mosque in Egypt and the main door is the door of Maritime, a manufacturer of stone-clad with marble and colorful interface, the mosque of stone for the mosque fence of wood cone and ends from the top model rectangle decorated with Koranic verses and this fence separates Roaaq kiss for the rest of the mosque, the mihrab of the mosque niches minute where Xit walls with marble flour and coincidences and his blue marble polychrome and next to the mihrab platform flour-made and make a dome mounted on the stalactites and Dakka amount of marble and mounted on twelve columns of marble
Entrance to Salih Tala'i
Made by modenadude
The real door of this potentially historic mosque is really in the Museum of Islamic Art (which just opened this week after being closed for nearly a decade of renovations!!) but this imitation is pretty spot on. The gorgeous metal peices are nailed onto the slab, slit by slit, so meticulously detailed onto the massive doors of this, the final Fatimid mosque. They look great :) A quick history of the mosque that sits just at the entrance of al-Qahira's souther gate, Bab Zuwayla: It was supposed to be the original home of al-Hussein's head when it was called from Karbala to Cairo centuries ago. But plans changed and the head was moved to the area north of al-Azhar, which is now surrounded by the Mosque of al-Hussein. My favorite part of this mosque is that while it's at ground level now, it was above ground nearly 1,000 years ago. The shops (that are now below ground) were at street level. The reason for this change in elevation is due to the repaved streets of Cairo not having been initially broken down, creating layers and layers of unneeded additions. Neat, eh?
Night over Cairo
Made by Dan Wiklund
Green is the color of Island and during the holy month of ramadan it is even more visible then otherwise. Flying into Cairo at night during the start of Ramadan was a bit odd since one realized that the strong green lights all over the city was the mosques lit up. A few days later I shot this showing one of the city's many mosques just after the sun has set. The evening breeze was actually so strong that it was hard to get a decent long exposure due to the lens catching the wind. On the other hand the wind was appreciated since this was shot in early September when the days are very warm. The reddish sky is mostly due to the city's lights reflected in the heavivly polluted air that unfortunately covers the city. If you like mosques in Cairo you can have a look for one of the more well known ones. You should really watch this since that brings out more details. My pictures aren't balanced for a white background and a lot of the finer details are lost in this small format.
Above one of the gates of Masjid Al Rifai فوق أحد بوابات مسجد الرفاعي / Cairo / Egypt - 08 05 2010
Made by Ahmed Al.Badawy
The Al-Rifa'i Mosque (Arabic: مسجد الرفاعى, transliterated also as Al-Rifai, Al-Refai, Al-Refa'i, and named in English the Royal Mosque), is located in Cairo, Egypt, in Midan al-Qal'a, adjacent to the Cairo Citadel. The building is located opposite the Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, which dates from around 1361, and was architecturally conceived as a complement to the older structure. This was part of a vast campaign by the 19th century rulers of Egypt to both associate themselves with the perceived glory of earlier periods in Egypt's Islamic history and modernize the city. The mosque was constructed next to two large public squares and off of several European style boulevards constructed around the same time. Source . en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Rifa'i_Mosque More .. archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=3476
Sacred Site
Made by L Plater
Sayyidna el-Hussein Mosque (Arabic: مسجد الإمام الحسيننا الحسين), built in 1154, is located next to the Khan El-Khalili bazaar. This makes it one of the most popular and most visited mosques in Cairo. It is one of the most sacred Islamic sites in Egypt, and reputed burial place of the head of el-Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Bread sold here is believed to have a special blessing and alcohol is prohibited. Three mechanically operated, square shaped umbrellas set in a row in front of the mosque, once open, cover a total area of 750 sq. m. The height of the umbrellas is 12 m, and they provide shade for worshippers who gather to pray outside in front of the mosque on the plaza. el-Hussein Mosque, El Azhar Square, Cairo, Egypt (Wednesday 17 November 2010 @ 4:58pm). ISO400 | f/8 | 1/30 sec | 17-40mm @ 17mm | AWB | raw Click on image for a pointy look
Alabaster Mosque
Made by Perfex
Designed by the Greek architect Yussuf Bushnaq, The Mohammad Ali (Alabaster) Mosque in the Citadel was begun in 1830 (finished in 1857) in the Ottoman style by Mohammad Ali Pasha, ruler of Egypt, and founder of the country's last dynasty of Khedives and Kings. The mosque is the Tomb of Mohammad Ali and is also known as the Alabaster Mosque because of the extensive use of this fine material from Beni Suef. Its two slender 270 foot minarets are unusual for Cairo. From the arcaded courtyard, visitors have a magnificent view across the city to the pyramids in Giza. Just off the courtyard is the vast prayer hall with an Ottoman style dome which is 170 feet above. The parapet to the southwest offers a good view of the Sultan Hassan and Ibn Tulun Mosques and of Cairo itself. Perhaps because of its location, it is one of the most frequently visited Mosques by tourists. Cairo / Egypt
![Al-Refai Mosque [HDR]](http://static.flickr.com/3553/3329705180_a895f73ec0_t.jpg)
Al-Refai Mosque [HDR]
Made by Bakar_88
It's the 1st trip during the photography course, yea I chose photography as an elective subject in the academy, I was hesitated to take the course till I found that if I take that course, I will take 2 days holiday + the weekend holiday. So I took it :D Anyway, the course is absolutely good for me to learn how to use my camera also and learn more and more about photography. Editing was very inspired from Location: Al-Refai Mosque, Citadel, Cairo, Egypt About: Al-Refai mosque was founded during the 2nd half of the 1800's. The design was made in Europe during the Renaissance, and it was characterized by the classical architecture (Symmetry). No courtyard and this is unfamiliar in the Muslim Architecture. Photomatix: Processing 3 photos of the same exposure at 0 Lightroom: Increasing exposure, decreasing shadows to -60
Heavy clouds won't block the light. (Really nostalgic)
Made by Marwa Morgan
I was driving to college this morning when I couldn't resist looking at the foamy clouds instead of watching the road, so I decided to park my car and go down to take that photo and it was hard for me to leave after that :D. We always meet some people when driving on the roads of our lives, we don't usually expect how it'll end up, but it ends like you can't resist being with them, and you can't bear leaving them, and they just become a part of your own life that you can't put away. This photo is dedicated to the best people I've ever met, those whom I enjoyed their company for 8 months and had the sweetest memories with them, guys, I'll never forget you! Highest in Explore: # 251.
Motionless in prayer
Made by modenadude
Immediately following the Eid prayer at al-Azhar, almost half the jamaat got up and left. It was a giant mob rushing for the doors. This photo though is after the khutba, when the second mob of Muslims left the main prayer hall. I wanted to try and capture the motion and speed by which people were leaving, and was able to contrast it with this one man praying. And if you look closely on the right of the frame, there's an eerie face lurking (Looks like Davy Jones).... I'll try not to think about it though because it gives me the creeps. 1 second shutter, handheld... not that bad for handheld! ---------- blog: modenadude.com
Bab Zuwayla
Made by modenadude
This is the eastern minaret atop Bab Zuwayla (1092), the southern gate of al-Qahira. By the time Badr al-Jamali got around to building the southern gate of the palace city, al-Qahira was no longer at the risk of attack so Bab Zuwayla is not as fortified as Bab al-Futuh (one of the two northern gates). However it is the only gate with minarets (two to be in fact, both of which actually belong to the mosque just within the gate, the Mosque of al-Muayyad). The skies have been quite lovely as of yet, and we've been blessed with colder temperatures (high-70s F, mid-20s C) and wonderful clouds. Sure does make photographer easy with the oft-diffused light and beautiful patterns!
In Sultan's Vault
Made by Night Mode
Sanctuary liwan, Mosque & Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, Cairo. The mosque liwan (sitting room) of the Sultan Hassan Madrasa, showing the dikka, a platform for reciting Quran, the mihrab (niche) showing the direction to Mecca, and the minbar (pulpit) next to it. The bronze door next to minbar leads to Sultan Hassan's mausoleum. Built between 1356 and 1363 by the Mamluk ruler Sultan Hassan, the scale of the mosque is so colossal that it nearly emptied the Mamluk treasury. It is one of the largest mosques in the world, measuring 150m in length and covering an area of 7906 sq m. Its walls rise to 36m and its tallest minaret to 68m.
The dome of Sultan al-Muayyad
Made by modenadude
A one-time prison, this mosque, situated just north of the southern al-Qahira gate, Bab Zuwayla, is one of the finest Mamluk mosques in all of Cairo. Inside, directly underneath the dome, is al-Muayyad's mausoleum. He was imprisoned on this ground while still a Mamluk slave but vowed to turn the prison into a mosque once released. He did so in 1415, after becoming Sultan of Egypt. Sofi and I prayed Guma / Juma / Friday prayer here, and although the prayer area was somewhat small (most of the mosque is uncarpeted and dirty, thus has a small congregation) the decorations throughout the mosque are quite amazing.
Am Bahloul
Made by Marwa Morgan
Bahloul, or Am Bahloul (Am is an Arabic word for Uncle which is used for uncles and old people as a kind of respect). Bahloul lives in an old tomb of a Man who's known to be somekind of a Sheikh or a saint, Rarely comes out, just to come out and start talking in non sense and yelling at people. This is a part of my 100 wesh w wesh project. Please visit my facebook page. or follow me on Twitter.
The Saqi (Water Carrier)
Made by rsaslan
This man devotes himself to supplying mosque-goers with water. If you go to Rifaii mosque in Cairo on a certain day at a certain time, you will be sure to see him hobbling around, handing cups full of water to anyone who asks. If you read the book by Edward Lane, a 19th century writer and historian, you will find his description of saqis to fit the appearance of this man. He wears an old gallabaya, and the water container is made of leather and is slung around his shoulders, he wears a heavy vest made of leather and carries old aluminum cups.
Cairo Old Market
Made by L Plater
Various shots of Khan el-Khalili (Arabic: خان الخليلي), a popular destination for tourists and pickpockets. The Khan, which is the arabic name for bazaar or market, dates back to 1382, when Emir Djaharks el-Khalili (a prince) built a caravanserai (a hotel for traders) here and made this place a centre for commerce and trade. Khan el-Khalili, Cairo, Egypt (Wednesday 17 November 2010 @ 4:37pm). ISO1250 | f/7.1 | 1/25 sec | 17-40mm @ 17mm | AWB | raw Click on image for a bazaar look
Nearest places of interest:
| عصام وحمدى فن الزجاج شارع سوق السلاح بيت الرزاز جامع ومدرسة أم السلطان شعبان770هـ | Darb al-Ahmar (The Red Street) شارع درب الدليل مسجد المارداني 740هـ الغوريـــه |
