PRINCE MITHQAL AL-SODOUNY HOUSE IN AL-AZHAR MOSQUE LINE FROM WAQF DOCUMENT

Abstract

This research aims to reveal the imports of documents, Waqf, and endowment which play a big role to identify the owner of any building, its usage and its planning and boarders, Hence, here comes the major role that documents and endowment funds play in introducing the features and details of some buildings, to reveal the architectural and decorative units and elements whose owners were keen on documenting through specialists in building and construction. Besides the importance of documents in getting to know the features and original components of these buildings, they assist in knowing their locations and borders. Also, documents confirm, deny or correct the information stated in historical resources about buildings, along with what researchers and specialists have said. This research will sheds light on Prince Mithqal al-Sodouny house in Azhar Mosque line, as a model for the huge Mamluk houses in Cairo. Fortunately, it was precisely and fully documented and described in Sultan Qaitbay endowment document, dated 1483-1485 A.D. and preserved in the archives of the French National Library in Paris.