Al-Hakim Mosque
Al-Hakim Mosque
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- Bab El Shaaria • 9 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
65 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
19
Average
11
Poor
2
Terrible
1
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,708 contributions
Oct 2019
The Mosque of al-Hakim is a 10th century mosque named for Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, the sixth Fatimid caliph. Design wise the mosque is fairly simple with a large courtyard surrounded by arcades on all four sides. The only distinctive thing I could see about the mosque is the unusual minaret which is clearly a different building material from the rest of the mosque, with an unusual hollow design.
Take a quick look if in Islamic Cairo, but I wouldn’t go out of the way to see it.
Take a quick look if in Islamic Cairo, but I wouldn’t go out of the way to see it.
Written November 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cairowendy
Liverpool, UK4,295 contributions
Al-Hakim mosque (built in 1013) is in Islamic Cairo, about 10 minutes walk from the Khan Khalili market area. If you have time time this is well worth the effort, and on your way you will see many other interesting and impressive monuments.
The mosque was fully renovated a few years ago and is being kept in perfect condition, possibly the cleanest historical mosque in Cairo.
To get to it you need to walk along the famous street "Al-Muizz El Din Allah" passing the gold and silver shops, copper and brass shops, the Aluminium and scales among other things ! finally you will see the two gates of the city "Bab El Nasr" and "Bad El Fattouh" they are behind/attached to the mosque.
Al-Hakim mosque will be on your right, it is clearly market and you will notice its very distinctive minaretes which were once also used to spread insence over the city. The mosque itself has had a very difficult history, used in the past as a prison, warehouse, stable and school.
The mosque was fully renovated a few years ago and is being kept in perfect condition, possibly the cleanest historical mosque in Cairo.
To get to it you need to walk along the famous street "Al-Muizz El Din Allah" passing the gold and silver shops, copper and brass shops, the Aluminium and scales among other things ! finally you will see the two gates of the city "Bab El Nasr" and "Bad El Fattouh" they are behind/attached to the mosque.
Al-Hakim mosque will be on your right, it is clearly market and you will notice its very distinctive minaretes which were once also used to spread insence over the city. The mosque itself has had a very difficult history, used in the past as a prison, warehouse, stable and school.
Written June 25, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands5,856 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
The reason this impressive mosque looks quite new is that it basically is a 1980 reconstruction (not to say replica) of the original building. The historic mosque was built around 1000 BC, but fell into disrepair and eventually turned into a ruin. Still worth while to visit to get an impression of what it once was.
Written May 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheShoppelifter
Palawan Island, Philippines1,036 contributions
Nov 2011 • Friends
This worth-seeing mosque is just next to Bab al-Futuh.
Al Hakim Mosque is one of the largest Fatimid mosques in Cairo. It was originally decreed in 990 by the famously eccentric caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah ("Ruler by God's Command") who, among other things, prohibited eating grapes or playing chess. Increasingly paranoid towards the end of his reign, he disappeared without a trace at age 36.
The Al-Hakim Mosque was used as a prison, a warehouse and an elementary school before being restored (or, rather, rebuilt) as a mosque in 1980.
This mosque will be the first stop on your Islamic Cairo walking tour -- that is -- if you started from Bab AlFutuh which happens to be beside the mosque. The vast marble courtyard and the minaret are both impressive. Just sitting on the cold marble gives you a feeling of serenity especially if not much tourists around. The main entrance is grandeur. there's a round fountain, no water though, at one corner of the courtyard.
Upon exiting the mosque, the keeper will definitely ask for "baksheesh", couple of pounds will do or if you're in a generous mood, it's actually up to you because basically places of worship in Cairo are entry free.
Take a taxi to Bab Al-Futuh and the mosque is just there inside the bab (gate).
Al Hakim Mosque is one of the largest Fatimid mosques in Cairo. It was originally decreed in 990 by the famously eccentric caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah ("Ruler by God's Command") who, among other things, prohibited eating grapes or playing chess. Increasingly paranoid towards the end of his reign, he disappeared without a trace at age 36.
The Al-Hakim Mosque was used as a prison, a warehouse and an elementary school before being restored (or, rather, rebuilt) as a mosque in 1980.
This mosque will be the first stop on your Islamic Cairo walking tour -- that is -- if you started from Bab AlFutuh which happens to be beside the mosque. The vast marble courtyard and the minaret are both impressive. Just sitting on the cold marble gives you a feeling of serenity especially if not much tourists around. The main entrance is grandeur. there's a round fountain, no water though, at one corner of the courtyard.
Upon exiting the mosque, the keeper will definitely ask for "baksheesh", couple of pounds will do or if you're in a generous mood, it's actually up to you because basically places of worship in Cairo are entry free.
Take a taxi to Bab Al-Futuh and the mosque is just there inside the bab (gate).
Written December 10, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mostafa El Faham
Giza, Egypt37 contributions
Sep 2018
When you are in Islamic Cairo, the first thing you would like to visit from inside is a mosque. There are many of them free of charge to visit them as they are active mosques, few require a ticket to visit them ( none active). El Hakim is one of the free charges mosques and it is the biggest among them. It is so peaceful, beautiful and big. It is too attached to the biggest remaining part of Cairo Wall, so you won't waste the time walking there to see only one thing.
Written September 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TopKingofKings
United Kingdom606 contributions
Mar 2013 • Family
On my way to the airport as we were going back to the UK, I kindly asked the driver to take us to Al-Hakim Mosque - a bit of a tedious route from our hotel. Anyway I was so glad to see this mosque. The interior courtyard is so clean and modern, I was well impressed. It's located on the northern side of Islamic Cairo next to Bab-El-Fetur (Northern Gate) on Muizz Street. This mosque was built by the Fatimids. The minarets are so amazing that it takes my breath away and the entrance gate gave me an indication how nice this mosque really is. I would strongly advise people to visit this mosque.
Written March 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yusuf Nanderbadwala
Kolkata (Calcutta), India83 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
A must visit for every tourist to Cairo-Egypt, The mosque displays the zenith of Fatimid architecture
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
houssam_sabry
Oakville, Canada109 contributions
Feb 2016 • Solo
One of the best attractions in Islamic Cairo, highly recommended when you are visiting Al Muezzin Street.
Written January 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BobPraz
Toronto, Canada238 contributions
Aug 2011 • Solo
This is one of the biggest mosques in Islamic Cairo, and one of the few surviving from the Fatimid era (the once-powerful Isma'ili Shi'a dynasty that preceded Saladin). The sultan/caliph who built it is infamous, and often called mad, due to his eccentric fanaticism and persecution of minorities (he also demolished the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem at the time), though this was not characteristic of the Fatimid dynasty as a whole. The building was used for various other purposes for several centuries until restoration in 1980 by modern Isma'ilis.
Some experts have criticized the renovation for violating original authenticity of the structure, but the restoration has also allowed it to be used again as a fully functional mosque.
As a result, the interior is large, clean, and peaceful but looks kind of modern. In this respect, the Ibn Tulun mosque in southern Cairo, which was probably one of the main inspirations, is more interesting. The new mihrab added by the restoration is also relatively boring, though the original mihrab also survives off to the side. Some other decorations survive, but the more interesting features of the mosque are the two strange minarets in a style later copied elsewhere. The northern wall of the mosque is also attached to the old city walls, so while you're there you can also visit the medieval stone gates of Bab Futuh and Bab Nasr nearby.
All in all, not the most interesting place you can visit in Islamic Cairo, but if you're not that interested in art history then it's still an impressive large mosque.
Some experts have criticized the renovation for violating original authenticity of the structure, but the restoration has also allowed it to be used again as a fully functional mosque.
As a result, the interior is large, clean, and peaceful but looks kind of modern. In this respect, the Ibn Tulun mosque in southern Cairo, which was probably one of the main inspirations, is more interesting. The new mihrab added by the restoration is also relatively boring, though the original mihrab also survives off to the side. Some other decorations survive, but the more interesting features of the mosque are the two strange minarets in a style later copied elsewhere. The northern wall of the mosque is also attached to the old city walls, so while you're there you can also visit the medieval stone gates of Bab Futuh and Bab Nasr nearby.
All in all, not the most interesting place you can visit in Islamic Cairo, but if you're not that interested in art history then it's still an impressive large mosque.
Written April 28, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zedted
london58 contributions
Hire a Muslim driver and taxi for the day and tour Islamic Cairo. He will be proud to show you the best, and this Mosque is one of the most beautiful.
Written February 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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