The Mosque of Amr Ibn Al As

The Mosque of Amr Ibn Al As is the first mosque established in Egypt and Africa. It is located close to the old Cairo in Fustat city.

Amr Ibn Al As: Amr Ibn Al As was one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He was commanded by Caliph Umar Ibn Al-Khattab to enter Egypt in 641 AD / 20 AH. After he conquered Egypt and abolished Roman rule, Egypt became an Islamic district belonging to the caliphate in Medina.

Then Amr Ibn Al As established the first Islamic capital in Egypt and Africa, Fustat. In addition, a mosque holding his name (Amr Ibn Al As Mosque).

The history of Fustat city: The researchers said that after the Arabs conquest to Egypt, Amr Ibn Al As ordered the Islamic army to set their tents on the north of Babylon fort, but when Amr Ibn Al As came to remove his tent to go ahead to Alexandria for pursuing the Romans, he found that there was a dove built its nest upon it. He refused to remove it and left his tent in that place.

After he won in Alexandria, Caliph Umar Ibn Al-Khattab refused Alexandria as the capital of Egypt and ordered Amr Ibn Al As to establish a new capital to be the first Islamic capital in Egypt and Africa. So he went back to his tent, where the Nile River and Babylon fort, because it is a unique strategic location already fortified and called this new capital Fustat, meaning leader’s tent in the Arabic language.

Today, Fustat is a part of the Old Cairo District, housing many archaeological sites as Ben Ezra Synagogue, the hanging church, and the Cave church just to name a few.

Amr Ibn Al As Mosque: Amr Ibn Al As Mosque or also known as the Old Mosque called in the Arabic language (al-‘Ateeq).

There were some of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who assisted in the foundation of this mosque as Al-Zubayr Ibn Al-‘Awam and Ubada Ibn Al-Samit. This mosque was built after a year of Arab conquest to Egypt, meaning in 21 AH.

In the beginning, the mosque was built with mud bricks, and its roof was supported by palm tree trunks. Addings continued in the mosque throughout history until it became as it is today.

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