User:Youssef.ramy/Egypt's Islamic Cultural Center

Introduction
Within the Cairo Governorate's New Administrative Capital, the Grand Mosque, or Masjid Misr, is part of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Egypt, a notable religious and architectural landmark.[1] With a total area of 250,000 square meters, the project can house 131,000 people.[2]

History
In 2015, the concept for Egypt's purpose-built New Administrative Capital was introduced.[3] In 2019, the Al-Fattah al-Aleem Mosque and a church were the first buildings finished.[4] Early in 2021, plans to build Masjid Misr, a larger mosque, were announced; work was finished in 2022.[5][6] President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi formally launched the Islamic Cultural Centre in March 2023.[7]

Architecture
Situated near the Presidential Axis, Route 11, and People's Square to the north, the center is conveniently located in the Governmental District. It is situated on a plateau that is 24 meters high and has the Mohamed Bin Zayed Northern Road as its southern boundary.[8] The Grand Mosque, a library, an Islamic museum, a conference center, ceremonial halls, classrooms, retail stores, and a seven-story parking structure with room for 3,000 cars are all part of the complex.[9][10]

Egypt's Grand Mosque draws influence from the scenery of the Nile Delta to combine modern design features with traditional Islamic architectural aspects. The outside design of the mosque is modeled after a lotus blossom in bloom, signifying purity and the advancement of spirituality. Inside are calligraphy, intricate geometric designs, and other elements of Islamic creative culture.

The mosque is surrounded by two minarets that rise 140 meters above the top courtyard and contains six halls, including the central prayer hall.[10] The steel center dome measures 29.5 meters in diameter.[11] This mosque broke three records: it features the largest chandelier in the world, measuring 22 meters in diameter, the heaviest chandelier, weighing 24,300 kg, and the tallest pulpit in the world, standing at 16.6 meters.[11] With 12,000 seats in the main prayer hall, 40,000 in the upper hall, and 55,000 in the basement hall, the 19,000 square meter mosque can hold 107,000 worshipers.[7]

The mosque has two levels, with three main entrances and a fourth for services. The first level is 20 meters high, while the second level reaches the pinnacle of the dome at 57 meters.[12] There are separate domes for the east and west halls as well. The mosque's secondary and upper courtyards are connected by service buildings and a commercial culture center.[7]