Mashhad of Sayyida Ruqayya

External view of the Mashhad of Sayyidah Ruqayyah, Cairo

The Mashhad of Sayyidah Ruqayyah (Arabic: مـشـهـد الـسـيـدة رقـيـة‎, translit. Mashhad al-Sayyidah Ruqayyah), also known as Sayyidah Ruqayyah Mashhad, and Ruqayyah Mashhad, is a 12th-century religious shrine in the madinah of Cairo, Egypt. It was built over the grave of a woman called sayyidah Ruqayyah in 1133 ACE as a memorial to her.[1]

Ruqayyah was an ‘Alid saint who was related to Muhammad by marriage, her mother being one of the wives of the Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib who married Muhammad's daughter Fatimah. She is traditionally considered to be a patron saint of Cairo, and the Mashhad is still used as an oratory where vows and intercessionary prayers to her are offered.[1]

Structure

Detail of the central mihrab within the mashhad
The zarih within the mashhad

It has notable Fatimid architecture. Among other features, the mashhad has a central mihrab with an exceptionally fine stucco decoration.[1] This mihrab is of a similar design to the main entrance-gate of the Aqmar Mosque. The overall layout of this Mashhad is similar to that of the Masjid of Al-Juyushi. The silver zarih was built by Mohammad Burhanuddin, da‘i of the Dawoodi Bohrah, using Fatimid architectural designs in its construction.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mashhad al-Sayyida Ruqayya, ArchNet.org, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-07. Retrieved 2013-06-05. Accessed 10 June 2013

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