Mosque and Maqam of Imam Husain (AS)
جَامِعُ وَمَقَامُ الإِمَامِ الحُسَين عَلَيهِ السَّلَام
One of the most sacred sites in Cairo — the mosque built over the maqam said to house the noble head of Imam Husain ibn Ali (AS), the grandson of the Prophet and third Imam. After the martyrdom at Karbala in 61 AH, the head was taken to Damascus by Yazid's forces. It later came to Ashkelon (Asqalan, in present-day Palestine), where it was venerated. When the Crusaders threatened Ashkelon, the Fatimid Caliph al-Hafiz li-Din Allah ordered it transferred to Cairo in 548 AH (1153 CE). The Fatimid princess Rasad brought it to Cairo with great ceremony, and the mosque was built to honor the maqam. The current mosque structure was built in the 19th century but the site has been continuously venerated since the Fatimid period. The mosque is located in the historic Khan al-Khalili bazaar district, adjacent to al-Azhar.
Why it Matters
For Dawoodi Bohras, this maqam represents the closest physical connection to Imam Husain (AS) in Egypt. The Fatimid Imams venerated this site within their capital. Visiting Cairo is often paired with ziyarat here — a continuation of the connection to Imam Husain beyond Karbala. The mosque sits at the heart of Fatimid Cairo, steps from al-Azhar and the restored Masjid al-Hakim.
Dua when visiting
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيكَ يَا أَبَا عَبدِ اللَّهِ الحُسَينُ يَا ثَارَ اللَّهِ
Also in this region
4- Karbala al-Mualla — Shrine of Imam Husain (AS) Karbala Aimmah كَرْبَلاَء المُقَدَّ
- Najaf al-Ashraf — Shrine of Imam Ali (AS) Najaf Aimmah النَّجَفُ الأَشْرَف
- Kazimayn — Shrines of Imam Musa al-Kazim and Imam Muhammad al-Jawad Baghdad (Kazimayn) Aimmah الكَاظِمَيْن
- Samarra — Shrines of Imam al-Hadi and Imam al-Askari Samarra Aimmah سَامَرَّاء