Al Dissi Mosque

Coordinates: 31°46′25″N 35°13′50″E / 31.77361°N 35.23056°E / 31.77361; 35.23056
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Al Dissi Mosque
مسجد الديسي
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Location
LocationOld City of Jerusalem
Al Dissi Mosque is located in Jerusalem
Al Dissi Mosque
Shown within Jerusalem
Geographic coordinates31°46′25″N 35°13′50″E / 31.77361°N 35.23056°E / 31.77361; 35.23056
Architecture
Stylemosque

The Al Dissi mosque or the Al Disi mosque (Arabic: مسجد الديسي) is a Medieval mosque located within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, on the edge between the Armenian Quarter and the Jewish Quarter.[1]

In 2018 the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, funded the renovation of the mosque; Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth states that the local Jewish community and the Waqf "came to an agreement" that there would be no muezzin calling from the minaret.[2] Sheikh Mazen Ahram, a Jerusalem Imam, says that the mosque's muezzin loudspeakers were confiscated by Israeli authorities in 1993, who subsequently prevented any announcements from the minaret.[1] He also says that the land in front of the mosque, owned by the Islamic Waqf, was confiscated by Israel and converted into a car park,[1] and that due to its location near the Jewish Quarter, users of the mosque have faced racist insults and harassment.[1]

History[edit]

Location of the mosque, between the Armenian and Jewish quarters, in a 1936 Survey of Palestine map

The mosque dates back to the Ayyubid era of Al-Mu'azzam Isa, and was later restored in the Mamluk era.[1] In 1487 it was endowed by Al-Kameli ibn Abu-Sharif,[3] and mention the mosque as "Masjid al-Omar".[4] It was subsequently named the Al Dissi Mosque after a member of the Jerusalemite Al Dissi family.[3]

1967-76 demolition works carried out by the “Jewish Quarter Development Company” adjacent to the site damaged the structure of the mosque; it was subsequently renovated by the Islamic Waqf.[3]

Description[edit]

The mosque has a minaret that is about 15 meters high, and has an area of 60 square meters.[4] The mosque prayer area is situated along a small corridor behind the low steel gate in the main entrance.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "قريبا من الأقصى.. "الديسي" مسجد صامت يندر رواده (Close to Al-Aqsa .. "Al-Disi" is a silent mosque that is rarely visited)". Al Jazeera. 26 February 2019.
  2. ^ Yael Friedson (21 November 2011). ""עוד יהיה כאן פיצוץ": בקרוב מסגד בלב הרובע היהודי ("There will be another explosion here": Soon a mosque in the heart of the Jewish Quarter)". Ynet. לפני שנה שיפץ מלך מרוקו את מסגד דיסי (השני משני המסגדים שברובע היהודי), אך התושבים והמנהל הקהילתי הגיעו להסכמות שקטות עם נציגים מתונים בוואקף ולפיהן ייערכו תפילות במקום - ללא קריאות מואזין.
  3. ^ a b c d PASSIA ISLAMIC AND CHRISTIAN HOLY PLACES
  4. ^ a b Mosques of Jerusalem (مساجد بيت المقدس), Muhammad Al-Kafrawi (محمد الكفراوي), Arab Graduates Club (نادي الخريجين العرب), Jerusalem, 1983, p. 22.