Chrabliyine Mosque

The Chrabliyine Mosque (also spelled Shirabliyyin, Cherabliyine, etc.) is a Marinid-era mosque in Fez, Morocco.

Chrabliyine Mosque
View of the mosque's minaret and courtyard.
Religion
Affiliation(Sunni) Islam
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusactive
Location
LocationFez, Morocco
Geographic coordinates34°03′53.5″N 4°58′40.1″W
Architecture
TypeMosque
StyleMarinid, Moroccan, Islamic
FounderAbu al-Hasan Ali ibn Othman
Completed1342
Minaret(s)1

History

The mosque was built in 1342 (CE)[1] under the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hasan and was considerably restored under the Alaouite sultan Moulay Slimane (1792−1822).[2] Only the minaret and the mosque entrance are still essentially in their original Marinid form, while the appearance of the rest of the mosque generally dates from the Alaouite restoration.[2][3] The Mosque of Abu al-Hasan to the west, founded around the same time and similarly renovated by Moulay Slimane, bears a number of resemblances with this building.[4]

Location and origin of name

The mosque is located on Tala'a Kebira, the main souq (market) street and artery of Fes el-Bali, the old city of Fez, from which its minaret is prominently visible. The surrounding district is also referred to as Chrabliyine, a name which refers to a type of traditional Moroccan women's shoe called "cherbil"[5] in which the local shops specialized (and still do to some extent today).[6][7]

Architecture
View of the minaret from the west, on Tala'a Kebira street.

Minaret and exterior

The mosque is considered notable for its minaret, which is particularly well-decorated in the medieval Moroccan-Andalusian style (evolved from earlier Almohad models), making use of the darj-w-ktaf or sebka pattern (resembling palmettes or fleur-de-lys shapes) covering much of the facades, as well as polylobed arch motifs near the base, merlons at the top, and multicolored mosaic tiles that fill in the empty spaces.[2][7] One of these tile mosaics, on the side of the minaret overlooking the interior courtyard, features a notable inscription in the "square" kufic style.[4] The main street entrance to the mosque is directly below the minaret and is overlooked by a canopy of carved wood. The street facade of the building also includes spaces for two shops.[4]

Interior and layout

The interior of the mosque features a rectangular courtyard (roughly 11 by 5 meters) that can be accessed directly from the street entrance and which is flanked on either side by annexes.[4] The courtyard, like that of many mosques, features a marble fountain in its center, while on its north/western side is also an entrance to an ablutions room. On its southern/eastern side is the prayer hall, featuring two transverse naves formed by rows of five horseshoe arches parallel to the qibla wall (i.e. the wall towards which prayers face).[4] The mihrab, a decorative alcove or niche in the qibla wall that symbolizes the direction of prayer, is a small octagonal space topped by a dome of muqarnas. On either side of the mihrab are two small doors leading to other rooms. The eastern one (on the left) connects to a "mosque of the dead" or funerary mosque (Jama' el-Gnaiz), a space used for funerary rites and prayers around the bodies of the deceased before they are buried. (This space is attached but separate from the rest of the mosque in order to protect the cleanliness and sanctity of the main prayer space.) Both this funerary space and the main prayer hall can also be accessed by smaller secondary entrances from the street on the eastern side of the building.[4]

  • The main entrance of the mosque, from Tala'a Kebira street.
  • The wooden canopy above the street entrance.
  • Glimpse of the mosque's interior from the main entrance, looking towards the mihrab.
  • Details of the minaret's motifs and zellij decoration.

See also

References
  1. "Fez". ArchNet. Archived from the original on November 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  2. Métalsi, Mohamed (2003). Fès: La ville essentielle. Paris: ACR Édition Internationale. pp. 71–72, 188. ISBN 978-2867701528.
  3. Parker, Richard (1981). A practical guide to Islamic Monuments in Morocco. Charlottesville, VA: The Baraka Press.
  4. Maslow, Boris (1937). Les mosquées de Fès et du nord du Maroc. Paris: Éditions d'art et d'histoire. pp. 74–79.
  5. "Les babouches". www.ecoliers-berberes.info. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  6. The Rough Guide to Morocco. London: Rough Guides. 2016. p. 172. ISBN 9780241236680.
  7. Le Tourneau, Roger (1949). Fès avant le protectorat: étude économique et sociale d'une ville de l'occident musulman. Casablanca: Société Marocaine de Librairie et d'Édition. p. 132.
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