Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi in Alexandria in Egypt


by Jimmy Dunn writing as Ismail Abaza

 

The Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi

 

This beautiful mosque, with its high minaret and four domes, is Alexandria's largest and one of the most important Islamic monuments. In 1775 the Algerians built the mosque over the tomb of the thirteenth century Andalusan saint Ahmed Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi who had joined and then lead the Shadhali brotherhood. The interior is made up of eight monolithic granite columns and a colonnade of elongated arches. It was rebuilt in 1943 with the domes and the towering (73 meter) minaret. It is one of Alexandria's foremost religious buildings and women are not allowed inside the mosque proper, but may only visit a room at the back of the mosque.

 

Another View of The Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi