User:Zishansheikh/Mosque of Sultan Ashraf Barsbay

The Mosque of Sultan Barsbay is a Mosque in Cairo, Egypt built by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf-ad-Din Barsbay. It is situated on the corner of the Nahasiyeen and Muski streets in Khan el-Khalili. The mosque was completed in 1425 with funds from the spice trade which had been monopolised by the sultan through a process of nationalisation.

The mosque is actually part of a wider complex built by Sultan Barsbay with a mossoleum, sabil (ablutions fountain), and madrassa. The Sultan himself is buried in the Northern Cemetary of Cairo, and it is his wife and daughter who were laid to rest in the mossoleum on this site.

The mosque is built above street level and so is another example of a Mamluk hanging mosque. Due to space constraints the inner and outer walls of the mosque are of varying thickness to give the outer appearance of a straight edged square structure where the ground space available wouldn't have allowed so otherwise. It is built on a cricoform plan with a central courtyard surrounded by four open prayer halls extending from each side of the courtyard on a slightly raised platform. A large arch encompasses each prayer hall facing inwards towards. There are for Iwans or high arched doors that lead into the courtyard from the Madrassa. The main Iwan has an inscription of the waqf that was endowed to sustain the mosque.

The Qibla Wall of the mosque is richly decorated with an inlaid marble mihrab and several stained glass windows. The mimbar is a carved and inlaid wood that is remarkably well preserved. The guilded roof over this area is lightly and yet finely decoarted in green and gold colours with kufic calligraphic style.