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The Heritage of Fuwwah

 


Fuwwah is among the most important heritage sites in Egypt for Islamic arechitecture, together with Cairo, Rashid (Rosetta, 30 kms to the north-north-west) and Girga (in Upper Egypt). It shares with Rashid the mangur brick architecture, where bricks baked in different ways take a reddish or blackish colour. Now most of the buildings are painted, but the red-and-black pattern remains characteristic; white plaster integrates this design. A couple of buildings with this technique survive in Alexandria as well, so perhaps it was a Western Delta style. While Rashid is famous for its well-preserved Ottoman houses, well worth a visit, Fuwwah is renowned for religious architecture, with several registered mosques and domes, marking the burial spot of a shaykh.

We are very thankful to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for granting access to the historic sites of al-Tekeya al-Khalwatiya and Rabaa Khattabiya, which are normally closed. We are also very thankful to the inspectors of Fuwwah for their support and for sharing their knowledge and passion with us.

Mosque of Abu al-Makarim (1850)

Abu al-Makarim was a Sufi leader (died in 1572), he is buried inside and every year a mawlid is celebrated in his honour. It is one of the most important mawlids of this part of the Delta, after those of Ahmad al-Badawi in Tanta and that of Ibrahim al-Disuqy in Disuq (only 15 kms to the south-east). A marble foundation panel on the main entrance name the eunuchs Hagg 'Abd Allah and Hagg 'Anbar (1339). The minbar is a work of master Ragab Lavandi, from Iran and the minaret ios odler than the rest of the actual mosque.



Mosque of Badr ad-Din Hasan ibn Nasr Allah (1703-07)

The original mosque was built by Badr al-Din Nasr Allah (1364-1442) in the 15th century, but the actual mosque is the work of a certain 'Ali Sulayman (1703). The sill has a massive quartzite slab with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, certainly spolia from a nearby temple. Inside the mosque there are several marble slabs with texts of royal decrees issued in 1401, 1404, and 1413. The minbar is dated to 1705-06.







Mosque of Shaykh 'Abd ar-Rahim al-Qana'i (1720)

'Abd al-Rahim al-Qana'i died in 1127 and is buried in this mosque, which nevertheless is a reconstruction of the older building. By the main entrance there are two marble slabs with Mamluk royal decrees dated 1384 and 1404. The main door sports a beutiful invetriated hexagonal tile dating to the 17th century.






Mosque of Shaykh Ibrahim al-Namiri (1785-1800)

The main door bears an inscription that dates it to 1785, while minbar and secondary door date to the year 1800. On the niche of the mihrab the nice square Kufic inscription is a verse of from the Holy Quran.


Dome of Abu al-Naga' (1767)

This small darih, close to but physically separated from the homonymous mosque, is in a very scenic location, directly on the banks of the Nile river. The facade is richly decorated with mangur brick inlay and small glazed tiles, some of which look Tunisian in style. The burial site is covered by richly carved and painted canopy.






Heritage Map of Fuwwah

Here is a map that can help you navigate the heritage of Fuwwah if you wish to visit on your own.


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