The Al Hakim Mosque, originally commissioned outside the city walls in 990 by Caliph Al-Aziz, was initially known as Al-Anwar, which means “shining.” This name is deeply associated with the symbolism of light, a concept notable in Shiite philosophy alongside Al-Azhar, which means “glorious.” Much later, the mosque was named Al Hakim Mosque in homage to the essential works carried out in the building by this Caliph. While the historian Maqrîzî provides evidence for these periods, inscriptions on the minarets and the main entrance provide further evidence for the construction of the Al Hakim Mosque.

Today, the Al Hakim Mosque is located on El Muizz Street within the Badr al-Jamali wall, built between 1087 and 1092. This wall runs along the northeastern border of the city and contains the tower on the north side of the mosque, making it a pivotal stop for those enjoying Cairo Tours.

The Architecture of Al Hakim Mosque

The Al Hakim Mosque architecture takes the form of an irregular rectangle, built according to Arab designs similar to the methods of the Ibn Tulun Mosque and Al-Azhar Mosque, which were built centuries before it. An arcade surrounds the outdoor patio, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all visitors. The minarets of the Al Hakim Mosque are located in the north and west corners; uniquely, they are built of stone, unlike the rest of the mosque and the front.

These minarets possess distinct shapes: a circular shaft resting on a parallelepiped base and an octagonal shaft rising from a raised floor with a square cross-section. However, in 1010, for unclear reasons, the wise Caliph ordered the erection of a square fence around the structure, effectively concealing the original works of the Al Hakim Mosque. Following an earthquake in 1303, Baibars Jashnir rebuilt the minarets, adding octagonal brick kiosks at the top of each, featuring shell niches, rows of small muqarnas, and small ribbed domes.

Features and Design of the Al Hakim Mosque

The Al Hakim Mosque originally featured eleven gates, a large number reminiscent of mosques in Samarra. Following the influence of the Great Mosque of Mahdia (910, Tunisia), the most important gate is built of stone and located in the center of the main facade, flanked by two staircases leading to a vaulted tunnel that opens into the courtyard. A prominent portico, decorated with carved niches and squares, evokes the Kairouan Mosque and other Fatimid structures like the Al-Aqmar Mosque.

Within the courtyard and prayer hall of the Al Hakim Mosque, pointed arches supported by rectangular columns are utilized throughout the building. The old mihrab remains intact except for two side pillars, preceded by a dome reconstructed in the Mamluk era. While the other two crowns in the corners of the prayer hall were lost over time—a peculiarity perhaps provided by Al-Azhar—the interior remains a treasure trove of color and texture.

Artistic Details Within the Al Hakim Mosque

Many Qur’anic inscriptions from the reign of Al-Hakim are visible in stylized Kufic script, examples of which are found in Spain, Iran, and Anatolia. The Al Hakim Mosque also features stylized botanical themes, such as flowers and palm fronds, alongside geometric motifs like stars and interlocking squares. The carved wooden tie bars between the arches refer to the C style of Samarra, which arrived in Egypt during the Tulunid Dynasty. Furthermore, the merlons on the outer walls and the bulging column capitals are inspired by Ibn Tulun and Samarra paintings.

The Al Hakim Mosque served as an undoubted model for the Mamluk era, particularly during the reigns of Baibars and Muhammad bin Qalawun. To experience this radiant history as part of your Egypt tour packages or a comprehensive Nile Cruise journey, Inquire now via WhatsApp -> http://wa.me/+201550191399.