Related Articles
Nevine al-Aref – Ahram Online
The Mausoleum of Al-Imam Al-Shafei, one of the most important Islamic monuments in Egypt, was inaugurated on Sunday, after a five-year restoration.
The mausoleum was inaugurated by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled al-Enany, accompanied by Minister of Endowment Mokhtar Gomaa, Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel Aal and US Ambassador to Egypt Jonathan Cohen.
“The mausoleum does not only embody Egypt’s commitment to preserve its heritage for the future generations, but it is also a new tourist attraction to be visited along with its neighbouring Al-Imam al-Shafei mosque inaugurated in November”, al-Enani said in a statement.
“The mausoleum has an ambitious wooden dome, considered to be the largest in Egypt”, he added. It is also one of the few remaining Ayyubid buildings, which includes rare examples of Ayyubid stucco decoration and woodwork.
“This project is part of our $100 Million investment, over the past 25 years, to preserve, restore, and protect more than 85 cultural heritage and religious sites throughout Egypt”, US ambassador Cohen noted.
May al-Ibrashy, Director of al-Imam al-Shafei Conservation Project explained, “in the course of the conservation project, new elements were uncovered, which varied in sizes and purpose”.
Standing in the heart of the Southern cemetery of al-Qarafa, the mausoleum of Al-Imam Al-Shafei celebrates the renowned scholar and founder of one of the four Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence.
