Who was Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah?
The reign of al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah came relatively late in the Fatimid state, when Cairo had become a mature city inside Badr al-Jamali's walls. The building most closely linked to him is al-Aqmar Mosque, built in 519 AH under the supervision of the vizier al-Ma'mun al-Bata'ihi.
The mosque is small compared with al-Hakim or al-Azhar, but its architectural value is exceptional thanks to its richly carved stone façade and the way the front follows the line of the street while the interior keeps its orientation towards Mecca.
How did they shape Cairo?
Al-Aqmar Mosque marks a step forward in how architecture related to the street in Cairo. The façade was no longer just the outer edge of a building; it was designed to engage with the movement of the city and its main axis. That is why the legacy of al-Amir's reign shows in fine urban details rather than in size alone.
Because the mosque sits in the middle of al-Muizz Street, it is easy to compare its Fatimid language with the Mamluk madrasas and domes added after it.
Monuments linked to Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah
Where to see their legacy today
As you walk along al-Muizz Street, stop opposite the façade of al-Aqmar Mosque before going in; the façade itself is one of the main reasons the building is famous.