Al Rifai Mosque is a magnificent Muslim mosque located in Cairo, Egypt. It is also referred to as the Royal Mosque because it is the last resting place of various members of the Egyptian royal family. The Al Rifai Mosque, located near the Saladin Citadel in Cairo, is directly across from its ancient counterpart, the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, and is open to the public. The massive hall of worship within the Al Rifai Mosque was constructed over 43 years, with the last phase finished in 1912. It was built as part of the Egyptian rulers’ plan to modernize the capital city while also embracing the glory years of Egypt’s Islamic history in the nineteenth century. The mosque’s design, particularly its dome and minaret, is heavily influenced by Mamluk architecture, particularly noticeable in the interior. The temple is sometimes referred to as the Royal Mosque since it is the last resting place of numerous contemporary Egyptian royals, including the current president of Egypt.

 

History of Al Rifai Mosque

Visiting the Al Rifai Mosque is a highlight of any premium Cairo Tours. The Al Rifai Mosque ticket includes entry to the Sultan Hasan Madrasa Mosque. It is worth seeing both to appreciate how similar the two structures are, even though they were built over 500 years ago in different places. If you are looking for a more in-depth exploration of the Islamic monuments in Cairo, we offer a specially guided English language tour of the Islamic history of the Egyptian capital. In 1869, Khushyar Khanum, mother of Khedive Ismail, commissioned Husayn Fahmy Pasha al-Maar (the engineer), a prince of the royal family, to replace the Al-Rifai zawiya and its mausoleum with a mosque for the ruling family. Husayn Fahmy had traveled to France in 1840 as part of Muhammad Ali’s fifth and most significant educational mission. However, he died during the first phase of construction, which stopped abruptly immediately after Khedive Ismail surrendered in 1880. Abbas Helmy II, the ruler of Egypt, eventually ordered the Al Rifai Mosque to be reconstructed in 1905 and commissioned Max Herz Bey, a Hungarian architect working on the Committee for the Preservation of Arab Antiquities in Cairo.

 

Architecture and Design of Al Rifai Mosque

The Al Rifai Mosque architecture is a watershed moment in Egypt’s cultural history. Herz was aided by Italian architect Carlo Virgilio Silvani and directed by Ali Pasha Mubarak, Minister of Public Works. The Al Rifai Mosque was finally completed in 1912. It overlooks straight streets and broad squares, characteristics of European city designs adopted during the rule of Muhammad Ali to transform Egypt into a cosmopolitan society. Designed as a self-contained monument, Al Rifai Mosque responds to its location with four fully articulated facades and a highly ornate Mamluk-style dome and tower. It is the architectural embodiment of the new ruling family’s desire for legitimacy, pursued through national symbols. The connection to Mamluk history is evidenced by the remarkable repetition of crowds, materials, colors, and details from the Sultan Hassan Mosque across the street. This rediscovery of the past was facilitated by European scholarship and the systematic study of Mamluk heritage. Despite the historical presence, the Al Rifai Mosque reflects the classical beaux-arts revival movement of the nineteenth century through its rational scheme and abandonment of complex Mamluk spatial formations.

Touring Al Rifai Mosque

You can enter the Al Rifai Mosque with a combination ticket to the Sultan Hassan Mosque; indeed, the Al Rifai Mosque was built to complement the ancient mosque. The two buildings have a strong sense of belonging together. Located beyond the walls of Cairo’s ancient citadel, the Al Rifai Mosque is often visited as part of a tour of Islamic Cairo, which may also include the Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque, and the Ibn Tulun Mosque. Many Egypt tour packages mix Islamic Cairo with Coptic Cairo, including stops at the Hanging Church and the Church of Saints Sergio and Bacchus.

What You Should Know Before You Go to Al Rifai Mosque

The Al Rifai Mosque and the Sultan Hassan Mosque are must-see destinations for anybody interested in Islamic architecture. When visiting Islamic religious places like the Al Rifai Mosque, dress in modest attire and cover your shoulders, arms, and legs completely. Women will need to cover their hair when visiting the Al Rifai Mosque, and everyone will need to take their shoes off before entering.

How to Get to Al Rifai Mosque

The Al Rifai Mosque and the Sultan Hassan Mosque are situated in Salah El-Din Citadel’s Citadel Square, north of Bab Al-Azab. Several buses depart from the Abdel Moneim Riad Square bus stop, located behind the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, to reach the Al Rifai Mosque. However, you must be fluent in Arabic to use these services effectively.

When You Get to Al Rifai Mosque

Sunday through Thursday mornings are the hours of operation for the Al Rifai Mosque. On Fridays, the Al Rifai Mosque is closed for mid-morning prayers. It’s a popular tourist destination for Egyptians and Muslim travelers, so it’s worth paying a visit even if you’re not there during the Islamic weekend. To see this royal site during a Nile Cruise or specialized land tour, Inquire now via WhatsApp -> http://wa.me/+201550191399.