Sayyida Zeinab Mosque, Cairo

Sayyida Zeinab Mosque, Cairo

The Sayyida Zeinab Mosque is a Shia Muslim mosque and the shrine of the granddaughter of the Prophet Mohamed through his daughter Fatima and son in law Ali. It is not a tourist attraction but an important place of worship for pilgrims from Iran, Pakistan and other parts of the world where Shia Muslims reside. It is also a popular religious destination for those belonging to the Sufi sect.

The Sayyida Zeinab Mosque was built in 1256 AD and dedicated to Sayyida Zeinab who is also the patron saint of Cairo. It was rebuilt four times and the present structure was constructed in 1942. The façade, minaret and cupola have a Mamluk style of architecture. The rest of the mosque has a style typical of mosques in Iran. The door is made of pure gold and the roof and walls have intricate mirror work. The prayer hall has a painted wooden ceiling with several columns. The cenotaph of Sayyida Zeinab is surrounded by an ornate bronze grille.

The Sayyida Zeinab Mosque is popular among women in Cairo. The larger entrance is for women while the smaller entrance is for men. There is a large market in front selling religious objects for the convenience of visiting pilgrims.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Cairo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sayyida Zeinab Mosque on Map

Sight Name: Sayyida Zeinab Mosque
Sight Location: Cairo, Egypt (See walking tours in Cairo)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Cairo, Egypt

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