Sultan Hassan Mosque
If a person can have a love affair with a certain place then that is what I
have with
Sultan Hassan Mosque. I had lived in Cairo for several years before I actually visited this grand
mosque.
Of course I’d viewed it from the heights of the touristically more famous Mohamed Ali Mosque
which overlooks Cairo. Sultan Hassan and its neighbouring mosque Rafi always
held a fascination for me but I generally spent so much time wandering the grounds
of Mohamed Ali that visiting hours were over before I knew it! And besides I still naively
considered
that one mosque couldn’t be that much different to another even though at that time in my
life
I did have one particular mosque which I loved to visit, and that was Ibn Tulun.
*Ibn Tulun’s Minaret can be seen in the background.
Ibn Tulun for me held a special charm. I could go there any time I liked as it was
relatively
close to my home and access was readily available to its minaret tower. So any time
I felt I needed to raise myself from day to day life I would head for the sanctuary this
tower offered me!
I can recall telling many people that from this minaret I felt as though I was in close
contact with God. In the elevated solace of Ibn Tulun I generally found answers to my
questions or
solutions to my problems. For this very reason Ibn Tulun remained my special haven for
quite some time.
Today I still jump at any opportunity to visit my old friend as our connection is not and never
can be broken just like the love connection with a true friend!
The reason Mohamed Ali Mosque for me took priority over visiting Sultan
Hassan for so long was because of the spectacular view of Cairo offered from its grounds.
Mohamed Ali mosque is a photographer’s paradise and is always a hive of activity with both
local school groups and hordes of tourists. As people are my very favourite subjects
to photograph the combination of the architecture, view and people had a definite magnetic
pull for me. Finally however the day came when I made the decision to go directly to
Sultan Hassan
Mosque and enter her impressive walls and since making that decision my life has never been the same.
*Views of Mohmaed Ali Mosque
Why you may well ask? Sultan Hassan gave me the same feeling I experienced the first time
I set foot in Cairo and that was that I was home! Peace washed over me as soon as I entered
her 36 meter high walls. I had not explored Sultan Hassan’s history at all. This is not my way. These days and for some time now I completely allow my feeling to guide me in all I do in life. I have come
to appreciate my feelings as being my direct guidance from God. To me this is entirely logical as I am, as are we all, a sentient being so therefore I conclude that I should honour that my senses have a profound purpose!
*Sultan Hassan on the left as seen from Mohamed Ali Mosque
I returned to Sultan Hass on numerous occasions simply to be in this comforting energy. It seemed no matter how many visitors passed me by that they became oblivious to me. Sultan Hassan caressed me in a way that said I am here simply to help you learn more about yourself and help you heal in my presence. In no way was there ever any religious
connotation present as I entered her walls but rather a unified feeling of oneness that welcomed me and clearly offered refuge to me and all who set foot in her walls.
I have since come to know much, much more of her history. She and her family of caretakers from the General Manager, Mr. Said to the ticket lady on the gate have become very special friends to me. Now not only does the mosque make me feel safe and at home but also all those caring for her.
*Just like in life; The higher you go the greater the view!
Just in the same manner that my heart always feels richer when I visit the children
of Shams El Birr so too is it enriched every time I visit Sultan Hassan. I now
understand why I may have first experienced an initial feeling that I could learn
more about myself and experience self healing in her energy. Sultan Hassan
was more than just a mosque. Sultan Hassan was also a school and hospital.
It was a home for its students. It was like a city all of its own; a place to retreat fromthe world on a journey of personal
exploration and growth!
The day before I wrote this piece I was once more caressed by Sultan Hassan’s
energy and I came home renewed. I immediately decided to add her to my
website because of the profound effect she has had on my life. In her
presence I feel no religious separation I purely and simply feel the love of God
and life!
Mosques to me signify male energy yet I insist on referring to them as her
and she; maybe that is because of the loving mothering energy I so often
experience in their presence. Yesterday I was discussing the male energy mosques
in general represent with Mr. Said the General Manager of the area. I commented
that the decoration on mosques is very feminine and beautiful and that perhaps
this was done to bring the balance of the feminine into the expression of mosques?
I have no idea if my thoughts on this issues are credible or not, but what I do
know is that peace washes over me in mosques. This calming energy can only occur
in balanced energy. Mosques further express balance in that they are not completely
roofed, for they are always designed around an open courtyard so that the natural
light of life which comes directly from God is ever present within their walls!
I feel for me there is no more to say. Hopefully the pictures on this page speak for me.
If you would like to know more about this wonderful mosque there are many websites
available. I found this one http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/hassanmosque.htm
quite informative. Also if you have any questions or are heading for Cairo and would
like a personally guided tour of this mosque and the area which is also so dear to my
heart please feel free to contact me at any time.
Sultan Hassan and I.
I sincerely hope that I have been able to impart through my words and
photographs just a hint of the warmth and friendliness
I experience everytime I am in the presence
of the energy of this this wonderful
mosque and her team of
faithfull caretakers!
Every time I step into Sultan Hassan's walls I discover more and more of
her incredable and yet often ignored history. I'm sure my love affair with
Sultan Hassan will endure and continue to grow!
Previous life around me |
 of DSC08431.JPG)
