Egypt's Islamic Cultural Center
| Egypt’s Islamic Cultural Center | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | New Administrative Capital, Egypt |
| Geographic coordinates | 30°00′06″N 31°45′17″E / 30.0017°N 31.7547°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque |
| Style | modern Islamic Egyptian style |
| Completed | 2022 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 135,000 |
| Dome(s) | 1 (world's heaviest dome) |
| Minaret(s) | 2 |
Egypt's Islamic Cultural Center, which houses Masjid Misr or the Grand Mosque, is a religious and architectural landmark located in the New Administrative Capital in Cairo Governorate, Egypt.[1] The center covers an area of 250,000 square meters, and can accommodate 131,000 people.[2]
History[edit]
The plan for a purpose-built new capital of Egypt, the New Administrative Capital, was initiated in 2015.[3] The Al-Fattah al-Aleem Mosque and a cathedral were first completed in 2019,[4] and in early February 2021, plan for a larger mosque Masjid Misr was announced.[5] The mosque was completed in 2022,[6] and the center was inaugurated by Egypt's president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in March 2023.[7]
Architecture[edit]
The Islamic Cultural Centre is located at the heart of the Governmental District and nears Route 11, the presidential axis, and the People's Square in the north. From the south, the Mohamed Bin Zayed Northern Road encircles the structure on a plateau of 24 metres.[8] It incorporates the Grand Mosque, a library, an Islamic museum, a conference center, halls for various ceremonies, a number of educational facilities, shops, as well as parking over seven floors for 3,000 cars.[9][10]
The design of Egypt Grand Mosque combines traditional Islamic architecture with modern elements, taking inspiration from the natural landscape of the Nile Delta. The mosque's outer structure resembles a blooming lotus flower, symbolizing purity and spiritual growth. Its interior is adorned with intricate geometric patterns, calligraphy, and various elements that reflect the Islamic artistic heritage.[citation needed]
The mosque has 6 halls including a central prayer hall, with two minarets. The 2 minarets are 140m higher above the upper courtyard.[10] The central dome of the mosque has a diameter of 29.5m and is made of steel. The mosque broke three records when it opened; in the building was installed the highest pulpit in the world at 16.6m (54.5ft), and the heaviest chandelier at 24,300kg (53,572lb). and it was also the largest with a diameter of 22m (72.2ft).[11] The mosque covers an area of 19,000 sq m, and can hold 107,000 worshippers.[11] The main prayer hall has a capacity of 12,000, while 40,000 can be accommodated in the upper hall and 55,000 in the lower hall.[7]
The mosque has three main entrances and a fourth service entrance. It has two levels, the first is 20 m high, the second rises up to 57 m which is the top of the dome.[12] The east and west halls are also each toped by a dome. Two service buildings as well as a commercial cultural center serves as entrances and link the secondary and the upper courtyards of the mosque.[7]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "All you need to know about Egypt's Islamic Cultural Center". Egypti ndependent. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Karim Abdullatif (24 July 2023). "Masjid Misr: Inside the Largest Mosque in Africa". Scene Home.
- ^ Kingsley, Patrick (16 March 2015). "A new New Cairo: Egypt plans £30bn purpose-built capital in desert". The Guardian.
- ^ Draper, Robert (19 October 2022). "Egypt's audacious plan to build a new capital in the desert". National Geographic.
- ^ Nadda Osman (10 February 2021). "Egypt: New mega-mosque project for administrative capital divides opinions". Middle East Eye.
- ^ Taylor, Alan (30 August 2023). "Egypt's New Capital-City Megaproject". The Atlantic.
- ^ a b c "Sisi joins new capital workers for Ramadan's first Sohour, inaugurates Islamic Cultural Centre". Ahram online. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ "Egypt's Islamic Cultural Center in the New Administrative Capital ( Misr Mosque ) | The Arab Contractors". www.arabcont.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
- ^ Amr Mohamed Kandil (23 March 2023). "What we know about Egypt's Islamic Cultural Center, Misr Mosque that holds 3 Guinness World Records". Egypt Today.
- ^ a b "Egypt's Islamic Cultural Center In The New Administrative Capital". Arabcont. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ a b "New capital's lavish mosque angers Egyptians facing poverty". BBC. 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Masjid Misr". Behance.
