Highest quality marble used in Al Haramain installed at Al Azhar

CAIRO – 10 October 2017: The construction company responsible for restoration works at Al Azhar mosque finished installing on its ground the highest quality of Thassos white marble as a part of its rehabilitation.

Thassos is a rare kind of marble exported from Lebanon which is used in Al Haramain. It has been known for many centuries all over the world for its pure sparkling whiteness and extraordinary elegance. Thassos marble also reflects sun beams magnificently, and is the lowest heat absorbing kind of marble.

In addition, the company dug a well at the place where the Ministry of Antiquities found an ancient water storage tank beneath Al Azhar mosque during the renovation works in 2015 to locate its place.

The restoration, funded by Saudi Arabia under the supervision of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, started in 2015. It aims to fix the foundation of the mosque partially through soil injection, to restore its minaret and clean its architectural designs and fine ornaments.

Al-Azhar mosque is one of Egypt’s Islamic monuments; built during the reign of the Fatimid Caliphate Al-Muizz Li Din Allah in 972, shortly after the establishment of Cairo as Egypt’s new capital.

The architectural style of the mosque shows the influence of all arts that have passed through Egypt. It was renovated and expanded several times during the Fatimid era; but during the Ayyubid era the mosque was completely neglected because it represented Shiites, while the Ayyubids were Sunnis.

During the Mamluk period, especially during the reign of Sultan Babirs, Al-Azhar mosque regained its luster after a great restoration project, according to Ahram Online.