Mosque of al-Hakim Cairo Egypt Postcard

This postcard features the Mosque of al-Hakim in Cairo, Egypt. It is nicknamed al-Anwar (Arabic: الانور‎, lit. 'the Illuminated'), is a major Islamic religious site in Cairo, Egypt. It is named after the sixth Fatimid caliph and 16th Ismaili Imam, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985–1021). Originally, it was built as an enclosure by the Fatimid vizier Gawhar Al-Siqilli (c. 928–992) but it was extended to include fortifications built by Badr al-Jamali. It has an irregular rectangle with four arcades surrounding the courtyard and a monumental entrance with its projecting stone porch. It is located in Islamic Cairo, on the east side of Muizz Street, just south of Bab Al-Futuh. During its long history, it has been used as a prison for captured Franks (i.e. Latin crusaders) during the Crusades, as a stable by Saladin, as a fortress by Napoleon, and as a local school resulting in its disuse. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin the head of the Dawoodi Bohra, an international Ismaili sect based in India, refurbished the mosque in white marble and gold trim. Today, the mosque is a place of worship and attracts local and foreign tourists. Enjoy your new Mosque of al-Hakim Cairo Egypt Postcard!