The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, and fear none (at all) except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance. [Surat At-Tawba-18]
A picture of Amro Bin Al-Aas mosque after the Friday Prayer |
After the Islamic conquest of Egypt in Muharram 20 years after Hijri, (November 8, 641 CE), there was established a significant opportunity for Amro Bin Al-Aas in Al-Fustat city so that it became the first Islamic capital of Egypt. When the Caliph Omar Bin Al-Khattab - may Allah bless his soul - was sent there, he was to build a mosque for the establishment of the Friday Prayer. It bears the name Amro Bin Al-Aas to this very day. Also, it was known as the mosque of support... And the ancient mosque ... And the jewel of mosques. At the time, it was the first mosque in Egypt and Africa and the fourth in Islam after the Madina mosque, which the Messenger built - peace be upon him - in the first year of Hijra) and Basra (which Oqba Bin Ghazwan built- may Allah bless his soul - in 14 Hjri / 635 CE) and Kufah (which Saad Bin aby Waqqas built - may Allah bless his soul - in 17 Hijri / 638 CE).
These are the four Companions who helped in its construction.
These are the Companions who carried out the specification of the kiblah - May Allah be pleased with them:
With the other great conquering Companions, he started the first Friday prayer immediately. In this manner, the first central mosque in Egypt and the African continent began so that the light of Islam and the belief was disseminated to the rest of the countries.
This mosque was established in 21 Hijri / 642 CE on land that was donated as a garden by Qisba Bin Kolthoum, and its area at the time of its establishment was 50 arms by 30 arms and had six doors. This remained so until 53 Hijri / 672 CE where the expansions came in succession then increased from its area during the reign of Mslma Bin Mkhld Al-Ansari, the ruler of Egypt before Mu'awiyah Sifan. The four minarets remained, and the reforms and expansions came in succession after that at the hands of whoever ruled Egypt until its area arrived after the continuous expansion operations the about of twenty four thousand architectural arms, and it is now 120 by 110 meters (approximately13200 sqiuare meters) This mosque is considered the oldest remaining Islamic monument in Egypt and the African continent.
The mosque experienced serious events, as it experienced neglect during its long history extent:
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After the first fire erupted in 275 Hijri / 888 CE, Khumarawaih Bin Ahmad Bin Toulon carried out the mosque’s renewal and reconstruction.
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The second fire was in 564 Hijri / 1168 CE during the reign of Shaor, the minister of the Fatimid successor Alaadd, After about four years Salah Addin Al Ayobi repaired the mosque.
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A destructive earthquake occurred in 702 Hijri / 1302 CE that caused tremendous damage to the mosque. Then Mohammad Bin Klawoon repaired the mosque.
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A second destructive earthquake struck all of
Egypt on the 15th of Rabi II 1413 Hijri / October 12 1992 CE. Some of the mosque’s columns and its walls were damaged by cracks. The Egyptian Antiquities Organization carried out the restoration.
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The collapse of fifty meters from the mosque sanctuary fence occurred on Friday night of the 13th of Shawwal 1414 Hijri / March 25, 1994 CE. The Antiquities Authority carried out the establishment of a concrete fence with the rise of six meters around the mosque and its companion buildings.
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On Sunday the 5the of Dhu'l Qadah, 1416 Hijri / March 24, 1996 CE, 150 meters collapsed from ceiling of the mosque in the southern eastern part by the kiblah hall. President Mohammed Hosni Mubark ordered the dismantling the hall of kiblah and the reconstruction and the correction of the architectural mistakes.
The present dome is by the eastern marine corner by the mosque by Companion Abd Allah Bin Amro Bin Al-Aas's grave - May the satisfaction of an Allah be with him. This is not a reliable location because the historians differed on the place of his burial and in the year of its death. The grave was not mentioned iin the recollections of historians and traveler in the Mamluke and Ottoman ages .
The activities of the mosque did not always confirm to the performance of the religious duties since its establishment .. But there was a court for mediating religious disputes and a treasury.
And the mosque is considered the first Islamic university in Egypt and Africa. It was founded at the hands of the old Companion Abd Allah Bin Amro Bin Al-Aas - may the satisfaction of an Allah be with him - it was cast into it the imam Al-Sha'fiai is its lessons at its arrival at Egypt, and number of the learners in it reached more than two thousands students in ten episodes in second half of the fourth Hiri century.
A picture of Amro Bin Al-Aas mosque after the Friday Prayer |
