The mosque of sheikh abou el haggag of luxor
this mosque lies over the ruins of Amone temple in Luxor it is referred to in the encyclopedia Britannica and the Arabic encyclopedia under the item (luxor),
the eastern part of this mosque became a church in the early Christian ages then it was used as a mosuque and as Atomb for Sheikh Abou Elhaggage , Abou Gaafar Eladfaoui (who died in 748 of the Hijra) 1347 a,d in his book (Eltale Elsaid) said that the mosque with its monumental minarate and the tomb had been constructed by sheikh Ahmed Elnagem the son of Sheikh Abou elhaggag the son died in the year 685 of the hijra, (1377a,d )
Ibn Batouta , the famous traveler who died in (779 ,H)(1377A,D )visited the mosque of Shaikh Abou Elhaggag and his tomb in his tour in upper egypt and he mentioned this in his book , m, creswell in his book 9the muslium archjtecture of Egypt ) describe the main rate of the mouque :it is built of mud bricks strengthened by supports of wood put in three planes ,the bread of the stairs is 75 cent ,and they are spiral every group of the stairs consists of three or four stairs and the edge of every stair is strengthened by wood ,he adds that
in the regin khediey abbas helim 2 (1892-1914A,D) the mosque was renewed and another minarate was constructed and it lies in the western side of the tomb, the mosque , in spite of the several attempts to remove it according to the claims of archaeologists ,is still standing over the temple of amon, although is described as a simple mosque from the artistic and architectural points of view ,yet it has been a symbol of monotheism through seven centuries in a place that was occupied by christians and by heathen people .
biography of the Sheikh Abou Elhaggag:
Sheikh Abou Elhaggag was one of the famous mystics of the seventh century of the Hijra . he was born in Baghdad the first years of the second half of the sixth century of the Hijra in the regin of the Abbaside caliph Almoktafi Biamr allah (531-555 H.) ,(1136-1160 A,D) he was the descendant of those who were famous for their piety , he was the descendant of Alhussin Ibn Ali (the grandson of the prophet Mohamed) he learn the holy Koraan at the an early age and got a considerable part of the religious culture under the care of his father Abdl Raheem who had principal post in the state and was well known for his piety , the father died when his son was a youth ,
having inherited nothing after the death of his father ,Aabou Elhaggag began to learn the trade of spinning and weaving wool , he prospered much until he had a fomus workshop in baghadad ,this trade was very successful one in Basra , Almousel and Alkoufa in Iraq he married and had sons and daughters when he was youth ,
beside his work as a weaver , Sheikh Abou Elhaggag used to frequent mosques where the famous
mystics of the time used to teach and preach , he followed the doctrine of imam Elshafi and showed industry in learning the Islamic law and he had special interest in the works of imam Elghazali , he also studied the Arabic literature and he composed long religious poems,h's love for literature had its deep effect on his preachings to his disciples in baghadad
he went to mecca for pilgrimage and returned to baghadad where he could not stay for a long time , in the reign of the caliph elnasar ledin allah (575-622H,) (1179-1225A,D,) there was a conflict between the two sects elishia and el sonna, this conflict was the cause of the migration of sheikh abou elhaggagand mant other men of religion to other countries of the arab world at the age of forty ,sheikh abou alhaggag accompanied by his family ,went to mecca and elmadina where he spent a year, there he knew many people belonging to different arab tribes such as a tutor and accompanied him in his journey to egypt ,
sheikh abou elhaggag and those who came with him from arabia reached egypt in the last years of the reign of salah eld'n elayoubi and during the reign of his son , sheikh abou elhaggag was appointed as the supervisor of taxation ,the post that was only given to those who were trustworthy, he didn't stay long in this post because of difference between him and some statement of the court and he resigned, then he left cairo to alexandeia where he lived for some time and went to upper egypt to spend the last years of his life in luxor
in the seventh century of the hijra , luxor a very fomous commercial and cultural center ,therefore , it was suitable place for learned men and mystics to live , sheikh abou elhaggag lived in this region until he died and he was the contemporary of sheikh abdel raheem (of quena)who died in 592of the hijra (1195 a,d,)and for whom most mystics of the time are indebted,sheihk abou elhaggag 's life in the reign of kous was as fruitful one ,many people adopted islam or returned to its shed as a reuslt of his preachings ,he also played an effective part in opposing the sh'a whi began at that time to increase in number because of their flight to upper egypt to avoid the oppression of the ayoubi sultans
