The giraffe of Cairo, the eternal city of domes, a city that you do not see like in time and space, feet beat on the soil that was once filled with beating hearts, young cheeks, and rebellious minds, but all of them went and were flattened to the ground, and nothing remained of them but dust scattered by the wind, and domes witnessing the passage of hundreds of years .
A few steps away from the Sayeda Aisha Mosque and Salah El-Din Citadel in the heart of historic Cairo, where there is heavy traffic, a few steps but it transports you from one world to another deeply serene. as they are called.
Jalal Al-Din Al-Suyuti
Soon, we are surprised when the scene shocks us with all its horrors while we stand face to face in front of the scene of the scholar Imam Al-Hafiz Jalal Al-Din Al-Suyuti (849 AH / 1445 AD - 911 AH / 1505 AD), the commentator, historian, writer and jurist whose works exceeded 600 books, the man who was ascetic in this world, cut off from people and emptied himself. For the composition until the verse of his time, you see his tomb in all its humility, still lofty, defying ages and neglect.
Al-Suyuti was born in the Egyptian city of Assiut (in the middle of Upper Egypt), and he is one of the leaders of knowledge, conservation and diversity of culture. .
The tomb of the scholar and jurist Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti in Cairo (Al-Jazeera)
As soon as we bid farewell to Al-Suyuti, hundreds of domes and minarets surrounded us, domes that preserved the history of kings, princes, tyrants, martyrs, adventurers and scholars, until we reach the tomb of the owner of “Fath al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari” (15 volumes) judge of judges, Sheikh of Islam, imam interpreter and fundamentalist jurist Shihab. Al-Din Abu Al-Fadl Ahmed bin Ali, known as “Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani,” born in Cairo (773 AH - died 852 AH), a shrine that is also more modest, closed for restoration.
Ibn Hajar, the owner of pearls
Among the books of Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (Al-Isbah fi distinguishing the Companions), which is a book of translations, in which he was translated by the honorable Companions, the book (Buloogh Al-Maram Min Dalail Al-Ahkam), the book (Al-Durar Al-Latain fi A’ayan the Eighth Hundred) and many others, and he was called the Prince of Hadith in his time.
The shrine of the imam, the interpreter, the hafiz, the jurist, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (Al-Jazeera)
The master of scholars and the seller of princes
While we are on our tour of the Mamluk squatter, we arrive at the tomb of the judge of the judges, the Sultan of the scholars and the seller of the princes, Al-Izz ibn Abd al-Salam (577 AH / 1181 AD - 660 AH / 1262 AD), the Damascene jurist who emerged in the era of the Crusades, and took up the call to confront the Mongol invasion and stand by the rulers who They led the resistance and war against the invaders, supporting the Mamluk Sultan Qutuz until victory in the battle of Ain Jalut.
This immortal world, around which hundreds of books have been written, and has been exemplified in courage and strength in telling the truth.
Mausoleum of Sheikh Al-Islam and Chief Justice Al-Izz bin Abdul Salam (Al-Jazeera)
One of the strangest things that history has recorded for this inimitable world is that he issued a fatwa on the people’s ownership of the ruling Mamluks, and that it is permissible to sell them for the benefit of the people, as they are owned slaves, not owners.
Imam Al-Layth bin Saad
And near Imam al-Shafi’i, we came to the famous jurist of Egypt, the Sheikh of Islam, Imam al-Hafiz al-Laith bin Saad (94 AH / 713 AD - 175 AH / 791 AD), a jurist, modernizer and imam of the people of Egypt in his time, and the owner of one of the extinct Islamic schools.
He was born in the village of Qalqshanda in the Qalyubia Governorate in the Delta of Egypt, and his residence there is well-known.
Ibn Saad rose to a high position in his time until he took the fatwa, as many scholars of the Sunnis and the group praised him, so the books of translations and biographies transmitted their sayings in the right of Al-Layth bin Saad.
Among his books are "The Book of History" and "Al-Masa'il fi Fiqh".
Mosque of Imam Al-Laith bin Saad Faqih of Egypt in the Imam Al-Shafi’i area in Cairo (Al-Jazeera)
Imam Al-Laith was "happiest of luck" from the previous imams Al-Suyuti, Al-Izz bin Abdul Salam and Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani, as his mosque and shrine are well known and visited by visitors throughout the year.
In the square named after her, stands the mosque and mausoleum of Lady Aisha, the daughter of Jaafar al-Sadiq, son of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, son of Imam Ali Zain al-Abidin, son of Imam Hussein, son of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, may God honor him.
And Mrs. Aisha came to Egypt as a young woman in the year 145 AH and died in the same year, and she was one of the devout and striving worshippers.
The tomb of Mrs. Aisha in the Citadel area (Al-Jazeera)
We are standing at the mosque and shrine of Imam al-Shafi’i, the meeting place for the confused, the poor and the debtors, and he is Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi’i (born in the month of Rajab in the year 150 AH / 767 AD in the city of Gaza in Palestine, and he died in Egypt on the last day of Rajab 204 AH corresponding to January 20, 820 AD). He is one of the four imams according to the Sunnis, and to him is the ratio of all Shafi’is.
Mosque and mausoleum of Imam al-Shafi’i in Cairo (Al-Jazeera)
Next to al-Shafi’i is the burial of Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi, author of the book “The Nature of Tyranny” (1855-1902). Nearby are some of the tombs of the family of Muhammad Ali Pasha, Khedive Tawfiq and his wife.
Ibn Khaldun and al-Maqrizi left
Many of the graves of scholars and celebrities adorn the Minor Qarafa, but many of them were demolished by government decisions, as happened with the tombs of Abd al-Rahman ibn Khaldun 1332-1406 AD), the author of the book “The Introduction” who was born in Tunisia and died in Cairo, and Taqi al-Din al-Maqrizi (764-845 AH) (1364-AD). 1442 A.D.) author of “Al-Mawwa’at wa’l-I’tibar by mentioning plans and effects.”
There are also many of them that were neglected, and disappeared with the days, and we lost an inestimable wealth, if it had been invested in tourism, it would have been one of the world's unique treasures, according to Dr. Hossam Ismail, Professor of Archeology at the Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University.
Al-Rifai hosts the princes
The Al-Rifa’i Mosque contains a number of royal rooms that include marble tombs belonging to a number of members of the Muhammad Ali family, and among those buried there are Khedive Ismail (1830-1895) and his mother, “Khoshyar Qadin Hanim,” one of Ibrahim bin Muhammad Ali Pasha’s wives, as well as the graves of 3 of Khedive’s wives Ismael.
Al-Rifai and Sultan Hassan mosques in the Citadel area in Cairo (Al-Jazeera)
In an adjacent room, Sultan Hussein Kamel (1853-1917) and his wife Sultana Malak were buried, while the tomb of the fourth wife of Khedive Ismail “Feryal Hanim” is buried next to her son, King Fouad (1868-1936) in another room.
The other wing of the Al-Rifai Mosque was dedicated to the tomb of the deposed Shah of Iran, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi (1919-1980) and his son-in-law, Farouk I, King of Egypt and Sudan (1920-1965), whose remains were transferred to the Rifai Mosque in fulfillment of his will after his death.
At the end of Muhammad Ali Street in front of the Al-Rifai Mosque in Al-Qalaa Square (Salah Al-Din Square), the Sultan Hassan Mosque and School, the jewel of Islamic architecture in the east, rises, as it represents the stage of maturation of Mamluk architecture. Ibn Qalawun, the period between (757 AH / 1356 AD) and (765 AH / 1363 AD), was to be buried there, but he was killed before the construction was completed and his body was not found, and his two sons were buried there after him.
The passer-by from Salah El-Din Square in the Citadel, passing through Mrs. Nafisa and Mrs. Sakina on Al-Ashraf Street, is faced by a large number of tombs of the saints and Ahl al-Bayt. Some even called this area “Baqi’ of Egypt” due to the large number of the graves of the Ahl al-Bayt.
In Al-Qarafa Al-Sughra, there are many mosques, cemeteries and shrines of the people of the house, including the shrine and shrine of Sidi Ali Zain al-Abidin and Sayyida Zainab, the shrine and the mosque of Sayyidina al-Hussain, Sayyida Nafisa and Lady Sakina and dozens of Ahl al-Bayt known by far and near.
There are hundreds of other shrines of Ahl al-Bayt, Companions, saints, preachers and scholars, many of which are not registered with the Egyptian Antiquities Authority.
In the book "Purity and Dignities... The Holiness of the Guardians," Dr. Shehata Siam, Professor of Political Sociology at Fayoum University, confirms that the number of shrines in Egypt exceeds 2,220, most of which are unregistered.
The tomb of Uqba bin Amer, the companion of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, in Cairo (Al-Jazeera)
Baqi' Egypt
Sheikh Muhammad Zaki Ibrahim documents in his book “The Shrines of Ahl al-Bayt in Cairo” hundreds of names of Ahl al-Bayt who came to Egypt during the first and second centuries AH and settled in the country.
On a small street branching off Al-Ashraf Street, called “Al-Madbagiyah”, we meet the mausoleum of Al-Qasim Al-Tayyib bin Muhammad Al-Mamoun, nicknamed Al-Dibaj bin Jaafar Al-Sadiq bin Muhammad Al-Baqir bin Ali Zain Al-Abidin bin Maulana, Imam Al-Hussein bin Ali bin Abi Talib, may God be pleased with them, and around him are scattered the tombs of his sons: Yahya al-Shibhi, and he was named so because of what was said of his strong resemblance to the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace.
Among his sons is Umm Kulthum, famous for the "Sit Kultham" as the Egyptians call her, and her mausoleum is steps away from the tomb of her father, al-Qasim al-Tayyib, and next to her is the mausoleum of her sister, Fatimah the Prophet, al-Aina.
Mausoleum of Fatima Al-Ainah bint Al-Qasim bin Al-Mamoun bin Jaafar Al-Sadiq bin Muhammad Al-Baqir bin Ali Zain Al-Abidin bin Al-Hussein (Al-Jazeera)
Fourth in a crowd
And we reach the shrine of the mystic ascetic, the martyr of divine love, Rabi’a Al-Adawiya (100 AH / 717 AD - 180 AH / 796 AD), the ascetic worshiper, her tomb is in a crowd of people buried around her, and her real name is: Umm al-Khair Umm Ismail, who was born and lived in Baghdad and died in Cairo, and her tomb is not far from The tomb of the companion Amr ibn al-Aas, only a few meters.
Raba’a Al-Adawiya is a poet, who has horrors in conscience that taint hearts, and in love words that melt hearts, and among her poems in one of her poems that describe the love of the Creator she says:
I knew passion since I knew your love, and I closed my heart to anyone but you
And I was calling you, who sees the secrets of hearts, but we don't see you
I love you with a love of passion and a love because you are worthy of that
As for what is love of passion, keep yourself busy by reminding you of anyone else
And as for the one for whom you are worthy, then you uncover the veils so that I may see you
The tomb of Rabaa Al-Adawiya in the Imam Al-Shafi’i area in Cairo (Al-Jazeera)
Companions of the Prophet ﷺ
Next to the tomb of the great Sufi mystic Rabaa Al-Adawiya is the tomb of the Hanafi jurist Fakhr Al-Din Al-Zaila'i Abu Amr Othman bin Ali bin Mahjen Al-Barei, who died (743 AH - 1343 AD), originally from Zeila, near Abyssinia. With gram, among his books are “Tibween al-Haqa’iq fi Sharh Kanz al-Daqiq” which is a printed book in 6 volumes, as well as “The Legacy of Speech on Ahadith of Judgments” and “Sharh al-Jami’ al-Kabeer”.
A few meters away from Mawlana Al-Zayla’i, we face the shrine of Lady Fatima Al-Anwar, who is Fatima, daughter of Sayyid Al-Hassan Al-Anwar bin Al-Sayyid Zaid Al-Ablaj, the son of our master Al-Hasan Al-Sibt, the son of our master Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, may God be pleased with him and may God be pleased with them all, the son of Lady Fatima Al-Zahra.
And her mausoleum is to the left of the traveler to the cemetery of the companion Sidi Uqba bin Amer al-Juhani, so no one goes out and does not enter the path of our master Uqbah unless he passes it.
On the right, at the entrance to the mosque of the companion Uqba bin Amer, the great companion Amr bin Al-Aas, the conqueror of Egypt and the companion of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace (47 BC or 45 BC / 575 AD or 577 AD-43 AH / 664 AD), lays on the right. To be buried on the old pilgrimage route so that the pilgrims call for him before they leave Egypt for the Hijaz.
The mosque and mausoleum of the companion of the Messenger of God, Uqbah bin Amer.
orchards desert
On our tour, we visited the newly established Al-Basateen cemeteries, leading to the mosque and shrine of Ibn Ata Allah al-Sakandari (658 AH / 1260 AD - 709 AH / 1309 AD), the owner of “Al-Hakam Al-Ata’iyya” and it was built to embrace his tomb located in the bosom of Mount Mokattam. It was built by the Grand Imam, Sheikh of the Mosque Al-Azhar, Dr. Abdel Halim Mahmoud, when he was the Minister of Awqaf, at his own expense.
Mosque and mausoleum of Ibn Ata Allah Al-Iskandari in Al-Basateen (Al-Jazeera)
Next to the mosque of Ibn Ata Allah there is a small dome for a room that was in the ground, which is the private retreat of Mrs. Nafisa, daughter of our master Al-Hussein, may God be pleased with them.
In the same place, next to the khilwa, there is the tomb of Al-Arif Allah, the historian and interpreter Abdullah bin Abi Jamra, the sultan of the East and the West as described by Ibn Ata Allah Al-Iskandari. The year 699 AH corresponding to 1296 AD.
Among Abu Jamra’s books are “Jun’ al-Nihayah” the abbreviation of Sahih al-Bukhari, and it is known as the summary of Ibn Abi Jamra, and “Bahjat al-Nufus” in explaining the collection of the end, and “Al-Marai’ al-Hasan” in hadith and vision.
Adjacent to it is the tomb of Sidi Muhammad ibn Sayyid al-Nas (671 AH-734 AH), also of Andalusian origin from Seville. He was born and died in Egypt. He was a brilliant memorizer and an eloquent writer.