Islamic Monuments Reopen with Ceremony at the Citadel
When I went to the Salah el-Din Citadel on the 27th day of Ramadan for the opening of several important Islamic monuments in Cairo, I was happy to see the result of the restoration work and how much is being done to preserve Egypt’s Islamic history.
Many people accuse me of not caring about the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish monuments of Egypt, but this is not true. I care for these monuments and do as much for them as for the pharaonic monuments. However, pharaonic history is my love, and when you talk about your love, you make other people love it, so it may seem to people that I am not as concerned with other aspects of Egyptian history. I truly love all the history of Egypt, but I am not a specialist in Islamic, Coptic or Jewish studies, and these monuments should be studied by a specialist in these fields.The ceremony on Thursday was held to celebrate the restoration of three mosques: the Al-Imam mosque, the Al-Layth mosque, and the Al-Set Meska mosque, as well as the Ali Labib house and the well of Joseph at the Citadel. The first phase of the new lighting system at the Citadel was also revealed at this ceremony.
When I came to the Citadel, I was amazed when I looked into the well of Joseph. It is about 100 metres deep and still full of water coming from the Nile. The well was dug by Salah el-Din to supply water to the soldiers living in the Citadel. Going down into the well is an adventure, because you go down many stairs into the interior of the shaft. When I saw this area a year ago, it was in very bad condition, so we began the conservation work. I am glad to see the improvements and the new lighting here, now I think it would be a very good place for movies and documentary films to be shown.
To see the new lighting system at the Citadel was something I had dreamt about for a long time. This monument is the heart of Cairo, and I hoped it could be lit beautifully to be seen by the whole city. The new lighting is being done by an Italian company in three phases. The first phase is complete, the lighting of the mosque of Mohammad Ali, which is now stunning. The next phase will be to light the whole 1.5 kilometres of the surrounding wall, and the third phase is to light the road of the Citadel from the entrance to the end. I cannot forget when I stood in the Citadel and saw the new lighting; it captivated me and all those who saw it. When people witness the beauty of this light it will capture their hearts and make them forget their troubles.After the ceremony at the Citadel, we visited the other monuments to see the results of the restoration work. We went first to the Al-Set Meska mosque, which dates from AD 1339. Set Meska came to Cairo with the Mamluks and was a wet-nurse to sultan Al-Nasir Mohammad. She was very faithful to the family, and even went to prison with Al-Nasir Hassan, until she died there. This beautiful mosque remains as a monument to her, and though it was damaged by the earthquake of 1992 and the rising water table, it has now been restored to its original glory.
Next we visited the house of Ali Labib, which is on a small road near to the Citadel. It is an 18th century building with three floors, full of beautiful ceilings and decorations incorporating popular stories. We purchased the house from the owners a few years ago and restored it to its original style, and now we are hoping to turn it into a library or a school for teaching hieroglyphs or Islamic and Coptic history so it will continue to give back to the community.Our final visit Thursday night was to the Al-Imam Mosque, located in the Iman Shafi area of Cairo. Dating from AD 1048, the mosque was used for the burial of people who wanted to be near the Imam, who is also buried there. We moved these burials to a nearby cemetery and began architectural restoration. We added a small area for a rest house where people can hold funerals and recite the Koran. We also restored the houses near to the mosque, and now the area is very beautiful. We have invested millions of Egyptian pounds and 6 years in these restoration works, and I am very proud that we were able to open them on this beautiful day in Ramadan.
Further information:
CNN Interview About the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue
Further information:
Press Release - Islamic Monuments to Reopen in Cairo Location
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