Al-Ashrafiya Madrasa
A historic Islamic school, mosque, and Khanqah in the city of Taiz. It was built by the seventh king of the Rasulid dynasty, Sultan Al-Malik Al-Ashraf Ismail ibn Al-Abbas, in the year 800 AH (corresponding to 1397 AD).
Key facts
- Built
- 1397
- Foundation/Institution
- Abbas er-Resuli
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Overview
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Al-Ashrafiya Madrasa is a historic madrasa, mosque and khanqah in the city of Taiz, Yemen. It stands in the old city at the foot of Mount Sabr. It was conceived as a centre for teaching the religious sciences according to the Shafi'i school, a place of prayer, and a Sufi lodge that assisted the poor and travellers. It also served as a royal burial place for Rasulid rulers. Known for its many domes and its colourful decoration and inscriptions, the building is regarded as an example of the architectural style the Rasulids developed in Yemen. It is considered one of the emblems of Taiz and is listed as tangible cultural heritage.
History
This text was compiled from sourced information with AI assistance and has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Please report any errors.
The complex was built in 1397 (800 AH) under the Rasulid state. Its activities were financed by extensive endowments set aside for it.
Imam Nafis al-Din al-Alawi made the building his base. The scholar Ibn al-Jazari taught here when he visited Taiz after a period of residing and teaching in Zabid.
A long programme of restoration was completed in 2015. In 2025 the madrasa was included, as part of the file on the landmarks of Taiz, in Yemen's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage.
From Wikipedia
Madrasa and Mosque of Al-Ashrafiya or Al-Ashrafiya Mosque (Arabic: جامع ومدرسة الأشرفية) is a historical madrasa-mosque located in the old city of Taiz, Yemen at the foot of Mount Sabr in the southwestern part of the city. It is arguably the most notable preserved artifact of Taiz, given its distinct and beautiful design. It is considered to be one of the most important centers in the Islamic history of Yemen along with its complement, the Mudhaffar Mosque. It was supposedly built in two stages: (1) by Sultan Al-Ashraf Umar II (1295-6) or 800 Hijri, (2) by Sultan Al-Ashraf Isma'il I (1377-1400) and opened in 1382 or 803 Hijri. This compound can be found in the neighborhood of Ashrafiya, surrounded by a number of other locations and overlooks the Cairo Citadel. The mosque accommodates approximately 120 to 800 worshippers.
Source: Wikipedia, article “Ashrafiya Mosque”; quoted unchanged under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Read more on Wikipedia ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources
Wikipedia (ar): https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A9_(%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B2)
Wikipedia (en): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashrafiya_Mosque
Wikipedia (ur): https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AC%D8%AF_%D9%88_%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%81_%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%DB%8C%DB%81