Islamic heritage · Cairo
Al-Zahir Baybars Mosque
A historic Cairo mosque founded in the 13th century by the Mamluk Sultan al-Zahir Baybars.
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The story
The mosque was commissioned by the Mamluk Sultan al-Zahir Baybars al-Bunduqdari (r. 1260-1277) on what is now al-Zahir Square in Cairo. Work began around 1266 (665 AH) and its completion is dated to 1268. His vizier Bahaa el-Din bin Hanna and Sanjar al-Shuja'i oversaw the building. During the French occupation (1798-1801) it was turned into a military fort, and restoration work beginning in the 20th century continued until 2022. It counts among the mosques of historic Cairo.
Good to know
- Construction began around 1266 (665 AH), and completion is dated to 1268.
- The mosque was turned into a military fort during the French campaign in Egypt (1798-1801).