It is located in the historic al-Khalifa neighbourhood, on the outskirts of Cairo's Southern Cemetery.

The mosque is named after to Amna bint al-Hussein ibn Ali, a descendant of Muhammad.

She was born in the 7th century and her mother was Rubab bint Imra al-Qais, a daughter of the chief of the Banu Kalb tribe.

[4][5] Historians have differed on whether her tomb in Cairo is in fact her true resting place.

[clarification needed][6] A mosque was built over the site of the tomb in 1760 through the patronage of Abd al-Rahman Katkhuda, a mamluk official.