On Wednesday April 27 2022, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin joined President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for the inauguration of the extensively renovated al-Husain Mosque and the shrine of al-Imam al-Husain. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin renovated the holy sepulchre, adorning it with gold and silver.
The original sepulchre was built by the 51st al-Dai al-Mutlaq His Holiness Syedna Taher Saifuddin and installed shortly before his passing away in 1965. It was subsequently inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Endowments who invited Syedna Taher Saifuddin’s successor, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin to join him for the inauguration in 1966.
Recently, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has taken part in the restoration and repair of various shrines of the Ahl al-Bayt (the progeny of the Prophet Mohammed) in support of President El-Sisi’s efforts to restore archaeological sites in Fatimid and historic Cairo. These include the shrines of Imam Husain, Sayyida Nafisa and Sayyida Zainab which have been renovated in an integrated manner where the interior halls and the exterior complex of the shrines compliment the heritage and historical significance that they manifest.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed his appreciation for Syedna’s continuous efforts and the attention he pays to the shrines of the Ahl al-Bayt.
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin was instrumental in the endeavour to restore ancient Fatimi monuments in Cairo dating back to the 10th through 12th centuries. This movement began in the late 1970s with the restoration of the nine century-old masjid of al-Imam al-Hakim bi Amr Allah, also known as al-Jami al-Anwar.
For centuries, this ancient place of worship had suffered abject neglect. Due to the late Syedna Burhanuddin’s unwavering resolve and guidance and through Syedna Saifuddin’s dedication and intensive involvement, this key Islamic monument in historic Cairo was restored within the short span of twenty-seven months and reinstated to its former glory.
Later, in the 1990s, the restoration of other Fatimi historic monuments followed suit, including the masjids al-Aqmar, al-Lulua and al-Juyushi, all dating to the 11th and 12th centuries. These restorations marked the beginning of a collaborative effort on the part of The United Nations Development Program and the Egyptian government to rehabilitate and reinvigorate historic Islamic Cairo, contributing towards the socio-economic development of the 300,000 plus inhabitants of this area.
