The Mosque of Al Saleh Tala’i was built by the Armenian Saleh Tala’i Ibn Ruzik, who was a Minister under the rule of the Fatimid Khalif Al Faaez Bellah. The building is located outside of the gates of Fatimid Cairo and is considered the last mosque to be built in the Fatimid era in 555 AH/1160 AD. It is also considered the second Fatimid mosque to be built outside the walls of Cairo near to the Gates after the mosque built by Al Hakeem.
The mosque was constructed on a raised platform whose base had a built-in recesses on three sides (all except the qibla side) designed to host shops which contributed to the revenue of the mosque. The entrance to the mosque is fronted by a portico overlooking the Qasabet Radwan with five arches, a feature that was unique in Cairo until the Ottoman period and might have been intended for some ceremonial purpose. Originally, a minaret also rose above the entrance of the mosque but it was dismantled in 1926 due to defects that happened in it.
The mosque was modified during the Mamluk era after an earthquake in 1302 which destroyed the minaret that stood over the front porch of the mosque. In recent decades, a water-lowering project was implemented in the surrounding of this mosque to reduce its exposure to capillary action.
| Location: | Cairo, Egypt |
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| Coordinates: | 30°02′32″N 31°15′28″E |
| Built: | Est. 555 AH / 1160 AD |
| Governing body: | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
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| Architectural Type: | Mosque |
| Architectural style: | Fatimid |
The Qasaba of Radwan Bek is considered as one of the historical commercial places in the Ottoman era. It was established in the 11th century AH / 17 AD by Prince Radwan Bek Al Faqqari, who was one of the most important officials throughout the 17th century and the Ottoman era. The place was one of the biggest markets in the city and some of its shops are still in place and in business until now. (1045-1047A.H/ 1635-1637A.D) (11th century A.H /17th century A.D).
