The Mosque of Amr ibn al-As in Old Cairo was the first mosque built in Egypt and in all of Africa. It was founded in 641 to 642 AD by Amr ibn al-As, the Arab general who brought Islam to Egypt, in his new town of Fustat, just north of the Roman fortress of Babylon.
History
The first mosque was a simple building of mud brick and palm trunks. It was enlarged and rebuilt many times over the centuries, so almost nothing of the original survives, but it has stayed in use as a place of prayer for nearly 1,400 years. Many of its columns came from older Roman and Byzantine buildings.
Visiting
The mosque is a short walk from Coptic Cairo, so it fits easily into a tour of Old Cairo with the Hanging Church and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Allow about 20 minutes. Dress modestly, take off your shoes inside, and women should bring a scarf to cover their hair. See our Cairo day tours and spiritual tours.
