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This book offers the first in-depth study of the 1980 restoration of al-Jami al-Anwar also known as the Mosque of al-Hakim bi Amr Allah 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 ihya 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.
List of contents
Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Masjid or museum: conservation in pre-modern Egypt.- Chapter 3: Al-Anwar as global heritage.- Chapter 4: Beyond monuments: sacred values in the ihya of al-Anwar.- Chapter 5: Archival voices: reconstructing a restoration.- Chapter 6: Al-Anwar s legacy: community, conservation and Cairo.- Chapter 7: Conclusions: Ihya , authenticity and the future of Islamic values in conservation.
About the author
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.
Summary
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.
