Religious Values and Restoration in Historic Cairo: The I?ya? of al-Jami? al-Anwar

This book offers the first in-depth study of the 1980 restoration of al-Jāmiʿ al-Anwar—also known as the Mosque of al-Ḥākim bi Amr Allāh—by the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community. Long portrayed by experts as having breached international conservation norms, the restoration project is reexamined here through primary sources, interviews, and archival research, and viewed through the lens of the community’s religious values. The book introduces iḥyāʾ—“bringing to life”—as a distinct Islamic philosophy of conservation, showing how sacred architecture is maintained not only as heritage but as living religious space. Challenging dominant narratives in heritage discourse, this book highlights the intersection of faith, identity, and conservation, offering valuable insights for scholars and practitioners working with religious communities and sacred sites.

Dr. Aliasger Najam Madraswala is a senior administrator at Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, an Arabic academy that blends classical Islamic scholarship with modern studies. A lecturer and researcher, he specialises in Islamic architecture, heritage, and manuscripts. His work also extends to leading interfaith initiatives and to engaging with contemporary and civic issues facing Muslim communities.