Al-Hakim Mosque

Cairo, Egypt

The second major Fatimid mosque in Cairo after al-Azhar, named after the controversial Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. It was restored by the Dawoodi Bohra community in the 1980s.

Historical Context

Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (r. 996–1021 CE) is one of the most controversial figures in Islamic history. The mosque that bears his name reflects the Fatimid dynasty's investment in grand religious architecture as an expression of their claim to be the rightful leaders of the Muslim world.