The mosque is divided into two sections:
The eastern one, called Beit al-Salah, is dedicated to prayer. Part of its decoration is in the French style, with wood carvings.
The western section, “Al-Sahn”, is a large courtyard that houses the fountain for ablutions and a yellow copper clock tower, a gift from King Louis-Philippe of France.
Within the walls, there are numerous buildings, including three mosques and a palace. Most of them were erected after Saladin’s death. Also, unfortunately, many of the original constructions were demolished in the following years and replaced by new buildings.
Mohammed Ali Mosque: was built by Sultan Mohammed Ali Pasha, who came to power in 1805. It’s known as the Alabaster Mosque, as this material predominates in the construction of the Ottoman Baroque style and reminds Agia Sofia in Istanbul, as it was designed by the same engineer. With its impressive 52-meter-high dome, supported by four columns, and its two Turkish-style minarets, it dominates the city’s landscape from the highest part of Cairo. There are four smaller domes at the four corners of the mosque and more than 100 colored stained glass windows on the walls and domes that have a beautiful effect on the interior.
Tomb of Mohammed Ali: it is to the right of the entrance to the mosque. The three-level tomb was built in white marble and is beautifully decorated with chiseled and painted flowers.
