Egypt to Renovate Shrines of Prophet’s Family at foot of Mokattam Mountain

Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Issa, recently presided over a meeting with a group of senior officials from the ministry and the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

The meeting aimed to discuss the renovation and restoration project for the shrines of Prophet Muhammad's family, companions, and the righteous located at the foot of Mokattam Mountain.

According to a statement recently issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Issa emphasized the significance of this project, owing to the historical, archaeological, and religious importance of the area where these tombs are situated. Additionally, the tombs are part of the fabric of the historic region of Cairo, which is one of the archaeological sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Minister directed the formation of a scientific, archaeological, and artistic committee chaired by Dr. Gamal Abdel Rahim, Professor of Islamic Archeology at the Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University. The committee will prepare a comprehensive study on the historic tombs and develop a vision for a complete project to restore and develop them, the statment noted.

During the meeting, the Minister was briefed through a presentation on the tombs of the Companions, the Prophet’s family, the righteous, Sufis, scholars, and statesmen from the era of Muhammad Ali’s family. The presentation also included several mosques, domes, shrines, and scenes, including the Mosque and the Dome of the Imam, Al-Shafi’i, the Dome of Imam Al-Layth, Housh Al-Pasha, and others.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Hisham El-Laithi, Under Secretary of State for Documentation of Egyptian Antiquities (CDEA) and Head of the Antiquities Preservation and Registration Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr. Abu Bakr Ahmed, Head of the Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr. Nashwa Jaber, and member of the Permanent Committee for Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities, and a number From the ministry's leaders.