This book offers the first in-depth study of the 1980 restoration of al-Jami al-Anwar also known as the Mosque of al-Hakim bi Amr Allah by the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community. Long portrayed by experts as having breached international conservation norms, the restoration project is reexamined here through primary sources, interviews, and archival research, and viewed through the lens of the community s religious values. The book introduces ihya bringing to life as a distinct Islamic philosophy of conservation, showing how sacred architecture is maintained not only as heritage but as living religious space. Challenging dominant narratives in heritage discourse, this book highlights the intersection of faith, identity, and conservation, offering valuable insights for scholars and practitioners working with religious communities and sacred sites.

Autorentext

Aliasger Najam Madraswala is a researcher and administrator at Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, Arabic Academy in Mumbai. He lectures across its campuses, leads research in Islamic architecture, heritage, and manuscripts, advises on conservation projects in Cairo, and advances interfaith and civic outreach on contemporary Islamic issues.

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Masjid or museum: conservation in pre-modern Egypt.- Chapter 3: Al-Anwar as global heritage.- Chapter 4: Beyond monuments: sacred values in the ihya of al-Anwar.- Chapter 5: Archival voices: reconstructing a restoration.- Chapter 6: Al-Anwar s legacy: community, conservation and Cairo.- Chapter 7: Conclusions: Ihya , authenticity and the future of Islamic values in conservation.