Lulua Mosque

Lulua Mosque Masjid al-Lu'lu'a
Lulua Mosque renovated by Dawoodi Bohras, Cairo
Basic information
Affiliation	Islam
District	Cairo Governorate
Region	Egypt
Country	Egypt
Status	Active
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
Architectural type	Mosque
Architectural style	Fatimid style of architecture
Completed	Original in 1015–16 AD, new 1998
Specifications
Dome(s)	1
Minaret(s)	1
Materials	limestone, rubble and bricks

The Lulua Mosque (Arabic: مسجد لؤلؤة‎‎) (meaning:the Pearl) is a mosque in Cairo, Egypt, that was built in 1015–16 AD. The mosque is also known by many other names like al-Lu'lu'a Mosque, Majid aasl-Luʼluʼah, Mosque of al-Lu'lu'a, Mosque of al-Lulua, Luluah Mosque, Qabr Lu'lu'a Bint al-Muqauqis, Mosque of al Lulua. It was constructed during the reign of the thirdFatimid caliph, al-Hakim, in the Fatimid architectural style. The mosque partially collapsed in 1919, but was later refurbished in 1998 by the Dawoodi Bohras, who trace their religious lineage to the Fatimid Caliphate. It is located in the southern cemetery in the Moqattam hills.

The mosque is located near the southern cemetery of the Muqattam Hills, a low range of hills to the east of Cairo. It has an average height of 180 metres (590 ft) with the highest peak at 213 metres (699 ft) above sea level. It is divided into three sections. The highest segment is a low mountain landform called Moqattam Mountain. It was an important ancient Egyptian quarry site for limestone, used in construction of mosques and churches. The Lulua Mosque was also built with this limestone. The mosque is close to this hill range. The mosque is about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the Sharia Salah Salim, towards the southeast.

Fatimid Caliph al-Hakim (996–1021), the third caliph in Egypt of the Ismaili Shia Dynasty, also credited with building Cairo, built this mosque among many small mosques that were built on the Muqattam Hill. He was considered an inscrutable and misunderstood ruler. He was reportedly lost in the hill ranges while wandering in a strange manner in the night; his cloak was found with a dagger stashed in it. Etymologically the name al-Lu'lu'a means "the pearl" as the mosque's exterior appearance was ornate and lustrous.