[4][5] The mosque was built within the Citadel of Cairo on the orders of Muhammad Ali, an Ottoman governor who took control in Egypt, gained autonomy, and initiated an extensive program of reforms.

[8] Muhammad Ali insisted on the use of alabaster in the mosque, a material otherwise not well suited to buildings,[8][9] in order to promote a local industry that was in decline.

Mahmoud Pasha Ahmed, Director of the Department for the Preservation of Arab Antiquities, identified severe deterioration in the mosque’s structure.

The elements responsible for distributing the building’s weight had weakened, while the stones supporting the arches had disintegrated under the pressure of the large central dome.

[citation needed] On December 29, 1931, King Fuad ordered the formation of a committee of senior Egyptian and foreign engineers to inspect the mosque and propose a restoration plan.

[citation needed] During the restoration, meticulous care was taken to preserve the original architectural proportions and dimensions of the arches and other structural elements.

To ensure the highest fidelity, samples of the old decorations were retained, color models were created before demolition, and detailed drawings and photographs of the original ornamentation were taken.

These included cleaning the marble cladding in the mosque's courtyard, removing accumulated dust from the fountain’s decorations to reveal their vibrant colors, studying the ornamentation, and scientifically addressing any alterations to align with modern restoration standards.

Having been appointed Ottoman governor in 1805 and eliminated the remaining Mamluks in 1811, he undertook a program of modernization while increasing Egypt's independence from Istanbul.

In the center of the courtyard is an ablutions fountain made of carved marble and sheltered by a wooden roof held up by columns, all richly decorated in a baroque style.

[8][1] Two cylindrical minarets of the Ottoman type, with two balconies and conical caps, are situated at the southern and eastern corners of the courtyard, on either side of the prayer hall's façade.

This was presented to Muhammad Ali by King Louis Philippe of France around in 1846 in exchange for the obelisk of Luxor now standing in Place de la Concorde in Paris.

Flanking this apse is a large wooden minbar (pulpit) with carved and gilt decoration, dating from the original construction period.

The tomb is marked by a tall marble cenotaph, gifted by his grandson Abbas I, and hidden behind an elaborate screen of bronze openwork.