Editor: Dr. Khaled Azab and Dr. Mohamed El Gamal
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.
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.