Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque: A Captivating Jewel of Islamic Heritage

Discover Alexandria’s rich heritage at Sidi Morsi Abu Al -Abbas Mosque. A historical tribute to a revered Sufi saint, adorned with stunning Arabic architecture and spiritual significance.

Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque is one of the most charming destinations in Alexandria. Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque is famous for being one of the oldest buildings, as it was first built in 1775 AD. It is dedicated to the Sufi saint Abu al Abbas al-Mursi (1219-1286) in the thirteenth century.

Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque stands on the mosque square overlooking the eastern port, where it has been rebuilt several times over the years. The Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque was built over the grave of Al-Mousa Abu Al Abbas, who was an Islamic scholar and teacher.

Who Is Sidi Morsi Abu AL Abbas?

Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas was born in the Andalusia region of Spain in 1219 to a wealthy Muslim family who left for Tunisia due to the rise of Christian control over Spain; He and his family left for Alexandria, which was a destination for many Muslim scholars of that era.

He lived In Alexandria for 43 years until his death in 1286 and was buried in a small building near the Eastern Heron, which was later turned into a huge mausoleum and mosque. Every year a festival is held to celebrate it.

The History of Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque

 

Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque gained an enormous amount of fame as it became a place of pilgrimage for many Muslims from Egypt and Morocco who exceed through Alexandria on their way to and from Mecca.

Many people viewed him as a saint, so they built their tombs next to him or expanded his building in order to receive some of his bounty, such as the Algerian sheikh Abu al-Hasan al-Maghribi, who built a much larger mosque on the same renovated site. In 1863.

Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque was again expanded and renovated in the 13th century Arabic architectural style in 1943 by King Farouk I who built the 43,200 square meter mosque square and includes five other mosques centered around the main mosque and clearly visible from the sea.

Sidi Morsi Abu Abbas Mosque in Alexandria is one of Mario Rossi’s best and most famous buildings. Careful study of the shop drawings made it possible to make some important considerations regarding the construction methods that Italian architects, engineers, contractors and skilled workers imported into Egypt, between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Along with documents in the family archive and some photographs of the site, it was possible to investigate Rossi’s new methods for organizing the construction site and the relationships between design and construction decisions and the deployment of technologies.

The novel contribution made by this paper consists primarily of describing how this particular mosque was built, reconstructing the process through direct observation, and through interpretation of the very complex details of Rossi’s work, as well as a survey of the building itself.

The new approach that Mario Rossi imported into Egypt did not break with local traditions, while his introduction of reinforced concrete into the practice of Awqaf building had a major Impact and established him as head of the school and a mentor to those who came after. He was the chief architect of the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf from 1929 until 1954, and his approach to mosque design was a clear stylistic and typological innovation that left its mark on the architectural vocabulary of the time, establishing a new style that became widely adopted in Egypt.

It has spread as far away as Washington, D.C., Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. From the perspective of the international cooperation that the various countries around the Mediterranean are urging us to do, the primary goal of this type of research is to enhance knowledge of this modern heritage: a prerequisite for developing effective tools to enhance its appreciation, preservation and restoration, for which the obligatory starting point should be the creation of archives and atlases of specialized works.

Location of Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque

The Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque was built in 1775 by the Algerians and holds special importance as it was built over the tomb of the venerable Andalusian saint Ahmed Abu al Abbas al-Mursi in the 13th century. Known for its devout Sufi practice and leadership within the El-Shazly community, this mosque stands proudly in Mosque Square in the Anfushi neighborhood of Alexandria, with a direct view of Alexandria’s eastern port.

Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque Architecture

 

Famous for its unique 13th century Arabic architectural style, the mosque is 23 meters high and octagonal in design with interior walls clad in artificial stone, a soaring central tower reaching 73 meters, and a hypnotic interior with enchanting mosaics, tiles, and woodwork.

The mosque has a charming, high ceiling decorated with arabesques and a beautiful octagonal niche surrounded by four domes placed above the four shrines within the complex.

The floors are paved with white marble, the windows are carved from walnut, teak and citron, and the pulpit is surmounted by a dome with verses from the Holy Qur’an written in French gold on top. The mihrab is decorated with two Egyptian granite columns on which the name Muhammad is written in Arabic Kufic script.

Mausoleum of Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque”

Sheikh Zain al-Din ibn al-Qattan was a wealthy merchant from Alexandria, who honored the venerable Islamic scholar Abu al Abbas al-Morsi by commissioning him to build a mausoleum and a dome over his tomb in 1307 AD. He also financed the construction of a mosque that included a small square minaret and appointed an imam for it. The shrine is respectfully placed under the dome to the right of the entrance.

By time, this mosque and tomb became a sacred site of pilgrimage for Muslims traveling to and from Mecca, especially those from Morocco and Egypt, in search of spiritual solace during their Haj journey. The shrine located inside Sidi Morsi Abu Al Abbas Mosque is still a sacred sanctuary. Its ornate decoration and spiritual atmosphere attract locals and tourists alike, serving as a treasured place for contemplation, honoring the teachings, and commemorating the legacy of Abu Abbas al-Morsi.