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  • Al-Hakim be Aamr Ellah Mosque

    Mosque of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah

    Al-Hakim Amr Allah Mosque, located on Al-Moez Street in Old Cairo, is a prominent Fatimid landmark and the fourth oldest surviving mosque in Egypt. Built in 380 AH during Al-Aziz Billah's reign, it was completed by his son in 403 AH (1012-1013 AD), making it the second largest mosque in Cairo after Ahmed Ibn Tulun Mosque. The mosque's name was attributed to him. The mosque, measuring 12005 meters in length and 113 meters in width, has two minarets at its sea front, surrounded by pyramid-shaped bases. The upper cubes are slightly backwards, and an octagonal minaret protrudes from each of the upper cubes.

  • Visit Queen Nefertari’s Tomb

    Tomb of Queen Nefertari

    There were also the great queens of the New Kingdom (1550-1090 BC) Nefertiti, the wife of Akhenaten (1371-1355 BC), and Nefertari, one of the celebrated eight wives of Ramses II (c. 1279-c. 1213 BC). While Nefertiti is more popular for the exquisite portrait bust of her that is located in Berlin, Nefertari is famous mostly for her large burial site situated in the Valley of the Queens.

  • tomb of Tutankhamun | Tutankhamun tomb discovery | king tut tomb pictures

    Tomb of Tutankhamun

    The Valley of the Kings, located on the Nile River's west bank near Thebes, served as a cemetery for pharaohs during the New Kingdom of Ancient Egyptians from 1539 to 1075 BC. The 20,000 square meter rocky valley houses 27 royal tombs from the 18th, 19th, and 20th Egyptian dynasties, which have been discovered to this day. Pharaoh Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, was the last Eighteenth Dynasty Pharaoh from 1334 to 1325 B.C. He is famous for his intact tomb and treasures, unmarked grave, and premature death due to broken bones. His minister married his widow after his death.

  • the Virgin Mary’s tree.

    The Tree of Virgin Mary in Matareya

    The Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast of the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt, a minor liturgical feast. It commemorates St. Joseph the Carpenter's obedience to an angel's command to take the child and his mother to Egypt, marking the entry of the Holy Family into the land of Egypt. The prayers begin on the eve of the liturgical day. The Maryam Tree Mazar, a significant tourist attraction in Egypt, is home to the Holy Family and has undergone significant development and renovations to maintain its historical significance.

  • Al Qusayr, Egypt | Al Quseir history

    Historical Background | Quseir Town

    The city of Al-Qusair is located on the western shore of the Red Sea in Egypt, 140 km south of Hurghada, and one of the most important villages of the city is Hamrawin village, with an area of 7,636 km², while its population is 50,023 people. Al-Qusayr, named after a fort that protected the nation during ancient Pharaonic, Roman, and other empires, was a hub for gold procurement by Pharaohs. Built by Sultan Selim I during the Ottoman period, the fortress remains intact.

  • Bayt al-Suhaymi architecture |  Al Suhaymi House

    Bayt al-Suhaymi in Cairo

    The Suhaimi House transports you back in time to the Ottoman period which was notable in being very artistic with the bold designs of Islamic architecture and Suhaimi House serves as an exceptional example of Islamic style of architecture of private residences. Al-Suhaimi House is an Arabic house with Ottoman-style architecture, dedicated to men on the salamlik floor and women on the haramlik floor. Built in 1058 AH / 1648 AD by Sheikh Abdul Wahab Al-Tablawi, it consists of two sections.

Biography of Ahmad ibn Tulun

Details about Ahmad Ibn Tulun life and his achievements

  • 05 16, 2023

Biography of Ahmad ibn Tulun

Ahmad ibn Tulun's roots go back to Turkish origins, and his father was one of the slaves of Noah ibn Asad, the governor of Bukhara; he freed him because he saw in him ability and competence, then sent him to Caliph Al-Ma'mun; he admired him and enrolled him in the caliphate court, and he graduated in military positions until he became the head of the caliph's guard.

In the city of “Baghdad”, the capital of the caliphate, Ahmad bin Tulun was born on (23 Ramadan 220 AH = September 20, 835 AD), and his father took great care of him; he taught him the military arts, received jurisprudence and hadith, frequented the circles of scholars to learn from them, and had a good voice in reading the Qur'an.

Then he went to Tarsus after he took over some of its affairs at his wish; to be close to its scholars who were famous for jurisprudence, hadith and interpretation, and after his return he became the object of trust of the Abbasid caliphs for his knowledge and courage, and joined the service of Caliph Al-Musta'in Billah in (248-252 AH = 862-866 AD), and became the object of his trust and appreciation.

It was customary for the great governors appointed by the Caliph for the provinces subject to him to remain in the capital of the Caliphate to enjoy prestige and power, and proximity to the areas of sovereignty and influence, while at the same time they deputize them in governing those states from their trusted followers and relatives, in whom they find skill and competence. In that period, Egypt was under the guardianship of the Turkish commander “Pakbak”, Ahmad ibn Tulun's stepfather, so he deputized him according to this custom in ruling Egypt, and supplied him with a large army that entered Egypt on (23 Ramadan 254 AH = September 16, 868 AD).

As soon as he landed in Egypt, he was faced with many difficulties and intractable issues, and he was distracted by the interests of those who were interested in igniting revolutions that distracted him from what he came for, but Ibn Tulun was not like previous governors; he quickly increased his influence, put down the strife that erupted with all firmness, and forced the governors of the provinces to submit to him and implement his orders, and before that, they underestimated the governors and did not care about their decisions.

Ibn Tulun's footing was further strengthened after the governorate of Egypt was entrusted to Yarjukh, Ibn Tulun's father-in-law, so he worked to stabilize his son-in-law and increased his influence by adding the rule of Alexandria. Ibn Tulun was not satisfied with the influence he achieved in Egypt; he aspired to have the work of the Kharaj in his hands, and the Kharaj factor was appointed by the Abbasid Caliph, and the governor of Egypt had no authority over him, but Ahmad Ibn Tulun succeeded in obtaining from the Caliph “Al-Mu'depend on God” (256 - 279 AH = 870-892 AD) a decision to add the Kharaj to him, thus combining the financial and political authorities. 279 AH = 870-892 AD) a decision to add him to the work of the Kharaj, thus combining the financial and political authorities, and strengthening his power, and his first action was to cancel the excise and taxes that the previous Kharaj factor had burdened the people.

When the Byzantine state repeatedly attacked the Levantine fortresses in Antioch, Tarsus, Musasah, etc., the Caliph found no one better than Ibn Tulun to be in charge of the Levant. The approved caliph found no better than Ibn Tulun to take charge of the Levant to pay this danger and repel the Byzantines, especially since the caliphate was busy eliminating the Zunj sedition in Basra, where it spread like a huge fire, threatening the state's entity and shaking its pillars.

In the year (264 AH = 878), Ibn Tulun embarked on a military campaign to the Levant to consolidate his influence, discipline the Byzantines and protect the northern borders of the state, and in this campaign, the major cities of the Levant, such as Damascus, Homs, Aleppo and Antioch, entered his obedience. He continued his march to the city of Raqqa.

Ahmed Ibn Tulun Mosque is considered the undisputed leader of Cairo's mosques, as it is the oldest mosque that remains in its original state with some Mamluk additions, unlike the Amr Ibn al-As Mosque, whose renovations and expansions completely erased its original features, and was established by Prince Ahmed Ibn Tulun between 263 AH and 265 AH, and its visitors feel great awe and reverence.

Ahmed Ibn Tulun also built his great palace on the site of the current Citadel Square, which has completely disappeared, and it is said that it had forty doors, and Cairo has a few other Toluni monuments, such as the Toluni House located in the Al-Madabagh area in the Old City of Cairo.

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Ibn Tulun's greatest accomplishment was creating the Tulunid dynasty, which governed Egypt from 868 to 905 AD. During his rule, he implemented numerous administrative reforms and led military expeditions that resulted in his acquisition of Syria and its cities, including Damascus, Hama, Homs, and Aleppo.

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