Mosque of Amr ibn al-As, Islamic mosque in Old Cairo, Egypt
The Mosque of Amr ibn al-As is an Islamic house of worship in Old Cairo that covers a rectangular footprint and includes a large courtyard with four minarets. The prayer hall has a vaulted ceiling and columns that divide the space into several sections.
General Amr ibn al-As founded this house of worship in 641 following the Arab conquest of Egypt as the first Islamic structure in Africa. Over the centuries it was expanded and renovated several times, with the current form reflecting different building phases.
The name honors the Arab general who conquered Egypt in the 7th century and established the continent's first Muslim house of prayer here. Believers gather daily for worship, while visitors can experience the simple design and open atmosphere.
Visitors should remove their shoes before entering and wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees. The building is accessible from sunrise to sunset, with prayer times shaping the daily rhythm.
The choice of location traces back to a dove that laid an egg in the general's tent, prompting him to establish Egypt's new capital here instead of Alexandria. This coincidence shaped Cairo's development and made the site the spiritual center of Arab rule.
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