Al-Rifa'i Mosque

This Mosque was very beautiful, very historical and interesting. The architecture is stunning, it’s one of the older Mosque’s in Cairo. It’s very well preserved and maintained, I really enjoyed my time here, I went with a tour guide which makes a big difference when experiencing these holy sites. It gives you a much better understanding of its heritage. I would definitely recommend visiting this beautiful place.

The mosque is a magnificent structure, doesn't look impressive from outside, but once you are inside it the real beauty of the mosque is completely different. It's a burial place of many royal families. The place of worship at the center has sandalwood decorations and the smell is still there. The last Shah of Iran Muhammad Reda was buried at this mosque.
Must visit place in Cairo

Beautiful mosque. Must visit. I absolutely enjoyed it.

History from the plaque in front if the mosque-
Al-Rifai Mosque
The mosque gets its name from imam Ahmad al Rifai who founded the Rifa'i tariga (Sufi path).
The original structure was a Fatimid mosque, which is located next to Zawiyat contains a number of mausoleums, It is known as the Zawiyat al Rifai, Although he was not buried in Egypt, this name stuck to the Zawiyat first, and then to the mosque later. In 1286 AH/ 1869 Khushyar Hanem commissioned the current design of the mosque and put in charge of the construction the architect Hussein Pasha Fahmi that it serve as a burial for her and the royal family. The construction has stopped for years until it was completed in the region of Khedive Abbas Helmi I in 1330Ah\ 1912 AD.
Al Rifa'i Mosque was built to emulate the mosque and madrasa of Sultan Hasan. The mosque's design is unique in many respects, its large entrances were surrounded by ornamented stone and marble columns as well as the ornate ceilings. A part of the mosque was dedicated for prayer in the eastern wall, which contains a mihrab covered with colored marble, and next to it a wooden pulpit inlaid with ivory and ebony.
As for the other part of the mosque was used as a burial for the Muhammad Ali Dynasty. Khedive Ismail, four of his sons, and three of his wives were buried there, as was his mother Khushyar Hanem. Separate burials were reserved for Sultan Hussein Kamel son of Ismail, King Fouad I, and King Farouk I. Reza Pahlavi, former Shah of Iran, was buried there for a while before being moved to his country at the end of the Second World War. His son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran remains buried in al-Rifa'i Mosque.

Amazing architecture and nice place to know more about Islamic history and art

What a wonderful Islamic architecture in mosques in Cairo, there are no words to express it.

I advise you to visit Cairo mosques to enjoy their beauty.

This unique Mosque was built to emulate its iconic neighbour Mosque - Madrasa of Sultan Hasan, located in Citadel Square,the architectural style, elaborate ornamentation reflect the traditional cultural richness of Egypt, last Shah of Iran who was in exile buried here, there is admission ticket.

Very beautiful mosque with great architecture and massive structure, it’s named Rifai after a mystic saint, it also has the burial sites of Reza Shah Pahlavi and also the tombs of the royal family like Khedive Ismail and king Farouk, please note that the tombs of Khedive Ismail, his wives and Sultan Hussain Kamil are not open unless you ask for them, so go and ask the person responsible in the mosque so he can opens the door to the other Royal tombs, if you don’t ask for them you’ll only be able to see the Shah Mohammad Pahlavi and King Farouk Tombs, the place is definitely worth the visit and i highly recommend it.

The Al-Rifa'i Mosque was constructed in two phases over the period between 1869 and 1912 when it was finally completed.It was originally commissioned by Hoshiyar Qadin, the mother of the 19th century Khedive Isma'il Pasha to expand and replace the preexisting zawiya (shrine) of the medieval Islamic saint Ahmed al-Rifa'i.

Great place showing the greatness of Islamic architecture

Looks like a Christian Cathedral, with huge pillars and a central arch. Really enjoyed. Very different from other mosques.

The mosque was built in the 19th century. Hoshiyar Qadin, her son Isma'il Pasha, Sultan Hussein Kamel, Sultan and King Fouad I, and King Farouk are buried in chambers in this mosque

It was a nice place, beautiful construction, specially visiting the late King of Iran Mohammadreza Shah Pahlavi delighted me. Ticket was 120 Egyptian Pounds Normal,
60 Egyptian Pounds Students. Check on line also it maybe cheaper. Good luck :)

One of the most beautiful and unique mosques in cairo .. the christian architect who designed it was inspired by churches.. there‘s always a local guide in there .. from the outside you can see salah eldin citadel and muhammad ali mosque .. there‘s also graves inside the mosque for an egyptian royal family .. king farouk and his family i guess

Masjed of Al-Rifa'i placed in a very magnificent area of old Cairo where you can recognise, touch and feel easily through the architectures/building how the old Cairo was pretty - and Masjed Al-Refa'i is one of this architecture. inside it is a big enough to have all visitors without feeling of congustion, also out side there is a place where no vehicles movement, so you can have some rest and feel a nice a atmosphere even at summer hot days.
Also it came in the strategic position between many others ancient places like Masjed Al-Sulatan Hassan, Salah AlDin Citadel and Masjed Mohamed Ali, also you can easily pick on of many bublic transportation direct at front of the Masjed to almost every where in cairo
مسجد الرفاعى مكان رائع جدا تقدر تشوف فيه طابع المباني والعماره وتقدر تستشف ازاى كان طابع المكان زمان والأجواء المحيطة فى القاهرة القديمة ،
الجامع من الداخل واسع ويتسع لإعداد كبيرة من المصلين والزائرين دون الشعور بالزحام ، كمان خارج الجامع في مكان ممنوع مرور فيه العربات فممكن اى حد يقعد ويستمع بالوقت وخاصة فى الصيف والايام الحر لان بيكون الجو هناك معتدل .
كمان موقع الجامع فى قلب القاهرة القديمة و هو ملاصق لاماكن اخري اثرية و مهمه زى جامع السلطان حسن و قلعة صلاح الدين ومسجد محمد على و بتعدي من أمامه مواصلات لمعظم اماكن القاهرة.

Lovely mosque, surprised about the entry fee, 180egp I believe, also take care to count change!

The Al-Rifa'i Mosque was constructed in two phases over the period between 1869 and 1912 when it was finally completed.It was originally commissioned by Hoshiyar Qadin, the mother of the 19th century Khedive Isma'il Pasha to expand and replace the preexisting zawiya (shrine) of the medieval Islamic saint Ahmed al-Rifa'i. The zawiya was a pilgrimage site for locals who believed that the tomb had mystical healing properties. Hoshiyar envisioned a dual purpose for the new structure as a house for Sufi relics and a mausoleum for the royal family of Egypt. Over the course of its construction the architect, design, and purpose were changed.
The original architect was Hussein Fahri Pasha, a distant cousin in the dynasty founded by Muhammad Ali of Egypt in 1803. He died during the first phase of construction, and work was halted after Khedive Isma'il Pasha abdicated in 1880. Hoshiyar Qadin herself died in 1885, and work was not resumed until 1905 when the Khedive, Abbas II of Egypt, ordered its completion. Work was supervised by the Hungarian architect Max Herz, head of the Committee for the Conservation of Arab Monuments in Cairo.

The building itself is a melange of styles taken primarily from the Mamluk period of Egyptian history, including its dome and minaret. The building contains a large prayer hall as well as the shrines of al-Rifa'i and two other local saOints, Ali Abi-Shubbak and Yahya al-Ansari.

The building itself is a melange of styles taken primarily from the Mamluk period of Egyptian history, including its dome and minaret. The building contains a large prayer hall as well as the shrines of al-Rifa'i and two other local saints, Ali Abi-Shubbak and Yahya al-Ansari

The place where the tomb of Shah of Persia is there

As places to visit in Cairo go, this is pretty much a must see location.

Free of cost to walk around and visit this 1911 completed mosque, located opposite the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan (which dates from around 1361).

I found the air in and around the mosques grounds oddly refreshing. The tall towers and open courtyards make for very interesting airflow.

Of course, the site hosts some rather spectacular architecture as well. Enjoy!

Wonderful place

Resting place of great Kings, among others: Shah of Iran (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi), Sultan Hussein Kamel, Sultan and King Fuad I, and King Farouk etc...