Editing Al-Hakim Mosque (section)

== History ==

=== Fatimid construction and modifications ===
The mosque's construction was initiated by the 5th [[Fatimid Caliphate|Fatimid]] caliph [[Al-Aziz Billah|al-ʿAziz Billah]] in the year 990 CE and the first Friday prayers took place in it a year later, though the building was incomplete.<ref name="Behrens-Abouseif1989" /> This suggests that the [[Mosque#Prayer hall|prayer hall]] or sanctuary, the area where prayers were led, was probably built first.<ref name="Behrens-Abouseif1989" /> His successor, [[al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah|al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allāh]], and his overseer Abu Muhammad al-Hafiz 'Abd al-Ghani ibn Sa'id al-Misri, resumed construction work in 1002–1003.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Jami' al-Hakim |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/2316 |access-date=2021-12-07 |website=ArchNet |archive-date=2021-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207151100/https://www.archnet.org/sites/2316 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6" /> In 1010, the minarets were modified by the construction of large square bastions around them, which hid much of the original towers.<ref name="Behrens-Abouseif1989" /> The chronology of construction in the mosque's interior and the determination of exactly which part was built by which patron, is uncertain.<ref name="auto">{{cite book |last=Pruitt |first=Jennifer |title=Building the caliphate : construction, destruction, and sectarian identity in early Fatimid architecture |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-300-26402-9 |publication-place=New Haven |pages=95–126 |chapter=Construction, Destruction, and Concealment under the “Mad Caliph” |oclc=1262140920}}</ref>{{Rp|location=Note 9 from p. 97}}

Finally, its inauguration took place in [[Ramadan]] of the year 1013.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Wilber |first1=Donald N. |last2=Creswell |first2=K. A. C. |date=December 1954 |title=The Muslim Architecture of Egypt, I. Ikhshids and Fatimids, A.D. 939-1171 |journal=The Art Bulletin |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=304 |doi=10.2307/3047582 |issn=0004-3079 |jstor=3047582}}</ref> It measured 120 meters by 113 meters when it was finished and was more than double the size of the [[al-Azhar Mosque]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bloom |first=Jonathan M. |date=1983 |title=The Mosque of al-Ḥākim in Cairo |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1523069 |journal=Muqarnas |volume=1 |pages=15–36 |doi=10.2307/1523069 |jstor=1523069 |issn=0732-2992 |access-date=2021-12-07 |archive-date=2021-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119023003/https://www.jstor.org/stable/1523069 |url-status=live }}</ref> Al-Hakim allocated 40,000 dinars to the construction and then another 5,000 dinars to its furnishings.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanders |first=Paula |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9fnBFANHMn4C&dq=al-hakim+mosque+dinars&pg=PA55 |title=Ritual, Politics, and the City in Fatimid Cairo |publisher=SUNY Press |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-7914-1781-2 |pages=55–60 |language=en}}</ref> The al-Hakim Mosque was also known by an epithet, ''al-Anwar'' ('the Illuminated'), similar in style to the name of the earlier al-Azhar Mosque founded by the Fatimids.<ref name="Behrens-Abouseif1989" /> At the time of inauguration, al-Hakim permitted a celebratory procession which made its way from al-Azhar to al-Anwar and from al-Anwar back to al-Azhar.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The mosque originally stood outside the walls of Cairo, but when the Fatimid vizier [[Badr al-Jamali]] rebuilt and extended the city walls in 1087, the northern side of the mosque, including its minaret, was incorporated into the northern city wall (between the newly-built gates of [[Bab al-Futuh]] and [[Bab al-Nasr (Cairo)|Bab al-Nasr]]).<ref name="Behrens-Abouseif1989" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Raymond |first=André |title=Le Caire |publisher=Fayard |year=1993 |pages=63–65 |language=fr}}</ref> A ''ziyada'', or a walled outer enclosure, was also added around the mosque later, begun by [[Al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah|Caliph al-Zahir]] (r. 1021''–''1036) but completed much later under the [[Ayyubid dynasty|Ayyubid]] sultan [[As-Salih Ayyub|al-Salih Najm al-Din]] (r. 1240–1249) and the [[Mamluk Sultanate|Mamluk]] sultan [[Aybak]] (r. 1250–1257).<ref name=":42">{{Cite book |last=Behrens-Abouseif |first=Doris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=INsmT6zjAl8C&pg=PP1 |title=Islamic Architecture in Cairo: An Introduction |publisher=E.J. Brill |year=1989 |isbn=9789004096264 |location=Leiden, the Netherlands |pages=63–65 |access-date=2023-01-29 |archive-date=2023-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224072406/https://books.google.com/books?id=INsmT6zjAl8C&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> 

=== Post-Fatimid era ===
[[File:Arab Museum in mosque of al-Hakim.jpg|The mosque before the 1980 restoration |thumb|left]]
In 1303, during the Mamluk period, the mosque was severely damaged by an earthquake and was subsequently restored by Sultan [[Baibars II|Baybars II al-Jashankir]]. By that time, the mosque was also being used to teach Islamic law from the four [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] ''[[Madhhab|maddhab]]s''.<ref name="Behrens-Abouseif1989" /> In 1360, the mosque was restored again by Sultan [[An-Nasir Hasan|Hasan]]. In the 15th century, a merchant sponsored the construction of a third minaret for the mosque, though this minaret has not been preserved.<ref name="Behrens-Abouseif1989" />

The interior of the mosque fell into ruin over many centuries until its modern renovation, and the building was only intermittently used as a mosque.<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":03" /> At various times, it was used as a prison for captured Franks (i.e. Latin crusaders) during the [[Crusades]], as a stable by [[Saladin]], as a fortress by [[Napoleon]], as an Islamic arts Museum in 1890, and as a boys' school in the 20th century during [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser]]'s presidency.<ref name=":03" /><ref name="Behrens-Abouseif1989" /> In the early 19th century, the mosque underwent a restoration sponsored by '[[Umar Makram]]. The restoration also added a small mihrab to the interior that is still preserved today, dated to 1808.<ref name="Behrens-Abouseif1989" /><ref name=":03" />

=== 20th century restoration ===
[[File:Al Hakim Mosque Courtyard.jpg|thumb|The courtyard of the mosque today]]
In 1980, the mosque was extensively reconstructed and refurbished in white marble and gold trim by [[Mohammed Burhanuddin]], the head of the [[Dawoodi Bohra]], an international [[Shia]] sect based in [[India]]. The restoration took 27 months and the mosque was officially re-opened on 24 November 1980, in a ceremony attended by Egyptian president [[Anwar Sadat]], Mohammed Burhanuddin, and other high-ranking Egyptian officials.<ref name=":5" /> 

Remnants of the original decorations, including [[stucco]] carvings, timber tie-beams, and [[Quran|Quranic]] inscriptions were preserved, but most of the mosque's present interior dates from this reconstruction.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":03" /> Among other things, the restoration introduced a new marble mihrab whose motifs imitated the appearance of the Fatimid-era stucco mihrab in the al-Azhar Mosque.<ref name=":6" /> It also involved the demolition of the Mamluk-era tomb of Qurqumas, which stood right in front of the mosque and which was subsequently relocated to the [[City of the Dead (Cairo)|Northern Cemetery]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Sanders |first=Paula |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BFy5Drdpp8kC&dq=tomb+al-hakim+mosque+relocation+cairo&pg=PA123 |title=Creating Medieval Cairo: Empire, Religion, and Architectural Preservation in Nineteenth-century Egypt |date=2008 |publisher=American University in Cairo Press |isbn=978-977-416-095-0 |pages=118–123 |language=en |access-date=2022-06-21 |archive-date=2023-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224072406/https://books.google.com/books?id=BFy5Drdpp8kC&dq=tomb+al-hakim+mosque+relocation+cairo&pg=PA123#v=onepage&q=tomb%20al-hakim%20mosque%20relocation%20cairo&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> 

The use of "unauthentic" materials and additions during the restoration has been criticized by scholars and conservationists, particularly when judged by the standards of the [[Venice Charter]].<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":03" /><ref name=":4" /> The issue has elicited scholarly debate about the relative merits of different philosophies on the restoration and reconstruction of historic sites.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4" /> Some scholars, like James Roy King and [[Bernard O'Kane (scholar)|Bernard O'Kane]], have noted that the restoration has at least had the benefit of converting the building from a ruin to a functioning mosque that can be visited by anyone, even if some of the details of the restoration remain problematic.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> 

===21st century===
In 2017, a new restoration project began, undertaken through a partnership between the Dawoodi Bohra community and the [[Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Egypt)|Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities]]. The project encompassed various tasks such as addressing water damage, strengthening wooden structures, refurbishing chandeliers, installing security cameras, and updating electrical wiring. Efforts were made to restore the mosque's facades, marble floors, and interior inscriptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Al-Jamiʿ al-Anwar: A Spiritual Landmark for the Dawoodi Bohras |url=https://www.thedawoodibohras.com/al-jami-al-anwar-a-spiritual-landmark-for-the-dawoodi-bohras/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=The Dawoodi Bohras |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618034640/https://www.thedawoodibohras.com/al-jami-al-anwar-a-spiritual-landmark-for-the-dawoodi-bohras/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The mosque was reopened after restorations in February 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=28 February 2023 |title=Egypt reopens newly restored historic mosque |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/words-visuals-egypt-reopens-newly-restored-historic-mosque-2023-02-28/ |access-date=2023-07-07 |archive-date=2023-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707173230/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/words-visuals-egypt-reopens-newly-restored-historic-mosque-2023-02-28/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On June 25, 2023, Prime Minister of India, [[Narendra Modi]] visited the mosque along with Prime Minister of Egypt, [[Mostafa Madbouly]] and son of [[Mufaddal Saifuddin]], [[Husain Burhanuddin]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sanskriti |first=Falor |date=June 25, 2023 |title=In Cairo, PM Modi visits 11th century mosque restored by India's Dawoodi Bohra community |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/narendra-modi-state-visit-egypt-al-hakim-mosque-dawoodi-bohra-community-101687682951179.html |access-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705114346/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/narendra-modi-state-visit-egypt-al-hakim-mosque-dawoodi-bohra-community-101687682951179.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 June 2023 |title=PM Narendra Modi visits Egypt's historic 11th century Al-Hakim Mosque |url=https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/pm-visits-al-hakim-mosque-restored-with-dawoodi-bohra-community-s-help-123062500360_1.html |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Business Standard |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707173230/https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/pm-visits-al-hakim-mosque-restored-with-dawoodi-bohra-community-s-help-123062500360_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>