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Islam

Islam in Egypt: Facts and keys for your trip to the country

Islam in Egyptis much more than the country’s predominant religion. Social life, the legal system, and politics are largely conditioned by Muslim customs and the sacred word spread by Muhammad, embodied in the Koran. Therefore, if you are going to travel to this country, it is important that you know what this religion is like and how it is lived here. You will find the main keys in these lines, but if you wish to delve deeper in person during your trip, our agency can configure a program in which religion has a lot of weight, as it is one of the great hallmarks of the country.

Table of Contents

Facts about Islam in Egypt

There are some figures that illustrate well the importance and validity of Islam in Egypt, as you will discover with your own eyes when you travel through the country:

  • 90% of the population professes Islam in Egypt. A percentage that may be even higher, according to some sources
  • 90 million people are therefore Muslims in Egypt. An easy figure to find, considering that in 2020, the country reached 100 million inhabitants
  • There are more than 110,000 mosques spread throughout the country, according to data from the German media Qantara
  • There are more than 53,000 imams who preach the faith and lead the prayer in the country’s mosques, according to the same source

History and entry of Islam in Egypt

Due to Egypt’s proximity to the sacred and foundational places of Islam, such as Mecca or Jerusalem, this country was one of the first to be conquered by Muslim troops in their earliest moments of expansion. Muhammad was born in Mecca in the year 570, began the Hegira in 622 (the moment in which the Islamic calendar begins) and died in Medina in 632.

After that, a rapid expansion of the Muslim faith began in the Middle East, which resulted in the introduction of Islam in Egypt between 639 and 642. At that time, this country remained under the rule of the Byzantine Empire at the political level and under the faith of Coptic Christianity at the religious level, although mired in deep doctrinal controversies and in coexistence with other creeds.

For geographical reasons, the Sinai Peninsula was the first area to be conquered by the Arab armies composed, among other bodies, of 4,000 elite horsemen. In addition, numerous desert Bedouins were recruited. The cities fell one after another and, in fact, it was one of the fastest conquests in this phase of Muslim expansion: Pelusium, Belbeis, Heliopolis, Fayyum, the Thebaid…

Also very important was the victory at the Roman fortress of Babylon, located at a strategic point between the Delta and the Nile Valley. Its capture resulted in the emergence of some military camps and administrative settlements, such as Fustat and later Al Qahira, origins of the current city of Cairo.

But the definitive battle, as usually happens in almost all conquests and wars, was that of the capital, which at that time was Alexandria. This city fell in 641, almost completely dismantling the Byzantine resistance.

On the other hand, the area in which Islam entered Egypt most belatedly was the extensive and distant south, Lower Nubia. And not only for geographical reasons, but also because of how rooted Christianity was here, receiving support from the rest of Nubia, which was formed in the kingdom of Dongola (present-day territory of Sudan). This area did not definitively embrace Islam until well into the Middle Ages.

Since the arrival of Islam in Egypt, the country has always remained under the Muslim faith. Once the conquest was consummated, the new Muslim rulers did not impose this new religion by force, although they did establish taxes on non-believers and preference was given to converts, which facilitated its reaching the status of main religion centuries later. Although there are controversies about the speed of that advance, it is certain that the Islam in Egypt was already largely in the majority in the 11th and 12th centuries

At the level of threats to its dominance, only some early and unsuccessful attempts by the Byzantine Empire to restore Christianity can be mentioned. The same occurred with the European armies in the medieval military campaigns known as the Crusades, which had the objective of recovering Jerusalem and other sacred places for this religion, with the conquest of Egypt being a prior step to this.

Egypt and the arrival of Islam

What is Islam like in Egypt

It is true that, at one extreme of society, there are very conservative currents of Islam in Egypt, such as the Muslim Brotherhood organization. And it is also true that, on the opposite extreme, there are Egyptians today who do not follow Islamic precepts very strictly: according to data from Arabbarometer.org, the percentage of people who did not declare themselves religious rose in the last decade from almost 3% to more than 10%. However, it is one of the lowest figures in the countries around it and most of the population is in a broad middle ground.

And that is also the role that Egypt usually occupies within the international context: a role of centrality, with a moderate and slightly open tendency. The best example of all this is the Al Azhar mosque, which also fulfills the function of an international reference teaching center. Its Grand Imam, in addition, is one of the great spiritual leaders for the faithful of the Islam, in Egypt and outside of it.

The Muslims of Egypt, like those of any other country, must govern their lives based on the five pillars of this religion, which are:

  • The profession of faith, that is, to convince oneself and publicly proclaim that “there is no God but Allah”, and that “Muhammad is his prophet”
  • Pray five times a day
  • Give alms (zakat) to those most in need, which can be free and spontaneous or regulated in a certain community
  • Fast during Ramadan
  • Make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime

One of the pillars that will be very present on your trip to Egypt, whether you are Muslim or not, is that of prayer: the prayer time will not go unnoticed at all thanks to the powerful calls emitted by the megaphone installed in the minarets of the mosques. Mainly, that of Fridays at noon, the moment in which you have to go to these temples to pray in community, while the rest of the time it can be done privately at home.

Ramadan in Egypt

Ramadan is another of the pillars of Islam, and in Egypt it is lived intensely. In addition, you may be lucky enough to experience it during your trip to Egypt, if the dates coincide. And therefore it deserves that we pay special attention to it, not only to understand its meaning but also to respect it properly, without incurring offenses due to ignorance.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, which is not solar but lunar, so this period varies from one year to another. The fast that is carried out during this month consists of abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset. That causes activity on the street to slow down to a minimum, as many people choose to get up late or take a long nap, or close their establishments to reduce their efforts as much as possible.

But Ramadan is far from being a month of sadness and austerity. On the contrary: it is a period of special companionship and joy for Muslims in Egypt , especially at the time of breaking the fast (itfar) after sunset. In some cases, mass dinners are organized where nothing is missing. In other cases, public events and shows are scheduled during the night, which last until well into the early morning . Therefore, many tourists, far from avoiding Ramadan on their travel dates, choose it as an authentic cultural experience.

If your trip coincides with Ramadan and you are not Muslim, you will not have to carry out this fast, but you should have special consideration for the rest of the people. In particular, do not eat or drink in their presence , as it is considered an important lack of respect. The opposite of this is to congratulate the Muslims with whom you establish a relationship during your trip on Ramadan: saying ‘Happy Ramadan’ ( Ramadan mubarak) is a simple gesture that the person who receives it will surely appreciate.

In any case, if you travel with our agency during Ramadan, we will take care of giving you guidelines and the best practical advice so that you can function smoothly in this period that is so special for Islam in Egypt.

Main currents of Islam in Egypt

El Islam, in Egypt and in the rest of the countries, is a religion with different currents, based on events in the lives of some sacred figures for this religion, or based on the interpretation of the Sharia or Islamic law. And in Egypt the two main currents are present, although in very unequal proportion: Sunnism and Shiism.

Sunnis in Egypt

The vast majority of those who profess Islam in Egypt are Sunni, which includes about 90% of the 90 million Muslims in the country, according to some sources. And it is also the majority current in practically the entire Muslim world, covering more than 85% of the believers of this religion.

They consider themselves the most traditional and, in fact, their name derives from their belief in the Sunna, a collection of traditional teachings attributed to Muhammad and which the Sunnis consider a source of Allah’s revelations, just like the Koran.

And as we said above, in the capital of Egypt is one of the most important mosques and teaching centers for Sunnis around the world, the Al Azhar mosque, as well as many others of great importance for its history, monumentality or religious symbolism.

Shiites in Egypt

On the other hand, less than 10% of the Muslims of Egypt declare themselves Shiites, a figure that varies greatly from one source to another, perhaps because some followers of this current do not openly recognize their condition as they consider themselves persecuted or displaced.

The differences with the Sunnis are mainly two. On the one hand, they usually make more flexible interpretations of the sacred texts . And on the other, the most important: they are followers of Ali, caliph and son-in-law of Muhammad through his marriage to Fatima, daughter of the prophet. Ali was assassinated in 661 and his sons, Hassan and Hussein, were not recognized the right to succeed him.

But despite representing a minority proportion among the Muslims of Egypt, in Cairo they have one of their most sacred mosques: the Al-Hussein Mosque, which contains the remains of Hussein, the aforementioned son of Ali and Fatima, and therefore grandson of the prophet Muhammad. And despite the rivalries between the two currents, the Sunnis maintain great respect for this temple, among other things for historical reasons: the Fatimid dynasty, which reigned for a couple of centuries in the country (10th-12th centuries) in a very fruitful way, declared itself heir to Fatima and, therefore, Shiite.

Great Mosques of Egypt

Great Mosques of Egypt

It is interesting to stop at the main mosques of the country, not only for their monumentality, but also because they have a great symbolism for the followers of Islam in Egypt and even other countries. Below we show you a list, of which you can learn more details on the pages dedicated to their respective city:

  • Cairo: the mosques of Cairo are, without a doubt, the most important and symbolic in the country. As we said, the current capital of the country was founded by the Muslims, who centralized their power here, unseating the role that Alexandria had had until then for Greeks, Romans and Byzantines. Therefore, its Islamic temples are among the main tourist attractions of the city, as demonstrated by the curiosity that the Egyptian pound bills are all decorated with a large Cairene mosque. This is a list of the essentials during your trip:
    • Al Azhar Mosque: it is the most important in the whole country because its Grand Imam is considered one of the great spiritual leaders of Islam in Egypt and outside of it. And the teaching center integrated in this temple is also one of the most prestigious in the Muslim world. At an architectural level it is also one of the most fascinating, built in the 10th century and with elements of the Fatimid style and other later periods, all of them dazzling for visitors: its doors, its minarets, its large central courtyard, its enormous prayer hall…
    • Mosque-madrasa of Sultan Hassan: in Salah El-Deen Square, built in the 14th century, built by the Mamluk sultan who gives it its name
    • Al-Rifai Mosque: also located in Salah El-Deen Square, next to the previous one, built at the beginning of the 20th century, it preserves the tomb of the last king of Egypt, Faruk, as well as the last Shah of Persia, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
    • Mosque of Ibn Tulun: one of the most historical temples for Islam in Egypt, as it is one of the oldest that remain standing: it dates back to the 9th century, built by the Tulunids, with Abbasid influences
    • Mosque of Muhammad Ali: one of the most famous and visited mosques in the city due to its special location in the Saladin Citadel. Built in the 19th century during the time of this vali, whose tomb is located here. Its alabaster material gives it great elegance.
    • Mosque of Al-Nasir Muhammad: another of the mosques in the Saladin Citadel, smaller than the previous one but older, as it was built in the 14th century.
    • Mosque of Suleiman Pasha: also in the Saladin Citadel, built in the 16th century and considered the first of the Ottoman period, in a style that has greatly influenced subsequent Muslim temples in Egypt.
    • Al-Muayyad Mosque: one that best represents the Fatimid splendor of the city (10th-12th centuries), as some of its elements are from that era, such as the Bab Zuweila gate, which was part of the ancient wall. The mosque was built on it in the 14th century, and its two spectacular minarets stand out, which can be climbed to enjoy panoramic views of the city.
    • Al-Hussein Mosque: as mentioned above, it is one of the most sacred for a part of the followers of Islam in Egypt., the Shiites, as the remains of Hussein ibn Ali, son of Fatima and, therefore, grandson of Muhammad, are preserved here. Its origins date back to the 12th century, but the current complex is from the 19th century.
    • Al-Aqmar Mosque: its spectacular facade with a stone portal from the 12th century stands out.
    • Al-Hakim Mosque (10th-12th centuries): located next to the medieval gates of Bab al-Futuh and Bab al-Nasr, it is named after this Fatimid caliph.
    • Al-Fath Mosque: despite being very recent (1990), it is one of the most famous and prominent. Among other reasons, because at the time of its construction, its minaret became the tallest of the temples Muslims of Egypt.
    • Mosque of Amr ibn al-As: it has the honor of being the oldest mosque in all of Africa (641, in the same context as the introduction of Islam in Egypt, although its complex is the result of numerous subsequent reconstructions.
    • Al-Fattah Al-Aleem: it is located in the new administrative capital of the country and, unlike the previous ones, it does not stand out for its history, since it was completed in 2019. However, it is worth highlighting as one of the symbols of modernity of the Islam in Egypt and one of the most imposing constructions of this religion today, on a par with other great mosques in the Muslim world, such as the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi or the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.
    • Other mosques in Cairo: although these are the most prominent at a tourist level, there are other temples that those interested in the Islam of Egypt can visit, either for its monumentality, its history or its current symbolism. They are the mosques of Al Ashraf (15th century), Al Burdayni (17th century), Al Ghuri (16th century), Al Malika Safiyya (17th century), Al Mahmoudia (16th century), Al Nour (20th century), Al Rahman Al-Rahim (21st century), Al Salih Tala’i (12th century), Al Sayeda Nafeesah (10th-12th century), Amir Jamal Al Din Al Ustadar (15th century), Amir Qijmas Al Ishaqi (15th century), Aqsunqur (14th century), Demerdash (16th century), Gamal Abdel Nasser (20th century, where the tomb of this Egyptian president is preserved), Juyushi (11th century), Khayrbak (16th century), Lulua (11th century), Mahmud Al Kurdi (14th century), Abu Dahab (18th century), Al Maridani (14th century), Amir Al Sayf Sargam Mish (14th century), Qanibay Al Muhammadi (15th century), Qanibay Ar Rammah (16th century), Sulayman Agha Al Silahdar (19th century), Sultan Al Zahir Baybars (13th century), mosque-madrasa of Sultan Barquq (14th century), Taghribardi (14th century), mosque-mausoleum of Qalawun (14th century), Sayeda Aisha (14th century), Sayeda Zainab (16th century) and Khanqah de Shaykhu (14th century).
  • Alexandria:
    • Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi: built in the 20th century on another medieval mosque, dedicated to this Murcian Sufi master, born in the 13th century in what was then Al-Andalus. It is the most important in the city and stands out for its elegant set of domes with lacework mesh finish.
    • Attarin Mosque: built in the 7th century on a Christian church from the 4th century, the sarcophagus of Pharaoh Nectanebo II was found inside. It has reached us very reduced and modified, especially due to a major renovation at the beginning of the 20th century, but it retains a beautiful minaret.
  • Luxor:
    • Abu Haggag Mosque: it is one of the most original Muslim temples in Egypt.. Its spectacular nature is not only granted by its own architecture, but by the fact of standing next to one of the most famous temples of Ancient Egypt, which is a unique mix of styles and periods. It is dedicated to a spiritual leader of the 13th century, highly revered in this city, to whom a great moulid is still dedicated every year to commemorate the anniversary of his birth.
  • Hurghada:
    • Al Mina Mosque: in this modern city stands this also recent temple, but of majestic elegance. Its resplendent domes, its marble pavement and its minarets of Ottoman influence stand out. Its location next to the port amplifies its beauty.
  • Esna:
    • Al Amari Mosque: in this small city, which is a mandatory stop on the Nile cruises for its famous Pharaonic temple, this mosque also stands out. It allows us to remember what the architecture of the Islam of Egypt Fatimid was like, since one of its minarets is preserved from that medieval era.
  • Damietta:
    • Mosque of Amr ibn Al As (year 642): it is the second oldest in all of Africa, after the homonymous mosque in Cairo, which owes its name to the Muslim conqueror who introduced the Islam in Egypt.. As a curiosity, it should be noted that it passed into Christian hands several times, as a result of the conquests of the French crusaders in the 13th century. Currently, the complex shows a deeply modernized appearance.
  • Sohag:
    • Mosque of Sidi Arif. It is one of the most beautiful temples of the Islam in Egypt Middle. Of recent construction (20th century), it stands out for its whiteness and the harmony of the complex, with a large central dome and two huge minarets.
  • Qena:
    • Mosque of Sidi Abd Er-Rahim: in this city near Luxor, which is not usually part of the major tourist circuits, are some of the most beautiful Muslim temples in Egypt.. The one of Sidi Abd Er-Rahim stands out above all, with a portico of epigraphic reliefs, a large minaret and a central dome with zigzag decoration.
  • Aswan:
    • Masjed Altabyah Mosque: of all the mosques in this southern city, this one from the beginning of the 19th century stands out, with two huge minarets visible from all over the city.

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