The Ben Salah Mosque or Ben Saleh Mosque (Arabic: مسجد بن صلاح, Berber languages: ⵎⴻⵣⴳⵉⴷⴰ ⴰⵢⵜ ⵙⴰⵍⴰⵃ) is a 14th-century Marinidmosque in the historic medina of Marrakesh, Morocco. It is the only major surviving Marinid-era monument in Marrakesh and is notable for its fine minaret.
Details of the mosque's foundation and construction are not entirely clear. An inscription on the monument itself states that construction of the minaret began in August 1321. According to historian Ibn al-Muwaqqit, the construction of the mosque may have begun in 1318-1319. This chronology (i.e. construction in 1318-1321) is the most plausible and would mean that the mosque was built under the reign of Marinid Sultan Abu Sa'id Uthman (ruled 1310-1331), who also built some of the madrassas in Fez (e.g. the Madrassa al-'Attarin).[1]
The mosque is named after a local saint, Muhammad ben Salah (or Ibn Salih) to whom it is dedicated and around whose tomb it was built. Little is recorded about this figure, however, other than that folklore claims he was a simple butcher with the gift of foresight.[1]
A madrasa was built next to the mosque by the Alaouite sultan Moulay Rashid around 1669-1671.[2][3] As of 2012, there were plans to convert the madrasa into a museum displaying religious objects from the city's heritage, such as minbars and manuscripts.[4][5][3]
Architectureedit
Western facade of the minaret, showing interlacing arch and sebka motifs
Overall layout of the mosqueedit
Despite numerous repairs over the centuries, the mosque appears to have remained essentially unchanged. The interior features a rectangular courtyard, wide but not very deep, surrounded by arcades and centered around a small basin or fountain. Beyond the courtyard is the main space of the prayer hall, defined by two rows of arches forming nine aisles. The overall layout is that of the common "T"-type, which is to say that the aisle of arches leading to the mihrab (a niche symbolizing the direction of prayer) is wider than the other aisles besides it. The easternmost and westernmost aisles to the sides of the prayer hall are truncated and do not extend all the way north: a minor curiosity rarely seen in this type of mosque (except for another Marinid mosque in Chellah).[1]
The interior features little decoration except for the mihrab at the middle of the qibla wall (indicating the direction of prayer). Like many western North African mosques of the period, the direction of the qibla (and, by extension, the orientation of the entire mosque), is substantially different from that of the "modern" qibla; it faces south-south-east, whereas the modern qibla in Morocco is almost due east (towards Mecca).[6] The mosque has three entrances,[7] and the minaret is located on its western side.
The tomb of Muhammad Ben Salah is located in the north-western corner of the mosque.[8]
The minaretedit
The minaret is the most notable element of the mosque and the most richly decorated. As with the Marinid architectural style in general, it is derived from Almohad forms which came to define Moroccan-Andalusian architecture. In particular, it appears to be modeled in part on the Almohad minaret of the Marrakesh's Kasbah Mosque.[1] Its upper facades are covered in the darj-wa-ktaf or sebka pattern (resembling palmettes or fleur-de-lys shapes), with minor differences between the patterns on the north and south sides versus those on the east and west sides. The lower facades are dominated by large polylobed arch motifs. As with the Kasbah Mosque, all of these patterns are molded in brick on a background of turquoise-green faience tiles. (Unlike the Almohad minarets, however, there is no tile frieze near the top of the minaret.) Each facade is pierced by three windows with horsheshoe-shaped arches, their positions coordinated with the polylobed arch patterns around them. The top of the minaret, including its upper lantern, is rimmed with merlons typical of Moroccan architecture.[8][1][7]
This overall layout of decoration was repeated soon afterwards at the Chrabliyin Mosque in Fez, another Marinid construction from the same era, which makes the Ben Salah minaret an example of the transition between Almohad models and subsequent constructions that became typical in Morocco.[1] An extremely similar, but smaller, minaret was also constructed for another mosque in Marrakesh, the Moulay el-Ksour Mosque (more commonly known as the Mosque of the Cat), probably around the same time as the Ben Salah Mosque.[9]
Madrasaedit
Aerial view of the Ben Salah Mosque (center) in 1930-1931; the courtyard building left of the mosque is the madrasa
The madrasa, built by the Alaouite sultan Moulay Rashid, is located behind (east of) the mosque. The building is centered around a large square courtyard, surrounded by a two-story gallery leading to numerous rooms.[2][3]
^ abcdefDeverdun, Gaston (1959). Marrakech: Des origines à 1912. Rabat: Éditions Techniques Nord-Africaines. pp. 318–320.
^ ab"Medersa Ben Saleh" (PDF). medersa-bensaleh.org. Association Internationale pour la Sauvegarde de la Medersa Ben Saleh dans la Medina de Marrakech. (PDF) from the original on 2013-10-12. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^ abc"Patrimoine : Un musée islamique dans l'ancienne Medersa Ben Saleh de Marrakech". Aujourd'hui le Maroc (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-29.
^"Le quartier ibn Yūsuf". Bulletin du patrimoine de Marrakech et de sa région. Musée de Mouassine: 58–59. March 2019.
^"Medersa Ben Saleh". www.madein.city (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-29.
^Wilbaux, Quentin (2001). La médina de Marrakech: Formation des espaces urbains d'une ancienne capitale du Maroc. Paris: L'Harmattan.
^ ab"mosquée Ben saleh". Inventaire et Documentation du Patrimoine Culturel du Maroc (in French). from the original on 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
^ abBasset, Henri; Terrasse, Henri (1932). Sanctuaires et forteresses almohades. Paris: Larose.
^Basset, Henri; Terrasse, Henri (1927). "Sanctuaires et fortresses almohades: La tradition almohade à Marrakech". Hespéris Tamuda (in French). 7 (3): 296.
Further readingedit
Basset, Henri; Terrasse, Henri (1932). Sanctuaires et forteresses almohades. – Old book but contains a full chapter about the mosque's architecture. The book was reprinted in 2001 or 2003.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ben Salah Mosque.
Photos of the Ben Saleh Madrasa at medersa-bensaleh.org (group advocating for the madrasa's restoration)
April 30, 2024
salah, mosque, saleh, mosque, arabic, مسجد, بن, صلاح, berber, languages, ⵎⴻⵣⴳⵉⴷⴰ, ⴰⵢⵜ, ⵙⴰⵍⴰⵃ, 14th, century, marinid, mosque, historic, medina, marrakesh, morocco, only, major, surviving, marinid, monument, marrakesh, notable, fine, minaret, arabic, مسجد, بن, . The Ben Salah Mosque or Ben Saleh Mosque Arabic مسجد بن صلاح Berber languages ⵎⴻⵣⴳⵉⴷⴰ ⴰⵢⵜ ⵙⴰⵍⴰⵃ is a 14th century Marinid mosque in the historic medina of Marrakesh Morocco It is the only major surviving Marinid era monument in Marrakesh and is notable for its fine minaret Ben Salah MosqueArabic مسجد بن صلاح Berber languages ⵎⴻⵣⴳⵉⴷⴰ ⴰⵢⵜ ⵙⴰⵍⴰⵃReligionAffiliationIslamPatronAbu Sa id Uthman II presumed StatusactiveLocationLocationMarrakesh MoroccoGeographic coordinates31 37 46 56 N 7 58 57 25 W 31 6296000 N 7 9825694 W 31 6296000 7 9825694ArchitectureTypeMosqueStyleMarinid Moroccan IslamicDate established14th centuryMinaret s 1 Contents 1 Historical background 2 Architecture 2 1 Overall layout of the mosque 2 2 The minaret 2 3 Madrasa 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistorical background edit nbsp View of the minaret in the early 20th century Details of the mosque s foundation and construction are not entirely clear An inscription on the monument itself states that construction of the minaret began in August 1321 According to historian Ibn al Muwaqqit the construction of the mosque may have begun in 1318 1319 This chronology i e construction in 1318 1321 is the most plausible and would mean that the mosque was built under the reign of Marinid Sultan Abu Sa id Uthman ruled 1310 1331 who also built some of the madrassas in Fez e g the Madrassa al Attarin 1 The mosque is named after a local saint Muhammad ben Salah or Ibn Salih to whom it is dedicated and around whose tomb it was built Little is recorded about this figure however other than that folklore claims he was a simple butcher with the gift of foresight 1 A madrasa was built next to the mosque by the Alaouite sultan Moulay Rashid around 1669 1671 2 3 As of 2012 there were plans to convert the madrasa into a museum displaying religious objects from the city s heritage such as minbars and manuscripts 4 5 3 Architecture edit nbsp Western facade of the minaret showing interlacing arch and sebka motifs Overall layout of the mosque edit Despite numerous repairs over the centuries the mosque appears to have remained essentially unchanged The interior features a rectangular courtyard wide but not very deep surrounded by arcades and centered around a small basin or fountain Beyond the courtyard is the main space of the prayer hall defined by two rows of arches forming nine aisles The overall layout is that of the common T type which is to say that the aisle of arches leading to the mihrab a niche symbolizing the direction of prayer is wider than the other aisles besides it The easternmost and westernmost aisles to the sides of the prayer hall are truncated and do not extend all the way north a minor curiosity rarely seen in this type of mosque except for another Marinid mosque in Chellah 1 The interior features little decoration except for the mihrab at the middle of the qibla wall indicating the direction of prayer Like many western North African mosques of the period the direction of the qibla and by extension the orientation of the entire mosque is substantially different from that of the modern qibla it faces south south east whereas the modern qibla in Morocco is almost due east towards Mecca 6 The mosque has three entrances 7 and the minaret is located on its western side The tomb of Muhammad Ben Salah is located in the north western corner of the mosque 8 The minaret edit The minaret is the most notable element of the mosque and the most richly decorated As with the Marinid architectural style in general it is derived from Almohad forms which came to define Moroccan Andalusian architecture In particular it appears to be modeled in part on the Almohad minaret of the Marrakesh s Kasbah Mosque 1 Its upper facades are covered in the darj wa ktaf or sebka pattern resembling palmettes or fleur de lys shapes with minor differences between the patterns on the north and south sides versus those on the east and west sides The lower facades are dominated by large polylobed arch motifs As with the Kasbah Mosque all of these patterns are molded in brick on a background of turquoise green faience tiles Unlike the Almohad minarets however there is no tile frieze near the top of the minaret Each facade is pierced by three windows with horsheshoe shaped arches their positions coordinated with the polylobed arch patterns around them The top of the minaret including its upper lantern is rimmed with merlons typical of Moroccan architecture 8 1 7 This overall layout of decoration was repeated soon afterwards at the Chrabliyin Mosque in Fez another Marinid construction from the same era which makes the Ben Salah minaret an example of the transition between Almohad models and subsequent constructions that became typical in Morocco 1 An extremely similar but smaller minaret was also constructed for another mosque in Marrakesh the Moulay el Ksour Mosque more commonly known as the Mosque of the Cat probably around the same time as the Ben Salah Mosque 9 Madrasa edit nbsp Aerial view of the Ben Salah Mosque center in 1930 1931 the courtyard building left of the mosque is the madrasa The madrasa built by the Alaouite sultan Moulay Rashid is located behind east of the mosque The building is centered around a large square courtyard surrounded by a two story gallery leading to numerous rooms 2 3 See also editCherratine Madrasa Lists of mosques List of mosques in Africa List of mosques in MoroccoReferences edit a b c d e f Deverdun Gaston 1959 Marrakech Des origines a 1912 Rabat Editions Techniques Nord Africaines pp 318 320 a b Medersa Ben Saleh PDF medersa bensaleh org Association Internationale pour la Sauvegarde de la Medersa Ben Saleh dans la Medina de Marrakech Archived PDF from the original on 2013 10 12 Retrieved January 29 2021 a b c Patrimoine Un musee islamique dans l ancienne Medersa Ben Saleh de Marrakech Aujourd hui le Maroc in French Retrieved 2021 01 29 Le quartier ibn Yusuf Bulletin du patrimoine de Marrakech et de sa region Musee de Mouassine 58 59 March 2019 Medersa Ben Saleh www madein city in French Retrieved 2021 01 29 Wilbaux Quentin 2001 La medina de Marrakech Formation des espaces urbains d une ancienne capitale du Maroc Paris L Harmattan a b mosquee Ben saleh Inventaire et Documentation du Patrimoine Culturel du Maroc in French Archived from the original on 2021 02 04 Retrieved 2021 01 29 a b Basset Henri Terrasse Henri 1932 Sanctuaires et forteresses almohades Paris Larose Basset Henri Terrasse Henri 1927 Sanctuaires et fortresses almohades La tradition almohade a Marrakech Hesperis Tamuda in French 7 3 296 Further reading editBasset Henri Terrasse Henri 1932 Sanctuaires et forteresses almohades Old book but contains a full chapter about the mosque s architecture The book was reprinted in 2001 or 2003 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ben Salah Mosque Photos of the Ben Saleh Madrasa at medersa bensaleh org group advocating for the madrasa s restoration Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ben Salah Mosque amp oldid 1192888418, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
