Test your knowledge about Islamic Egypt

Ibn Tulun and Al-Qata’i

After being appointed governor of Egypt in 868, Ahmad Ibn Tulun founded Al-Qata’I, a dynastic city where large mosque still stands. His descendants governed the country autonomously for 22-years.

In 868 Ahmad Ibn Tulun, a military leader was named governor of Egypt, which he ruled until 883. In 870 he founded a new quarter called Al-Qata’I (The Allotments in English) because the land covers about 270-hecares was then divided into quarters that were distributed to his military followers on the basis of ethnic origin. Ibn Tulun had his large mosque built in the middle of the new settlement which became a dynastic city. While his palace was constructed against the Muqattam (Mokatam) hills, not far from the spot where the current Citadel of Salah Eldin was founded. The weakness of the Abbasid Khalifate allowed Ibn Tulun to found and expand his own dynasty, the Tulunid, who ruled Egypt until 905, when the Abbasids regained back power.

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Who founded Cairo, Al-Qahira – Egypt?

In 969 the Fatimid Khalif (so called because he was a descendant of Fatima, a daughter of Muhammad the prophet). Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah, who lived in Tunisia placed his 100,000 soldiers under the leadership of a converted Greek slave, general Gawhar Al-Siqilli, and conquered Egypt, putting an end to the Abbasid dynasty and its Ikhshidid governors. At the time of this conquest at-Fustat was economic hub of the country and one of the leading cities in the world. However, Gawhar decided to found a true imperial city, which he named Al-Qahira, meaning “the Victorious” because according to tradition the planet Mars (al-Qahir in Arabic) was in the ascendant during the foundation of the city. Thus, began a period of great prosperity and extraordinary artistic achievements that was receptive to Byzantine, Maghrebi, and Crusader influences, a period of cultural ferment that lasted for two centuries, during which eleven khalifs ruled.

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