Ashraf Qaitbay was a Mameluke Sultan of Egypt in the 15th century. He was widely famous for his construction plans all over the country. He built a famous citadel in Alexandria holding his name. The reason for building this mosque lurks in his frequent visit to the city of Fayoum.
The Mosque of Qaitbay has a dome raised over ancient Pharaonic columns that once belonged to a temple in Kiman Fares. Water comes to the mosque's ablution well directly from the canal of Bahr Youssef (Yusuf). The Minbar (or the pulpit) is a beautiful wooden artwork inlaid with ivory.
