English: The mihrab of the Madrasa Firdows or School of Paradise. It was built by Daifa Khatun, widow of Sultan al-Zaher Ghazi in 1234-7. She was regent at the time for her grandson, al-Nasr Yusuf II (r 1242-60) and had taken a particular interest in encouraging Sufi mysticism. There is a long inscription band, carried on the rear walls of the riwaqs, that underline the Sufi affiliations of the community. An Iwan on one end looks out on an octagonal pool in a courtyard framed by arcading of simple broken arches supported on fine ancient or imitation columns. The capitals are based on a honeycomb pattern. The prayer hall is covered by three honeycombed domes supported on twelve-sided bases. The central mihrab is decorated in simple interlaced straps of arabesques. Unusually, a separate iwan lies on on the northern side of the madrasa.