Al-Fattah al-Aleem Mosque explained

Al-Fattah al-Aleem Mosque
Native Name:Arabic: مَسجِد الفَتّاح العَليم|translit=masjid al-fattāḥ al-ʿalīm
Native Name Lang:ar
Map Type:Egypt
Coordinates:30.0197°N 31.6022°W
Municipality:New Administrative Capital
Country:Egypt
Religious Affiliation:Islam
Architecture Type:Mosque
Architecture Style:Islamic-Fatimid
Capacity:17,000
Dome Quantity:21
General Contractor:Arab Contractors
Minaret Quantity:4[1]

The al-Fattah al-Aleem Mosque (Arabic: مَسجِد الفَتّاح العَليم|masjid al-fattāḥ al-ʿalīm) is a mosque in the New Administrative Capital in Egypt. It was inaugurated by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the president of Egypt, on 6 January 2019.[2]

The mosque has a capacity of nearly 17,000 people and is considered Egypt's second largest mosque.[3] [4] The mosque is located on the New Middle Ring Road in the New Capital and is considered the 2nd biggest mosque in Egypt after the Islamic Cultural Center (Grand Mosque) and one of the mega-mosques worldwide.[5] It is built upon a total area of 44.55 ha (106 feddans).[6] President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi witnessed the inauguration ceremony of al-Fattah al-Aleem Mosque and the Nativity of the Christ Cathedral on the same day.[7]

Size and construction

Built on a total area of 110acres, the mosque is considered the second largest mosque in the world in terms of total area. With a landing field, car parking for 2650 cars, services and an administrative building that accommodates 60 workers for the mosque operation. The green area represents one third of the total area of the mosque which is equivalent to 120000m2. The roads represent 10% from the total area of about 45000m2.

The Armed Forces Engineering Authority was keen on using the Egyptian marble in the mosque works and wanted the construction to be done by Egyptian workers only. The execution of the mosque was done in 15 months, starting on 16/6/2017 and within six months the concrete and construction works were done, the finishing works took 9 months starting from 1/4/2018 to 31/12/2018.[8]

Architecture

Fencing works

A total length of  3150 ml.

The minarets

It is according to the Fatimid style, its total number 4 minarets with 95m height without the crown and the crescent; it is equivalent to 31 floors in height and each minaret has 4 balconies. The minarets are topped with stainless steel crescents treated with PVD to give it the golden brightful color with a height 4.5m.

The 21 domes

A main dome

33m diameter, 44m height and total weight 5000 ton.

4 secondary domes

11.75 diameter, 9m height  topping the mosque's ceil, 24m higher than the mosque's surface level. Beneath the secondary domes there are 4 domes from the stained glass.

6 domes above the entries

7.5m diameter, 7m height above the entry ceil and 19m from the floor surface, beneath them there are 6 domes from the stained glass.

10 domes above the gates of the walls

5m diameter, 3.10m height and a total solid height 15m from the bottom.

The mosque nave is 6325m2 which accommodates for 6300 prayers with 5 main entrances in addition to 2 entrances for women. In addition to these, there is the outdoor prayer space built upon 3400m2 and accommodates 3400 persons.

The mosque includes 2 Qur'an memorization houses for boys and girls on 340m2, a library on 395m2, the administrative offices, the generator chamber, 2 control rooms for electricity, the stores, the conference room for 40 persons equipped with 94 WCs for men and women and a water tank with a capacity of 3500m2.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Egypt opens Mid-East's biggest cathedral. January 7, 2019. www.bbc.com.
  2. Web site: Egypt's Sisi inaugurates Nativity of the Christ Cathedral, Al-Fattah Al-Alim Mosque in New Administrative Capital - Politics - Egypt. Ahram Online.
  3. Web site: Egypt's Sisi opens mega-mosque and Middle East's largest cathedral after bomb attack. The National.
  4. Web site: President El Sisi inaugurated Al Fattah Al Aleem Mosque in the New Administrative Capital. The Arab Contractors.
  5. Web site: Egypt's largest mosque prepares for opening. Ahram Online. en.
  6. Web site: Al Fatah Al Aleem Mosque. Arab Contractors.
  7. Web site: Sisi inaugurates Al-Fattah Al-Aleem mosque and Jesus Christ Nativity Cathedral. State Information Service Egyptian Government. en.
  8. Web site: President El Sisi inaugurated Al Fattah Al Aleem Mosque in the New Administrative Capital. Arab Contractors.