It was our second attempt to experience the sakeenah of the Bayt Allah of the magnificent Sultan Hassan and its madrasah of the four recognized well-known Islamic scholars – Shafi’e; Hanafi; Hambali & Maliki. We arrived at the main-gate at 16:35 hours and the door was about to close. However, Sherif was very optimistic and managed convincing the securities in-charged. Alhamdullillah, finally, with the blessing from Allah swt, we were allowed to enter one of the Cairo great mosques and to do it briefly.
The entrance of the Masjid is relatively narrow as compared to the whole majestic monument. However, upon entering the sahn - courtyard or rather the main hall, I was stunned: my feeling was affectionately touched by the soul of the masjid and its ambience.
It was ‘Asr time. There were only six persons joint the congregation. I waited after the ‘Asr congregation was over I performed 2 rakaat solat attahiyatul masjid as a respect to the Masjid and it is sunnah of the great prophet Muhammad saw (peace be upon him).
After I made the second salam, I greeted the Imam – Sheikhul Sayeed whom later invited me to the mausoleum of the two sons of Sultan Hassan; Al Shehab Ahmad and Ismail, which situated behind the mihrab. He spoke good fluent English and kind enough illustrating us the sound effect of the Masjid.
On each side of the sahn are recesses with arched supports known as iwans, which open upon the courtyard. They are of unequal size, and so great in size that they leave no space for the cells to overlook the courtyard. Each of the four iwans represents one school (or legal rite) of Sunni Islam.Each of these madrasa are entered by a door between the individual iwans, and inside each has its own courtyard with their own ablution fountain, quibla oriented iwan, and four or fives stories of rooms. Some of these cells are larger than others, and a number of latrines are included in the living quarters.
Despite its gigantic size, the Sultan Hassan Masjid has only one majestic minaret. The 23 minutes experience was not really sufficient to explore the holistic aspects of the Masjid. InsyaAllah, I will come again.
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