Mosque and Khanqah of Farag ibn Barquq

Greetings, fellow travelers and scholars of Islamic architecture. We are standing in the heart of the Northern Cemetery, also known as the 'Desert of the Mamluks' or the Qarafa. …

Standing before the principal facade, which faces northwest toward the city, one is immediately struck by its 'symmetry'—a rare and striking feature in Mamluk architecture. Unlike the crowded 'urban funerary complexes' built on…

Entering through the portal, we emerge into the 'large open courtyard' or sahn. This is the heart of the complex, a vast, square space that feels like an 'oasis' in the desert. …

To the north and south of the courtyard, behind the lateral iwans, lie the 'Sufi cells.' These are small, private rooms—over 120 in total—where the 'Sufis were able to live... and isolate themselves and start to pray and think…

The 'Qibla Iwan' is the most deeply decorated part of the complex. This is the main sanctuary, oriented toward Mecca. …

We now enter the 'Northern Mausoleum,' located to the left of the Qibla Iwan. This is where Sultan Barquq and his son Faraj are buried. …

Across the courtyard, we find the 'Southern Mausoleum,' the 'twin' to the northern one we just visited. This space was dedicated to the 'women of the Sultan's family.' Buried here are Barquq's daughters and his wife, along with…

As we conclude our journey through the Mosque and Khanqah of Sultan Faraj ibn Barquq, take a final look at the 'twin minarets' and 'twin domes' silhouetted against the Cairo sky. We have walked through the 'hidden gems' of the…