Al-Muallaq Mosque Explained

Al-Muallaq Mosque
Native Name:מסגד אל-מועלק
Native Name Lang:he
Map Type:Israel northwest
Map Size:225px
Coordinates:32.9208°N 35.069°W
Religious Affiliation:Islam
Location:Acre, Northern, Israel
Festivals:-->
Organizational Status:-->
Architecture Type:mosque
Architecture Style:Ottoman
Year Completed:1758
Date Destroyed:-->
Minaret Quantity:1
Elevation Ft:-->

The al-Muallak Mosque (Arabic: المسجد المعلق Masjid Al-Muallaq, Hebrew: מסגד אל-מועלק Misgad Al-Muallak) also known as the Mosque of Zahir al-Umar (Arabic: مسجد ظاهر العمر{{lrm) is a mosque in Acre, Israel.

History

The mosque was built in 1758 by the Arab ruler of Acre, Zahir al-Umar. It was built in a courtyard on the site of a structure commissioned by the Crusaders and which later became the gate to the Genoaese quarter of the city. Up until 1746, the structure was used as a synagogue by Acre's Jewish residents,[1] called the Ramchal Synagogue.[2] The Jews still owned the building when Zahir chose to transform it into a mosque, but compensated them with a different building located in Acre's Jewish quarter.[1] Leftover features of the synagogue include the niche for the Holy Ark and inscriptions in Hebrew.[3]

Architecture

The mosque is positioned along the edge of Acre's Old City market, situated between Khan al-Umdan and Khan al-Ifranj, and is risen over the street.[1] From the outside, the main indicators of the mosque are its low-lying dome and the round base of its former minaret.[3] The mosque's entrance is located beneath the original minaret's base.[3] This minaret was demolished by the municipality of Acre in 1950, citing a public safety risk.[3] The body of the mosque is mainly constituted by a large, square-shaped prayer hall,[1] [3] A triple-domed portico precedes the prayer hall's entrance.[3] Beside the prayer hall is a smaller room that is currently used as a library.[1] A stairway beneath a covered entryway leads into the courtyard.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Sharon, 1997, p. 38.
  2. Web site: Acre: Religious and prayer sites . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090609151755/http://www.aguide2israel.com/index.php/fuseaction/destination.home/a/1664/title/Religious%20Sites . 2009-06-09 .
  3. Web site: Muallaq Mosque. ArchNet . 2008-12-31.