The Mosque of the Three Doors (Arabic: مسجد الأبواب الثلاثة; French: Mosquée des Trois Portes) or Mosque of Muhammad ibn Khairun (Arabic: مسجد ابن خيرون) is a mosque In the city of Kairouan, Tunisia. Commissioned in 866, during the Aghlabid dynasty period, by Muhammad ibn Khairun, a private local patron. The mosque is notable for being one of the earliest occurrences of a richly decorated external façade in Islamic architecture. The mosque was modified in later periods, notably with the addition of a minaret in 1440, during the Hafsid period.
The mosque's construction is dated to 866 CE (252 AH) during the Aghlabid period. The foundation inscription on its façade records the name of its founder as Muhammad ibn Khayrun al-Ma'firi al-Andalusi.[1] He was most likely a former slave from al-Andalus,[2] possibly a merchant.[3] Only the mosque's front façade remains from the original construction.[1] The minaret was added much later in 1440 CE (844 AH) during the Hafsid period, when the mosque was restored.[1][4]
ArchitectureEdit
The architectural design of the Aghlabids can be characterized from the inheritance of the local architectural tradition and the simultaneous recognition of the Abbasid metropolitan styles and techniques.[5] The mosque is fronted by three doors framed by horseshoe arches that resemble that of the Great Mosque of Uqba.[6] The arches rest on reused ancient columns engaged into the wall.[1] The façade above these arches is carved with floral motifs and with Arabic inscriptions written in Kufic script.[3] This decorated façade is unique among the surviving monuments of this period.[2] According to scholar Mourad Rammah, it is the oldest decorative façade in Islamic architecture.[7]
The mosque contains a prayer hall with a slightly irregular but almost square floor plan with four columns dividing it into three naves or aisles, covered by a total of nine vaults.[4] A basic mihrab niche is embedded in the qibla wall. On the northeast corner of the mosque is a square-based minaret which is a later addition from the Hafsid era, with a design derived from Andalusi-Moorish architecture (which had spread across the region during the Almohad period). The minaret's double-arched windows are framed with decorative tilework.[3]
InscriptionsEdit
The inscriptions on the mosque's façade are contained in three horizontal bands.[8] The two upper bands contain two Qur'anic excerpts, Surah 33:71–72 and a fragment of Surah 30:4. The translated text reads:[1]
Believers, be mindful of God, speak in a direct fashion and to good purpose, and He will put your deeds right for you and forgive you your sins. Whoever obeys God and His Messenger will truly achieve a great triumph. God is in command, first and last [...]
This is then followed by an inscription recording the mosque's foundation.[1] The translated text reads:[3]
The construction of this mosque was ordered by Muhammad, son of Khayrūn, al-Ma’āfirī, al-Andalusī, in order to draw closer to God and in the hopes of gaining His pardon and mercy.
The inscriptions on the façade were partially rearranged in the 15th century when the Hafsid minaret was added, so as to insert a new inscription along the lower band recording the restoration of 1440. The appearance of the original Aghlabid-period façade and inscriptions was reconstituted by Georges Marçais.[1]
^ abcdefgBloom, Jonathan M. (2020). Architecture of the Islamic West: North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, 700–1800. Yale University Press. pp. 33–34. ISBN9780300218701.
^ abMazot, Sibylle (2011). "The Architecture of the Aghlabids". In Hattstein, Markus; Delius, Peter (eds.). Islam: Art and Architecture. h.f.ullmann. p. 136. ISBN9783848003808.
^ abcd"Mosque of the Three Doors". Qantara. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
^ abZangar, Saloua. "Mosque of the Three Doors". Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers. Retrieved November 21, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Bloom, Jonathan M. Blair, Sheila S. (2009) The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture. Oxford University Press. p.86.
^Petersen, Andrew. (2002) Dictionary of Islamic Architecture. p.24.
^Binous, Jamila; Baklouti, Naceur; Ben Tanfous, Aziza; Bouteraa, Kadri; Rammah, Mourad; Zouari, Ali (2010). "V. 1. e Ibn Khayrun Mosque, or Mosque of the Three Gates". Ifriqiya: Thirteen Centuries of Art and Architecture in Tunisia. Islamic Art in the Mediterranean (2nd ed.). Museum With No Frontiers & Ministry of Culture, the National Institute of Heritage, Tunis. ISBN9783902782199.
^Blair, Sheila S. (2019). Islamic Inscriptions. Edinburgh University Press. p. 58. ISBN978-1-4744-6448-2.
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August 25, 2023
mosque, three, doors, arabic, مسجد, الأبواب, الثلاثة, french, mosquée, trois, portes, mosque, muhammad, khairun, arabic, مسجد, ابن, خيرون, mosque, city, kairouan, tunisia, commissioned, during, aghlabid, dynasty, period, muhammad, khairun, private, local, patr. The Mosque of the Three Doors Arabic مسجد الأبواب الثلاثة French Mosquee des Trois Portes or Mosque of Muhammad ibn Khairun Arabic مسجد ابن خيرون is a mosque In the city of Kairouan Tunisia Commissioned in 866 during the Aghlabid dynasty period by Muhammad ibn Khairun a private local patron The mosque is notable for being one of the earliest occurrences of a richly decorated external facade in Islamic architecture The mosque was modified in later periods notably with the addition of a minaret in 1440 during the Hafsid period Mosque of Three Doorsمسجد الأبواب الثلاثةReligionAffiliationIslamBranch traditionSunniLocationLocationKairouan TunisiaShown within TunisiaGeographic coordinates35 24 13 N 10 03 40 E 35 4037 N 10 0610 E 35 4037 10 0610ArchitectureTypeMosqueStyleAghlabid Hafsid IslamicCreatorMuhammad ibn KhairunCompleted866 Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 2 1 Inscriptions 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory EditThe mosque s construction is dated to 866 CE 252 AH during the Aghlabid period The foundation inscription on its facade records the name of its founder as Muhammad ibn Khayrun al Ma firi al Andalusi 1 He was most likely a former slave from al Andalus 2 possibly a merchant 3 Only the mosque s front facade remains from the original construction 1 The minaret was added much later in 1440 CE 844 AH during the Hafsid period when the mosque was restored 1 4 Architecture EditThe architectural design of the Aghlabids can be characterized from the inheritance of the local architectural tradition and the simultaneous recognition of the Abbasid metropolitan styles and techniques 5 The mosque is fronted by three doors framed by horseshoe arches that resemble that of the Great Mosque of Uqba 6 The arches rest on reused ancient columns engaged into the wall 1 The facade above these arches is carved with floral motifs and with Arabic inscriptions written in Kufic script 3 This decorated facade is unique among the surviving monuments of this period 2 According to scholar Mourad Rammah it is the oldest decorative facade in Islamic architecture 7 The mosque contains a prayer hall with a slightly irregular but almost square floor plan with four columns dividing it into three naves or aisles covered by a total of nine vaults 4 A basic mihrab niche is embedded in the qibla wall On the northeast corner of the mosque is a square based minaret which is a later addition from the Hafsid era with a design derived from Andalusi Moorish architecture which had spread across the region during the Almohad period The minaret s double arched windows are framed with decorative tilework 3 Inscriptions Edit The inscriptions on the mosque s facade are contained in three horizontal bands 8 The two upper bands contain two Qur anic excerpts Surah 33 71 72 and a fragment of Surah 30 4 The translated text reads 1 Believers be mindful of God speak in a direct fashion and to good purpose and He will put your deeds right for you and forgive you your sins Whoever obeys God and His Messenger will truly achieve a great triumph God is in command first and last This is then followed by an inscription recording the mosque s foundation 1 The translated text reads 3 The construction of this mosque was ordered by Muhammad son of Khayrun al Ma afiri al Andalusi in order to draw closer to God and in the hopes of gaining His pardon and mercy The inscriptions on the facade were partially rearranged in the 15th century when the Hafsid minaret was added so as to insert a new inscription along the lower band recording the restoration of 1440 The appearance of the original Aghlabid period facade and inscriptions was reconstituted by Georges Marcais 1 See also EditAghlabid architectureReferences Edit a b c d e f g Bloom Jonathan M 2020 Architecture of the Islamic West North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula 700 1800 Yale University Press pp 33 34 ISBN 9780300218701 a b Mazot Sibylle 2011 The Architecture of the Aghlabids In Hattstein Markus Delius Peter eds Islam Art and Architecture h f ullmann p 136 ISBN 9783848003808 a b c d Mosque of the Three Doors Qantara Retrieved 2020 11 22 a b Zangar Saloua Mosque of the Three Doors Discover Islamic Art Museum With No Frontiers Retrieved November 21 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Bloom Jonathan M Blair Sheila S 2009 The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture Oxford University Press p 86 Petersen Andrew 2002 Dictionary of Islamic Architecture p 24 Binous Jamila Baklouti Naceur Ben Tanfous Aziza Bouteraa Kadri Rammah Mourad Zouari Ali 2010 V 1 e Ibn Khayrun Mosque or Mosque of the Three Gates Ifriqiya Thirteen Centuries of Art and Architecture in Tunisia Islamic Art in the Mediterranean 2nd ed Museum With No Frontiers amp Ministry of Culture the National Institute of Heritage Tunis ISBN 9783902782199 Blair Sheila S 2019 Islamic Inscriptions Edinburgh University Press p 58 ISBN 978 1 4744 6448 2 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Three Doors Mosque Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mosque of the Three Doors amp oldid 1136366604, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
