By Zareef Muzammil
KAHERAH, Nov 8 — Dato’ Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari concluded his three-day visit to the Middle East yesterday by visiting the al-Hussein Mosque, also known as Masjid El Emam El Hussein, located opposite Masjid Al-Azhar.
He also had the opportunity to visit several significant sites, particularly those connected to the companions and family members of the Prophet Muhammad, who are buried in Egypt.
"I am very pleased to be here. I have gained many new insights and experiences, even though this is my fourth visit to Egypt," he said during an interview yesterday.
The renowned mosque, celebrated for its beauty, is both a mosque and the mausoleum of the Prophet’s grandson Husain Ali. Initially built in 1154, it was reconstructed in 1874.
Situated near the Khan El-Khalili market, it is also the burial site of the Fatimid dynasty’s rulers. A rebellion in the Ascalon region led to significant historical changes for the mosque.
The Caliph ruling Egypt at the time ordered the transfer of Husain’s head from Ascalon to Cairo. It was then interred at the Fatimid Dynasty burial grounds, which is now the al-Hussein Mosque.
Amirudin and the Selangor delegation embarked on a working visit to the country starting on Tuesday (November 5), in conjunction with the 12th World Urban Forum and the 2024 Middle East Selangor Student Convention
The Menteri Besar also paid a courtesy visit to the former grand mufti of Egypt Prof Ali Jumaah Muhammad Abdul Wahab at his residence in Giza.
He visited Selangor students residing in Hayyu Asyir, Nasr City, to assess the current conditions of the dormitory that houses 130 male and female students.
Amirudin also held a dialogue session with Middle Eastern students from various Malaysian states, discussing current and international issues at the Abbasiyah Grand Hall.
He returned to Malaysia at midnight today.
[caption id="attachment_378931" align="aligncenter" width="1127"]
A view of the al-Hussein Mosque, also known as Masjid El Emam El Hussein, in Cairo, Egypt, as seen on November 7, 2024. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
