Mahmud al-Kurdi Mosque

The Mahmud al-Kurdi Mosque, also known as the Jamal al-Din Mahmud al-Istadar Mosque, is a mosque in the al-Darb al-Ahmar area of Islamic Cairo, Egypt. It was founded by an amir called Mahmud al-Kurdi who was the ustadar or majordomo of the Mamluk Sultan Barquq. It is located just south of the Qasaba of Radwan Bey which branches out from the Ahmad Maher Street.

History

The mosque was completed in 1395 CE.
Restoration work by the Ministry of Antiquity begun in 1979 and was completed in 2004. Subsequently, the minaret was plastered in white.

Architecture

This small mosque has a few notable characteristics. The dome is among the earliest stone domes to be carved with a horizontal chevron pattern. This style replaced the pre-14th century brick and plaster ribbing on such domes. The dome is sitting on the drum with eight windows. The minaret is also notable for its round form which is unusual for this period, and was heavily used later on the Ottoman architecture. The original inscriptions and decorations have been retained on the facade, window frame, and the doors. The metal doors to the mosque feature excellent craftsmanship, including geometric star patterns and arabesque carvings across the surface. The interior of the mosque compound has two iwans and is notable for its resemblance to a qa'a, which possibly indicates that the mosque was converted from a house.