Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Egypt

The Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Egypt is oldest mosque in Egypt. The Mosque has been named after a soldier Ahmed Ibn Tulun in troops of Samara. He rose to the position to rule Egypt from 868 AD to 883 AD.

Following the tradition of his predecessors he established a new city called Qataia and also made it his capital. In the city he built a palace and mosque that was named after him. The Ibn Tulun Mosque seems to have been completed by 879 AD according to the inscriptions.

Some scholars maintain that Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Egypt has built by an architect who was a Egyptian Chriatian. He only brought about the idea of piers instead of large columns that was necessary to support the roof span. But others maintain that since Ibn Tulun lived in Samara the Great Mosque of Mutawwakil influenced him.

The importance of the Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo lies in the fact that it ahs been able to influence architecture beyond the Muslim boundaries. It went ahead to be praised by the Europeans and later imitation. The achievements in the mosque include the adoption of piers to support the roofs and arcades instead of columns. Here one also finds the systematic use of pointed arches.

The visit to Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo would be enriching as it so much to offer and helps understand the historic and architectural achievements of Muslim civilization.