This building is the only royal construction in Darb al-Ahmar. The Sultan Al-Ashraf Sha'ban Ibn Hussein Ibn Al-Nasir Mohamed Ibn Al-Mansour Qalawun commissioned the construction of this madrassa for his mother Khwand Baraka Khatoun Bent Abdullah and wife of Al-Amir Al-Amagad Hussein Ibn Al-Nasir Mohamed Ibn Qalaqun, who was the father of her son Al-Ashraf Sha'ban. Khwand Baraka was appreciated due to her contributions and donations, especially during her pilgrimage year in 770 AH (1368AD) to the extent that this year was known among the people by her name as Umm Al-Sultan (i.e. mother the sultan) year. In addition, she played a major role in the political life of the time and in consolidating her son’s, rule. She died in 774 AH (1372 AD).
The main facade of the school, which overlooks Tabana Street, is the first entrance to the building and to its right is a water basin for the animals. The minaret is the focal point of the building, which follows a four-iwan typology around an open-air courtyard. The qibla wall includes a marble mihrab. While the eastern larger dome was dedicated to the burial of Khwand Baraka and her daughter Khwand Zahra, the second smaller dome is dedicated to the burial of the male family members. In general, the madrasa of Umm Al- Sultan Shaban has great historical, architectural and artistic importance and can be considered one of the most beautiful places in Al-Darb al-Ahmar.
Umm al-Sultan Sha’ban Mosque was among the first projects in Cairo undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The starting point in 2002 was the reconstruction of the missing upper section of the minaret that had suffered from the 1884 earthquake. Work then expanded to the entire complex and was completed at the end of 2006.
| Location: | Cairo, Egypt |
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| Coordinates: | 30°02′15″N 31°15′33″E |
| Built: | Est. 771 AH / 1369 A.D |
| Governing body: | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
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| Architectural Type: | Mosque |
| Architectural style: | Mamluk. |
Bait Al-Razzaz is known as one of the most beautiful Mamluk and Ottoman houses in Al-Darb al-Ahmar. It dates back to Sultan Qaitbay’s era back in the 15th century. During the Ottoman era, it was the residence of Ahmed Katkhoda al-Razzaz, a very wealthy rice merchant after whom the house was named.
