Seen in Cairo : Fatima El-Shaqra Mosque in one fine afternoon

And because we are in the heart of historical Islamic Cairo, it was not a big surprise to meet a new ancient mosque in the El-Siyada Zeinab area that gave the scene in Ramadan lanterns market more Ramadan vibe magic.

The minaret of Fatima El-Shaqra Mosque 

This ancient mosque caught my eyes when I was in Bab Al-Khalq for the Ramadan lanterns makeshift markets.

This mosque was originally built in the 15th century during the Mamluk era by a man called Rashid El-Baha’i yet it is officially and commonly known as Fatima El-Shaqra Mosque or Fatima, the Blonde Mosque.

Fatima El-Shaqra Mosque's entrance

Blonde Fatima was a Circassian Russian slave girl who was freed and married later Sultan Qaitbey and gave birth to his son Sultan El-Nasser Mohamed.

She built mosques and hospitals and had a lot of charity works.

Reportedly, she restored and renovated this mosque and thus was commonly named after her.

When the Mosque or rather its minaret caught my eyes 

This mosque was partially damaged in the October earthquake of 1992 and was closed down.

But after the 2011 revolution and the pleas of the street’s residents, it underwent renovations and it was re-inaugurated in 2019.

A very old photo for the Mosque's minaret
taken in 1921 by Sir K.A.C. Creswell. 
Currently part of Victoria and Albert Museum Collection

I have not gone inside but hopefully one day I will.

I told you this Cairo district of El-Siyada Zeinab got riches and treasures enough to sustain its local economy.