the iwan with the qibla wall, unfolding beneath an immense and relative plain vault in a flamboyant symphony of marble illuminated by the blaze of modern lamps - replicas of originals - is the largest of the Islamic Middle Ages and seems derived from the impressive models of the Byzantine Empire. The monumental marble minbar, crowned by an unfortunate carved bulb, is among the biggest and most pretentious of the period. The grille on the left allows access to the mausoleum of the Sultan in line with the qibla. The vast stucco inscription in a solemn Kufic script of typically Mamluk taste is encircled by floral motifs and quotes the beginning of the sura of Victory (XXIV,1-3).