THE MOSQUES OF EGYPT \ 5.THE MAMLUK PERIOD, 648 - 923H. (1250- 1517 A.D.) .   39- MOSQUE - MADRASA OF ABU BAKR MUZHIR 884H.(1479/80) . THIS MOSQUE is situated in the Haret Bargawan, Gamaliya district. It was founded in 884H. (1479) by Abu Bakr Muzhir who was educated in Egypt and showed great talent. He was qualified in teaching and ifta' and became one of the most renowned scholars. He occupied several high posts, the last of which was the presidency of the Diwan al- Incha' during the reign of al- Ashraf Qayt- Bay. This mosque is one of the best examples of those founded during the reign of al- Ashraf Qayt- Bay, e.g. the Mosques of Qijmas al- Ishaqi and Uzbak al- Yusufi, to be discussed later, all of which display perfect planning, good proportions, and fine craftsmanship, as may be seen in their minbars, doors, and windows, as well as in their beautiful marble dadoes and floors. The mosque has two faades. The main entrance, which is in the eastern faade, is remarkable for its beautiful decoration carved in marble and stone, and its brass plated door, decorated with geometrical designs. Above this entrance is the minaret, which consists of three storeys and which is rich with decoration and stalactites, similar to others of the period. In the southern faade is a door leading to the lavatories and to the sabl and kuttab annexed to the mosque. The main entrance leads to a small vestiblule, on the left side of which is a window and on the right a corridor leading to the sahn. The mosque is built according to the cruciform madrasa plan. It consists of a roofed sahn surrounded by four iwans. The faades of both the qible iwan and that opposite, are composed of three arches supported by two marble columns. Each of the two side iwans has one arch only. We have met with this type of planning in the Mosque of Aslam as- Silahdar, founded in 746H. (1345) and in a few other mosques. In most madrasas each iwan has one large arched opening only. The floors of the sahn and iwans are paved with coloured marble in beautiful geometrical designs. The qibla iwan has a high dado of coloured marble, in the centre of which is a beautiful marble mihrab, and to the right stands a wooden minbar of fine craftsmanship. Above the dado are windows of pierced stucco, decorated with coloured glass. The craftsman who undertook the decoration had his name inscribed in the centre of the window arch net to the minbar. The inscription runs as follows; "The work of 'Abd al- Qadir, the painter (decorator)." This is a rare example in the inscriptions in ancient mosques, for we usually see the names of the founders, Kings, or Amirs, while the name of the architect of the mosque or the craftsman who took part in its decoration remains unknown. The ceilings of the mosque attain the same standard of beauty; they are made of wood, finely decorated and gilded. Plates 128- 129.
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