The first Sufi Khanaqa in Cairo, 12th century / Первая суфийская ханака в Каире, 12 век

The khanaqa of Sa’eed al-Su’ada is not active now and not open for public, but we were lucky enough to find the door open, and the keeper let us in, so we could see how the first Egyptian dervishes lived many centuries ago. It is amazingly quiet inside, in spite of an incredible hustle and bustle on the street outside.
Al-Maqrizi says, “In 569 AH, Salah al-Deen al-Ayubi ordered that the house of Sa’eed al-Su’ada’ in al-Gamaliyya district to be converted into a place for the poor, mystics and the itinerant travelers. He turned an orchard outside Cairo into a waqf (charitable endowment) the proceeds of which were directed towards the interests of the Sufis and he employed a sheikh to oversee their affairs.

Ханака Саида Асуада - не действующая и закрыта для посещения, но нам посчастливилось обнаружить дверь открытой, и смотритель нас впустил, чтобы мы могли увидеть, как много веков назад жили первые египетские дервиши. Внутри удивительно тихо, несмотря на невероятную суету и шум на улице снаружи.