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History of Baybars and the site up to its foundation; including the plan

The khanqah of Baybars refers to a building within a complex built in old Cairo that was dedicated for Sufi scholars. It was named after the Mamluk sultan Baybars al - Jashinkir who endowed the khanqah for Sufis. The khanqah’s establishment was begun by Baybars al-Jashankir when he was still an emir under al-Nasir Muhammad. However, later he turned against al-Nasir Mohammed and exiled him in 1309 as Baybars had his eyes on the sultanate.

Ibn Iyas reports that the construction of the Khanqah began in 705 (1305), while Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani mentions the year 707 (1307). On the other hand, Maqrizi stated in his Khitat that it was built in 706 (1306), however he also stated in his Suluk that it dates to 707 (1307). Creswell examined the terminology of the two texts and found that the term ‘ammara used in the Suluk text means to make something livable which is a wider term in meaning than bana’a mentioned in Khitat which literally means built. This makes the date for completion of the main construction most likely was 706 (1306).

The Khanqah was part of a complex that also contained a ribat and a mausoleum. It was built on the site of the earlier Fatimid Dar al-Wizara. Baybars may have chosen this location because of its proximity to the Khanqah of Dar Sa’id al-Su‘ada’ founded by Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi and also, because he could reuse material from the Dar al-Wizara.

The plan of the complex is very interesting. It had two phases: the first was the khanqah itself and the ribat made when Baybars was still an emir and the second was the minaret and mausoleum when he became sultan. The plan aligned the mausoleum with the street but made it especially prominent by having it project about 10 meters into the street. The Khanqah has a cruciform interior with a courtyard. The courtyard façade is the only decoration inside the Khanqah. The khanqah has two iwans on the north and south axis and include two small halls majlises on the sides. The qibla iwan which has two vaulted wings on each side, is the largest. The mausoleum and the main portal of the complex were added in the second phase. Once the mausoleum was added, the architect was able to proceed with the portal and its adjacent minaret. The complex was finally completed in 1309.