اللغات

Chrabliyine Mosque


History


During the Marinid era in the 14th century, the mosque was established. Although the precise date and patron of its construction are unknown, it is assumed that the Marinid monarch Abu al-Hasan oversaw its construction between 1331 and 1348 CE. One of the most active builders during the Marinid era, Abu al-Hasan was in charge of constructing a number of mosques and madrasas in Fes and other cities. Between 1792 to 1822, during the rule of the Alaouite ruler Moulay Slimane, the mosque underwent a significant restoration. The appearance of the remaining portions of the mosque primarily stems from the Alaouite renovation, with the exception of the minaret and the mosque entrance, which remain practically in their original Marinid forms.

This structure shares many similarities with the Abu al-Hasan Mosque to the west, which was constructed by the same ruler in 1341 and similarly restored by Moulay Slimane.

Urban and Architectural


Minaret and exterior

The mosque is noted for its minaret, which is especially well-decorated in the medieval Moroccan-Andalusian style (which evolved from earlier Almohad models), using the darj-w-ktaf or sebka pattern (which resembles palmettes or fleur-de-lys shapes) covering much of the facades, as well as polylobed arch motifs close to the base, merlons at the top, and multicolored mosaic tiles (zellij) that fill in.

On the side of the minaret that looks into the interior courtyard, one of these tile mosaics has a noteworthy inscription in the "square" kufic style.  Although the wide band of zellij at the top is most likely a continuation of the ancient Marinid architecture, the colorful mosaic tilework of the minaret was probably built during the reign of Moulay Slimane (between 1792 and 1822).

Directly beneath the minaret, the mosque's main street entry is covered by a wooden canopy. Two shops are also located on the building's street facade.

Interior

View of the mosque's interior, facing toward the mihrab, from the main entrance

A rectangular courtyard (about 11 by 5 meters) with annexes on either side may be found inside the mosque and is readily accessible from the street entrance.

The courtyard has a marble fountain in the middle, as do many mosque courtyards, and an entrance to an ablution room is located on the north/western side of the courtyard. The prayer hall is located on its southern/eastern side and has two transverse naves made of rows of five horseshoe arches that run parallel to the qibla wall (i.e. the wall towards which prayers face).

The mihrab, a small octagonal space crowned by a dome of muqarnas, is a decorative alcove or niche in the qibla wall that represents the direction of prayer. There are two little doors going to additional rooms on either side of the mihrab. The eastern one (on the left) connects to Jama' el-Gnaiz, a place where burial rites and prayers are performed around the bodies of the departed before they are buried. (This area is connected to the main prayer room but kept apart from it to preserve its sanctity and cleanliness.) 

Smaller secondary entrances from the street on the eastern side of the structure provide access to both this funerary area and the main prayer hall.

Ablutions facility

Across the street from the mosque is a mida'a (Arabic: ), a place where Muslims might make their ablutions. The building has an internal courtyard that may be accessed from the street entry via a curving hallway. A rectangular water basin with basic tile decorations sits in the center of the courtyard, and latrines are located all around it in numerous little chambers.

Description


Place of origin and name

Its minaret is clearly visible from Tala'a Kebira, the major souq (market) street and thoroughfare of Fes el-Bali, the old city of Fez, where the mosque is situated. The neighborhood is also known as Chrabliyine, a name that alludes to a classic style of Moroccan women's shoe known as "cherbil", in which the neighborhood's stores specialized (and still do to some extent today)

References


Métalsi, Mohamed (2003). Fès: La ville essentielle. Paris: ACR Édition Internationale. pp. 71, 188. ISBN 978-2867701528.

Maslow, Boris (1937). Les mosquées de Fès et du nord du Maroc. Paris: Éditions d'art et d'histoire. pp. 74–79.

Marçais, Georges (1954). L'architecture musulmane d'Occident. Paris: Arts et métiers graphiques. p. 281.

Salmon, Xavier (2021). Fès mérinide: Une capitale pour les arts, 1276-1465. Lienart. pp. 123–124. ISBN 9782359063356.


 Parker, Richard (1981). A practical guide to Islamic Monuments in Morocco. Charlottesville, VA: The Baraka Press.





Details

الموقع

Fez, Morocco

المالك / المتبرع

Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Othman

تاريخ البناء

between 1331 and 1348

الرسومات المعمارية

الخريطة

History

During the Marinid era in the 14th century, the mosque was established. Although the precise date and patron of its construction are unknown, it is assumed that the Marinid monarch Abu al-Hasan oversaw its construction between 1331 and 1348 CE. One of the most active builders during the Marinid era, Abu al-Hasan was in charge of constructing a number of mosques and madrasas in Fes and other cities. Between 1792 to 1822, during the rule of the Alaouite ruler Moulay Slimane, the mosque underwent a significant restoration. The appearance of the remaining portions of the mosque primarily stems from the Alaouite renovation, with the exception of the minaret and the mosque entrance, which remain practically in their original Marinid forms.

This structure shares many similarities with the Abu al-Hasan Mosque to the west, which was constructed by the same ruler in 1341 and similarly restored by Moulay Slimane.

Urban and Architectural

Minaret and exterior

The mosque is noted for its minaret, which is especially well-decorated in the medieval Moroccan-Andalusian style (which evolved from earlier Almohad models), using the darj-w-ktaf or sebka pattern (which resembles palmettes or fleur-de-lys shapes) covering much of the facades, as well as polylobed arch motifs close to the base, merlons at the top, and multicolored mosaic tiles (zellij) that fill in.

On the side of the minaret that looks into the interior courtyard, one of these tile mosaics has a noteworthy inscription in the "square" kufic style.  Although the wide band of zellij at the top is most likely a continuation of the ancient Marinid architecture, the colorful mosaic tilework of the minaret was probably built during the reign of Moulay Slimane (between 1792 and 1822).

Directly beneath the minaret, the mosque's main street entry is covered by a wooden canopy. Two shops are also located on the building's street facade.

Interior

View of the mosque's interior, facing toward the mihrab, from the main entrance

A rectangular courtyard (about 11 by 5 meters) with annexes on either side may be found inside the mosque and is readily accessible from the street entrance.

The courtyard has a marble fountain in the middle, as do many mosque courtyards, and an entrance to an ablution room is located on the north/western side of the courtyard. The prayer hall is located on its southern/eastern side and has two transverse naves made of rows of five horseshoe arches that run parallel to the qibla wall (i.e. the wall towards which prayers face).

The mihrab, a small octagonal space crowned by a dome of muqarnas, is a decorative alcove or niche in the qibla wall that represents the direction of prayer. There are two little doors going to additional rooms on either side of the mihrab. The eastern one (on the left) connects to Jama' el-Gnaiz, a place where burial rites and prayers are performed around the bodies of the departed before they are buried. (This area is connected to the main prayer room but kept apart from it to preserve its sanctity and cleanliness.) 

Smaller secondary entrances from the street on the eastern side of the structure provide access to both this funerary area and the main prayer hall.

Ablutions facility

Across the street from the mosque is a mida'a (Arabic: ), a place where Muslims might make their ablutions. The building has an internal courtyard that may be accessed from the street entry via a curving hallway. A rectangular water basin with basic tile decorations sits in the center of the courtyard, and latrines are located all around it in numerous little chambers.

Description

Place of origin and name

Its minaret is clearly visible from Tala'a Kebira, the major souq (market) street and thoroughfare of Fes el-Bali, the old city of Fez, where the mosque is situated. The neighborhood is also known as Chrabliyine, a name that alludes to a classic style of Moroccan women's shoe known as "cherbil", in which the neighborhood's stores specialized (and still do to some extent today)