Al-Busiri Mosque

Sharaf al Din Al-Busiri was considered one of the greatest poets of the seventh century of Hijra. His poetry mainly described and criticized the social corruption that was rampant during his time. Al-Busiri Mosque was built by Mohamed Said Pasha, son of Mohamed Aly, in the Anfushi district of Alexandria, 1270-1279 H./1854-1863 CE, facing both the Abul-'Abbas and Sidi Yaqout al 'Arsh Mosques.

Al-Busiri's Mosque is unique among other mosques in Alexandria because of the richness of its walls with inscriptions and old engravings, including 94 verses from Al-Burda, his eulogy poem of Prophet Mohammad . 64 verses in Nasta'aliq (Islamic script) are inscribed on the walls of the prayer area and another 30 verses on the walls of the mausoleum. Al-Burda mainly expresses Prophet Mohammad's grandeur and excellence, and also includes parts where the poet asks for God's mercy prays for a cure from an illness he was suffering from at the time he wrote the poem.

The walls of al-Busiri's Mosque are covered with verses from the southern end of the southern-eastern wall, beginning with:

Is it because of your remembrance of the neighbors of Dhi-salam.

That tears mixed with blood are flowing from your eyes.
Or is it because of the breeze blowing from Kaazimah.

Or it is the lightning struck in the darkness of the night Idam and ending at the far end of the southern-western wall, with:
Saawah (village in Persia) became grief stricken with the drying up of its lake.

And the thirsty water bearer returned in anger with disappointment.
It is as though fire became wet like water.

Due to grief, while water was affected by the blazing fire.

Quranic verses can also be found on the walls, with the signature of the renowned calligrapher Abdul-Ghaffar Baida'a Dawry. Verses appear again on the northern-western wall of the northern corner of the mausoleum, with:

And the jinn was shouting at the appearance of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and the Light was glistening.

And the true prophecies appeared with these Lights, and with their voices.
The nonbeliever became blind and deaf, to the announcements of glad tidings.

Nor did they hear and the lighting of warning was nor seen by them.

ending at the northern-eastern wall of the mausoleum, with:

Which remains with us forever, therefore it is superior to every miracle.

Of the other Messengers for when their miracles came but did not remain.
Absolutely clear as evidence so it did not leave room for any doubts.

By the enemies nor so they require any judge.

Other inscriptions on the walls of the Al-Busiri Mosque include foundation texts, as well as renovation statements and verses in Arabic and Turkish. Al-Busiri's Mosque was renovated several times, during the reign of Khedive Tawfiq in 1307H./1889 CE, and again in recent times.