Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan

Commissioned by the Mamluk sultan Hasan ibn al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun between 1356 and 1362 CE, the Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan is one of the largest and most accomplished monuments of medieval Cairo. Its monumental entrance leads toward a vast open courtyard centered on an ablution fountain and surrounded by four immense iwans. Doorways at the corners connect to four madrasas that taught the four Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence, each with its own court, teaching space and student rooms. The richly decorated qibla iwan contains marble revetment, carved stone and stucco, inscriptions and a finely worked mihrab. Behind it lies the mausoleum chamber. The building’s position directly below Cairo Citadel also gave it an unexpected military role: during periods of conflict it could be used as a fortified position from which attacks were directed toward the Citadel.