Randa Achmawi*
Cairo – An intense restoring work at the historical Abbass Helmi mosque, in Ismailia, Egypt, will allow for the recovery of the monument, built in the late 19th century. The project is being overseen by the Higher Board of Antiques of the country, after several years during which the mosque was virtually abandoned. Built by Kediva Abbass Helmi in the year 1316 of the Muslim calendar, or 1898 of the Christian Era, it is now located on the corner of a street that bears its name and Mohamed Ali Street, in the city of Ismailia, one hour east of Cairo, on the banks of the Suez Canal.
The first mosque ever built in the city, it became part of the Egyptian Muslim Heritage in 1997, but currently faces several problems. "The ceiling is seriously damaged from rain water, therefore the construction needs a layer of impermeable material in order to prevent infiltration, because it also contributed to the corrosion of the walls," said Zeinab Badawi, director general at the Department of Muslim Monuments of Ismailia.
In addition to the effects of the rain, the mosque was also affected by inadequate painting throughout the years. "Several paintings made with colours other than the original ones have affected the appearance of the monument. Furthermore, many of the verses of the Koran carved in high relief on the interior walls, have not resisted and have disappeared under the monstrous layers of paint," said Zeinab.
According to her, restoration work will be done using the original colours of the mosque, and the decoration will be cleaned up, making the paint-covered Koufi writing (used in the Koran) apparent once again. The mosque is going to be completely renewed, it will recover its former appearance, both inner and outer. "The summit and the coloured stained glass windows will be redone, once again letting light through them," Zeinab said. The restoration will also include the electricity network and piping.
The work will be done using 300,000 Egyptian pounds (US$ 52,000) donated by the Egyptian government to the Ismailia city hall, and should take two years.
"The mosque was built at the request of Kediva Abbass Helmi II, who governed Egypt from 1892 to 1914, to make it possible for the large number of workers who moved to the area at the time of the construction of Suez Canal to pray," stated Mohsen Said Ali, director general of the Islamic Monument Department.
Built on an area of 440 square metres, the main entrance of the mosque is on the eastern side of the building. In the area there is a great portal leading into a rectangular patio, where there are many columns with capitals decorated with great elegance. To the right of the portal a staircase is found leading to the top level, an area reserved for women. The area is surrounded by two rows of windows that make the place very bright. The interior is simple yet elegant, the niche (showing the direction of Mecca) is faced with a mosaic made of small pieces of marble.
"This is a true work of art where precious Kufic scripts may be seen in relief," stated Mohsen Said Ali. Few metres away from the niche the wooden Mimbar may be found, artistically decorated with verses from the Koran. The ceiling is faced in wood decorated with symmetrical designs of plants painted in red, yellow and black.
*Translated by Mark Ament
