 The madrasa was completely rebuilt by Abd al @-@ Rahman Katkhuda , leaving only the southeastern wall and its mihrab untouched . The mihrab was described by K. A. C. Creswell as being " one of the finest in Cairo " . The niche of the mihrab is 1 @.@ 13 meters ( 3 @.@ 7 ft ) wide and 76 centimeters ( 30 in ) deep . On each side of the niche stands a 2 @.@ 78 meters ( 9 @.@ 1 ft ) high porphyry column . Above the columns are impost blocks decorated with colored geometrical designs . The semi @-@ dome at the top of the mihrab is set within an outer arch . Surrounding this arch is a molding that forms a rectangular outer frame . This is the first mihrab in Egypt to have this type of frame . 
