Suleiman Pasha Mosque, Cairo

The Suleiman Pasha Mosque was the first mosque built by the Ottoman rulers of Egypt in 1528. It is located in a cramped corner of the Citadel and was the place of worship of the Janissary Corps of the Ottoman army.

The Suleiman Pasha Mosque is named after Suleiman Pasha al Khadim, a court eunuch who became the commander of the Janissary Corps and later the Wali of Egypt. He dedicated the Mosque as the place of worship of the corps and stipulated that the Sheik should always come from Turkey. It is located at the northern enclosure of the citadel where the Janissary corps was stationed.

The Suleiman Pasha Mosque is one of the finest examples of 16th century Ottoman design and has a free standing structure with a central dome. It is surrounded by an enclosure and gardens. The Mosque has a rectangular shape. One half of the building is the prayer hall while the other half is a courtyard. Unlike other Ottoman Mosques, the entrance leads directly to the prayer hall. The carvings on the balconies and the marble covered Mihrab resemble Mamluk architecture. A door in the western wall of the prayer hall leads to a marble covered courtyard. Visitors are welcome when prayer is not in session.