Ahmad ibn Ridwan (Arabic: أحمد بن رضوانʾAḥmad ibn Riḍwān) (died 1607), better known as Ahmad Pasha, was the governor of the Damascus Eyalet in the early 17th century. Before that, he was governor of the Gaza Sanjak, a subprovince of Damascus, for nearly 30 years.
Ahmad Pasha was the son of Ridwan ibn Mustafa Pasha, who founded the Ridwan dynasty, which governed southern Palestine for nearly two centuries. Ahmad acquired the governorship of Gaza Sanjak in 1585, following the death of Ridwan Pasha in Anatolia. Ahmad chose Gaza to be the center of the Ridwan dynasty. He continued his relatively autonomous rule of the district—which at times included Jerusalem and Nablus in central Palestine—until 1605. During this period, he was also given the prestigious role of amir al-hajj by the Ottoman state.[1]
The Arabic biographer Muhammad al-Muhibbi described Ahmad Pasha as a "courageous" and "brilliant" man with a great understanding of history and science. Poets of the time wrote songs praising his knowledge. During his rule as Gaza's governor, the city became a regional cultural center. Its religious significance was boosted by Ahmad Pasha's scholarly pursuits in Islamic theology and by the influence of his close friend and adviser Khayr al-Din al-Ramli, an important Islamic jurist in the region who he befriended in 1603.[2][3]
Governor of Damascusedit
Unlike his father, Ahmad Pasha had to lobby for the position of beylerbey ("provincial governor") of the Damascus Eyalet. According to Arab historian Rifaat Abu al-Haj, Ahmad Pasha had to send to gifts and large sums of money to "countless vezirs and bureaucrats" in the Ottoman capital Istanbul before being awarded the province in 1601.[1] During his rule, Ahmad Pasha became a patron of Muslim jurists and is known to have regularly consulted the 'ulema, high-ranking Muslim scholars, on provincial affairs.[2][4] Abu al-Haj wrote that by the time Ahmad Pasha had gained the governorship of Damascus, Ahmad had grown old. He died, while still in power, in 1607.[1] Following his death, Ahmad's son Hasan "'Arab" Pasha inherited the governorship of Gaza and took part in putting down the revolt of Fakhr-al-Din II in modern-day Lebanon.[2]
Legacyedit
In the al-Aqsa Compound, there are three khalwas (chambers for spiritual retreat) near the Dome of the Rock that are named after him: the Western Khalwa of Aḥmad Pasha, Eastern Khalwa of Aḥmad Pasha and Eastern Khalwa (al-Aḥmadiyya Madrasa), al-Aḥmadiyya being Aḥmad plus the nisba suffix.
In addition, he also likely was a mediator in the construction of the al-Junblāṭiyya Khalwa,[5] also in the al-Aqsa Compound.
^"Khalwat al-Junbulatiyya (Ahmad Pasha)". Institute for International Urban Development (I2UD).
Bibliographyedit
Fay, Mary Ann (2002). "Biography as History: The Exemplary Life of Khayr al-Din al-Ramli". In Mary Ann Fay (ed.). Autobiography and the construction of identity and community in the Middle East. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 9–18. ISBN978-0-312-21966-6.
Ze'evi, Dror (1996). An Ottoman century: the district of Jerusalem in the 1600s. SUNY Press. ISBN0-7914-2915-6.
January 01, 1970
ahmad, pasha, ridwan, ahmad, ridwan, arabic, أحمد, بن, رضوان, ʾaḥmad, riḍwān, died, 1607, better, known, ahmad, pasha, governor, damascus, eyalet, early, 17th, century, before, that, governor, gaza, sanjak, subprovince, damascus, nearly, years, ahmad, ridwanpa. Ahmad ibn Ridwan Arabic أحمد بن رضوان ʾAḥmad ibn Riḍwan died 1607 better known as Ahmad Pasha was the governor of the Damascus Eyalet in the early 17th century Before that he was governor of the Gaza Sanjak a subprovince of Damascus for nearly 30 years Ahmad ibn RidwanPashaSanjak bey of GazaIn office 1585 1605MonarchsMurad IIIMehmed IIIAhmed IPreceded byRidwan PashaSucceeded by Arap Hasan PashaPersonal detailsDied1607RelationsRidwan dynasty Ridwan Pasha father Arap Hasan Pasha son Military serviceAllegianceOttoman EmpireCommandsAmir al hajj intermittently in the late 16th and early 17th centuries Contents 1 Governor of Gaza 2 Governor of Damascus 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 References 6 BibliographyGovernor of Gaza editAhmad Pasha was the son of Ridwan ibn Mustafa Pasha who founded the Ridwan dynasty which governed southern Palestine for nearly two centuries Ahmad acquired the governorship of Gaza Sanjak in 1585 following the death of Ridwan Pasha in Anatolia Ahmad chose Gaza to be the center of the Ridwan dynasty He continued his relatively autonomous rule of the district which at times included Jerusalem and Nablus in central Palestine until 1605 During this period he was also given the prestigious role of amir al hajj by the Ottoman state 1 The Arabic biographer Muhammad al Muhibbi described Ahmad Pasha as a courageous and brilliant man with a great understanding of history and science Poets of the time wrote songs praising his knowledge During his rule as Gaza s governor the city became a regional cultural center Its religious significance was boosted by Ahmad Pasha s scholarly pursuits in Islamic theology and by the influence of his close friend and adviser Khayr al Din al Ramli an important Islamic jurist in the region who he befriended in 1603 2 3 Governor of Damascus editUnlike his father Ahmad Pasha had to lobby for the position of beylerbey provincial governor of the Damascus Eyalet According to Arab historian Rifaat Abu al Haj Ahmad Pasha had to send to gifts and large sums of money to countless vezirs and bureaucrats in the Ottoman capital Istanbul before being awarded the province in 1601 1 During his rule Ahmad Pasha became a patron of Muslim jurists and is known to have regularly consulted the ulema high ranking Muslim scholars on provincial affairs 2 4 Abu al Haj wrote that by the time Ahmad Pasha had gained the governorship of Damascus Ahmad had grown old He died while still in power in 1607 1 Following his death Ahmad s son Hasan Arab Pasha inherited the governorship of Gaza and took part in putting down the revolt of Fakhr al Din II in modern day Lebanon 2 Legacy editIn the al Aqsa Compound there are three khalwas chambers for spiritual retreat near the Dome of the Rock that are named after him the Western Khalwa of Aḥmad Pasha Eastern Khalwa of Aḥmad Pasha and Eastern Khalwa al Aḥmadiyya Madrasa al Aḥmadiyya being Aḥmad plus the nisba suffix In addition he also likely was a mediator in the construction of the al Junblaṭiyya Khalwa 5 also in the al Aqsa Compound See also editHusayn PashaReferences edit a b c Ze evi 1996 p 40 a b c Ze evi 1996 p 53 Fay 2006 p 13 Ze evi 1996 p 71 Khalwat al Junbulatiyya Ahmad Pasha Institute for International Urban Development I2UD Bibliography editFay Mary Ann 2002 Biography as History The Exemplary Life of Khayr al Din al Ramli In Mary Ann Fay ed Autobiography and the construction of identity and community in the Middle East Palgrave Macmillan pp 9 18 ISBN 978 0 312 21966 6 Ze evi Dror 1996 An Ottoman century the district of Jerusalem in the 1600s SUNY Press ISBN 0 7914 2915 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ahmad Pasha ibn Ridwan amp oldid 1157952932, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
