The Masjid al-Sayf (مسجد السیف) is located within the Qal'a (Citadel) of Jerusalem, which is situated along the middle of the western wall of the Old City, south of Bab al-Khalil (Jaffa Gate). The mosque is in the southern part of the Citadel's eastern barbican. It is most likely one of atleast two mosques inside the Jerusalem Citadel, other being the Masjid al-Qal'a.
The mosque was probably built in 938 H/1531-32 CE. Sultan Suleyman I ordered a major restoration of the Citadel, including this mosque, in the early Ottoman period, as the mihrab bears the name of Sulayman al-Qanuni (The Lawgiver). The mosque functioned as an open-air area for prayers. It served the garrisons in the Citadel, thus enabling soldiers to perform the prayers without leaving the Citadel. A concave pointed-arched mihrab niche facing south is built in the center of the southern wall and is flanked on either side by a stone battlement. The mosque has no distinctive external facades.
circa 1550 CE
Since the second half of the 16th century the mosque underwent some aletrations. In 1151H/ 1738 CE, it was restored by 'Ali Agha, the chief of the Janissaires in the Citadel. During the 1370's/1950's, rounded concrete toppings (inspect) were added above the wall of the mosque's mihrab and the barbican's battlements flanking it from the east and west.
circa 1550 CE
The entrance of this mosque gives access to a narrow passage that leads to an almost rectangular open site that is divided into two sections. The first one lies to the east of the passageway with a modern fountain in its center. The second is the Summer Mosque itself, which has an almost rectangular floor that is apved with old flagstones.
circa 1550 CE
Some time after 1310-11 H/ 1893 CE, the wall in which the mosque's entrance is placed was probably rebuilt.
circa 1550 CE
The ditch of the Citadel, along with the battlements placed above its glacis, border this mosque from east, west, and south. A wall separating the mosque from the barbican to the north, borders it from the north.
circa 1550 CE
Between the years 1400/1980 and 1407/1986, the mosque underwent some repairs which included replacing the old fountain by a new one. Finally, in 1414/1993, part of the open space underwent alterations with the aim of converting it into a small garden.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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