It is the most beautiful and luxurious mosque of all in Tripoli. It is the second mosque in importance next to the great Mansouri Mosque, located south of Old Tripoli in Bab al-Ramel district. This mosque has a special status among the people of Tripoli for it is distinguished with a unique spiritual atmosphere, architecture and magnificent adornments.
The mosque has four domes of different sizes and shapes, and a fifth dome over the tomb of the mosque builder. To the right of the outer entrance of the mosque four judges chambers were built on the four Islamic doctrines.
The Niche (Mihrab) of the mosque is a wooden masterpiece from the Mamluk period with inscriptions that record the history of its manufacture and the name of its maker.
It was built by the Mamluk Sultanate deputy in Tripoli, Prince Saif al-Din Taynal al-Hajib, over the ruins of a Crusader church, with granite columns and Gothic and Corinthian crowns from the remains of an ancient temple that existed before the destroyed church. The floor of the first prayer division is of colored marble with two northern and southern domes.
The second prayer house has a pure Islamic character that begins with a magnificent marble gate, considered one of the most beautiful gates of all mosques in Tripoli and the Islamic world. This gate’s ornate elements are kept in a very good condition because it is located inside the mosque between its two parts, unlike the gates of other mosques in Tripoli. Then there’s the main prayer hall where the dome is in the center with elevation of four huge pillars followed by a small dome over the Niche (Mihrab) with exquisite embellishments. The floor in the second prayer division is adorned with Islamic colored mosaics motifs.
Because the mosque is outside the Old City, defense and military details are quite visible and appear to be almost similar to a fortress or a citadel where the minaret seems to be closer to the tower. The walls of the mosque also have secret corridors that allow guards to take cover from danger.