The Imam Al-Leyth and Sitt Meiska mosques are the most recent Islamic monuments to be renovated in Old Cairo. Nevine El-Aref reports on the reopening Following seven years of restoration, the mosques of Imam Al-Leyth in Imam Al-Shafei and Sitt Meiska in Sayeda Zeinab have again opened their doors to worshippers and visitors. The two mosques had suffered serious damage from air pollution, a high subterranean water level, a high level of humidity and leakage from the madiaa -- the fountain used for ritual ablution -- and outdated and decayed sewerage. Cracks have spread all over their walls, the masonry was damaged and the condition of the ceilings was critical. The ceiling decorations were heavily stained with smoke, most of the flooring was broken and so were the wooden mashrabiya screens. As for the condition of the Sitt Meiska mosque, this was even worse. Following the destruction wreaked by the 1992 earthquake, which damaged some parts of the structure, the mosque floor turned into a pond choked with weeds and algae which was having a serious detrimental effect on the architectural structure of the mosque, specially its columns and stone blocks. Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said all the restoration had been carried out according to the latest scientific methods. "Every effort was made to ensure that all original architectural features were retained," he said. Ali Helal, head of the project department at the SCA, said the main aim of the restoration was to strengthen the foundations and protect them from future damage. This was achieved using the "micro-pile system" which, he said, entailed the installation of sharp, pointed rods underneath the complexes of both mosques to reinforce the foundations. The high level of subterranean water was reduced by pumping it out of the mosques with the use of plastic pumps that drew the water into a seven-metre- deep well, from which it flowed in turn into the drainage system. The walls were reinforced, missing and decayed stones were replaced and masonry cleaned and desalinated. Both mosques now stand as proudly as they did in the past. The mosque of Imam Al-Leyth is a distinguished edifice constructed in 1408 AD as the mausoleum of Al-Imam Al-Leyth. His son, Al-Imam Shoayb, was also buried there. The mosque consists of a prayer hall with a mihrab and a minbar (pulpit) on its south- eastern side, which were both added by Ismail Bek in 1877 AD. The mausoleum also includes a small hall with a dome at its centre set on top of four marble columns with foliage decorative bases. "Since the mosque was used for the burial of people who wanted to be near the imam, who is buried there, several burials have been installed around it," said Hawass. Hence, he continued, the SCA moved these burials to a nearby cemetery before they could start the mosque's architectural restoration. A small area used as a rest house where people can hold funerals and recite the Quran has been added, and nearby houses were also restored. Sitt Meiska mosque was built in 1339 AD to pay homage to the woman who was wet nurse to the Sultan Al-Nasser Mohamed Ibn Qalawun. Sitt Meiska, a Circassian, came to Cairo with the Mamelukes. The mosque has two decorative façades and an open court with four shady corners. The minaret is similar to the one at the Amr Ibn Al-As mosque in Old Cairo.
