This exceptional structure lies in the Darb al-Ahmar district next to Suq AlSilah Street in Cairo, which means

the weapon Market Street thought this is

not the case.

The Darb al-Ahmar street is also sometimes called Darb al-Tabbana and is
extremely rich with various Islamic monuments such as the old Fatimid gate,
Bab Zuweila and opposite it is the Mosque of Sultan al-Mu'ayyad Shaykh both
of which are very impressing buildings.

Al-Ishaqi Mosque dates back to the Circassian Mamluk period. It was built
between 1479 and 1481 during the reign of Sultan Qaytbay by Prince Sayf alDin Qijmas who occupied several important posts at the time. He was the
master of the Sultan's stables, held the post of treasurer and was officer in
charge of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Ishaqi Mosque has the most remarkable facades overlooking Darb AlAhmar street and another narrow alley. It projects an amazing view with its
beautiful towering minaret and dome seen while walking down the street
from the direction of Bab Zuweila.

The dome is plain stone and the minaret has a central section, which is
somehow unfamiliar for this period.

Detail of quranic inscription in the vestibule

Wooden ceiling of the Qibla iwan; Right: Detail of quranic inscription in the
vestibule

Wooden ceiling of the Qibla iwan

Wooden ceiling of the Qibla iwan

The main faade is above the street level and is crenelated, with a muqarnas
(stalactites) corbel and several grilled windows. Above the entrance portal is
a magnificent panel of ablaq marble panel featuring black, white and red leaf
forms contained in a tri-lobed groin-vaulted arch.
View of al-Ishaqi Mosque minaret and dome

View of al-Ishaqi Mosque minaret and dome

Detail of the ceiling inscriptions

Detail of the ceiling inscriptions

Two stone bench are found on each side of the entrance above which is a
Quranic inscription; "In the name of God the compassionate, the merciful,
mosques are for God, lets none take God's name in vane." The mosque door
is decorated with a central bronze medallion that is probably not the original
one.

View of the open corridor leading into the mosque durqa'a

View of the open corridor leading into the mosque durqa'a;

Interior view of the qibla iwan with the mihrab and mimbar

Interior view of the qibla iwan with the mihrab and mimbar

The entrance leads into a small vestibule with an impressing gilded ceiling. It

opens onto a roofless corridor that works as a distribution area, a lighting and
ventilation zone for the ground floor.

Decorations of the mosque ceiling.

The floors are paved with marble panels and are in a very good state. The
interior is richly decorated with colored glass windows, fine stone carvings,
marble panels and a carefully decorated mihrab in the qibla iwan all roofed
by a marvelous decorated wooden ceiling.

As was common, the mosque is built above shops that occupy the street
level. They are continuous all around the exterior walls of the mosque. This
was generally the case in most of the religious buildings to generate income
for preserving the establishment in a good state.

Bridge leading to the Kuttab on the opposite side of the alley

Bridge leading to the Kuttab on the opposite side of the alley;

View of the Sabil on the street faade and the shops over which the mosque is
elevated

View of the Sabil on the street faade and the shops over which the mosque is
elevated

The Sabil is situated on the street faade near the entrance.

The mosque is attached to a separate structure, the sabil-kuttab situated

across the alley and reached from the interior of the mosque by an elevated
passage or bridge covered with wooden mashrabbeyas. This bridge created a
beautiful narrow arched alley where trades and crafts men display their
products. This building is now used as an elementary school.

Stairway within the Mosque

Prince Qijmas al-Ishaqi died in Syria in 1487 where he was governor and was
buried in Damascus. In 1852, a man named Abu Hurayba was buried in the
tomb chamber of the complex is reached through the qibla iwan. This is why
the mosque is mostly known as Abu Hurayba mosque.

The mosque was restored twice, in 1894 and again in 1982 and so, it remains
today in a good condition.

This complex is considered to be one the most important of the reign of

Sultan Qaytbay for in it, high standards of workmanship and skills were used
and are seen in it's design and decorative elements.

An interesting fact about this mosque is that its faade appears on the
Egyptian fifty-pound note indicating further more its importance up till this
day.