Egypt to renovate shrines in major boost to religious tourism
Egypt plans to restore and renovate the shrines and tombs of the Prophet Muhammad’s family and surrounding roads and squares in a move expected to support religious tourism.
CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has instructed the relevant authorities to restore and renovate the shrines of Ahl al-Bayt (the family of the Prophet Muhammad) across the country, particularly the tombs of Sayyida Nafisa, Sayyida Zeinab and Sayyid al-Hussein.
A July 24 presidential press statement said Sisi met with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, Maj. Gen. Ihab al-Far, and directed him to renovate the interior halls of mosques and their rich and elegant architectural decorations, in line with the historical and spiritual nature of shrines, and to develop the roads and squares leading to the sites as well as the surrounding facilities.
Shrines, which are sometimes built next to mosques, occupy an important place in Egyptian society and are a destination for those who want to pray, as Muslims consider them a source of blessings, reassurance and inner peace.
The head of the Al-Ashraf Syndicate (Al-Ashraf are those who belong to the lineage of Muhammad), Mahmoud al-Sharif, told Al-Monitor, “Developing the roads, squares and facilities surrounding the Ahl al-Bayt mosques will make them more attractive to visitors and easier to reach, thus allowing visitors from all over the world to access these shrines once again.”
