#4 

Maqam Saud Al-Rifa'i

Have you ever passed by a mysterious monument, to find yourself in front of a neglected part of a great history? However, every monument, whether famous or not, is important because it represents a part of Egypt's history. So, let us shed light on this long-neglected monument.

When we visited (Souq El-Selah), a historical street in Islamic Cairo, we barely recognized the Maqam of Saud Al-Rifa'i, as it is surrounded by a cluster of modern buildings from three sides. When we saw it in real life we were surprised with its detailed beautiful carvings and ornaments, which were not visible in photos of the Maqam.

Doing a little research, we began to know more about that monument. It was built during the Ottoman Empire's reign, but its unique structure was inspired by the Mamluks' style of architecture.

The maqam was named the "Green Dome" because its dome was covered with beautiful green faience tiles.

The governor Soliman Pasha built it for Sheikh Saud Al-Rifa'i, who is thought to be related to Ahmed Al-Rifa'i, the founder of the Rifa'i Sufism way. He has a mosque named after him in the Al-Qala'h square.

Sheikh Saud Al-Rifa'i was the most famous "magzoub" in his time. A magzoub is a person who, in Sufis belief, has been "led by truth to divine presence", meaning that the veil on his body was elevated. They were mostly madmen roaming the streets in rags, yet they were commonly seen during the Mamluk era.

While building maqams was forbidden in Islam, they were still spread widely in Cairo during the Ayyubid caliphate.

Interestingly is that despite being damaged in some parts, and its stained glass is lost, Maqam Saud Al-Rifa'i still retains its beauty.

So don't forget to visit this monument when you're in Islamic Cairo, as it tells the history of the Sufism way during the Ottoman Empire reign.

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Written by: Christine Maged

Proofread by: Ahmed Maged 

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About the author: Christine enjoys reading fiction, especially fantasy novels. She has an obsession with everything that is vintage and also loves handmade arts that are made with unusual stuff.

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 1- Maqam: A building that is used as a tomb for Sheikhs or Imams in Sufism, which becomes a shrine and serves as a place of communication with a saint.

2- Sufism: An Islamic sect that deals with mysticism.