Architectural Description

[Picture source: © 2010 Lamia Jasser]

The original layout of the Khusrawiyya complex (see fig. 7) consists of the central Friday mosque in the main tract to the south, the madrasa (Islamic school) at the southwestern corner, the takiyya (hospice, travellers lodge) plus matbakh (public kitchen) at the southeastern corner, and a cell tract to the north, all surrounding a rectangular courtyard with central fountain.[1] All prominent structures are set into an enclosure separate from the surrounding urban fabric.

The mosque’s ground plan is square (16 by 16 m), with a smaller square room (tabhane – Turkish term for a special “guest room”) on either side flanking the courtyard facade. This is fronted by a five-bay arcaded, dome-covered entrance gallery (portico) on a podium (see fig. 7, 8). A large hemispherical dome (ca. 18 m diameter) on a 16-windowed drum supported by eight flying buttresses crowns this rather squat cubic structure. On the inside, the construction rests on an octagonal arcature framing four corner squinches (see fig. 9). The minaret, located at the northwestern corner of the mosque, has a 16-faceted shaft, which is interrupted by a balcony and topped by a squat cone.[2]

The madrasa, separated from the main courtyard by a gate, is designed as an L-shape by five cells at the western side and four cells with a large centered dershane (Turkish for “studying room”, designed here as a square domed room with prayer niche) at the southern side, all preceded by a multi-domed portico (see fig. 7, 10) [3]. At the eastern side of the Friday mosque, the general layout of the takiyya symmetrically mirrors that of the madrasa. A historic photo, taken by von Oppenheim between 1911 and 1939 (see fig. 11), shows the structure without domed portico and some cells missing. The mausoleum (see fig. 12) is a cubical domed structure at the southern side of the Friday mosque, the direction of prayer (qibla).

Function in time and modifications

The Khusrawiyya complex was restored and modified, particularly after the massive earthquake of 1237 AH / 1822 AD. Only the original design of the Friday mosque was largely preserved and the madrasa seems to have kept its basic layout [4]. The function of the takiyya was abandoned. Originally, the ten cells of the northern arcade building opposite the Friday mosque served for the lodging of travellers as well [5].

According to the waqf documents Khusraw Pasha’s wife and his son Qurtbak were buried in the mausoleum in the mosque garden [6]. The mausoleum still existed before the destruction of the complex but not the tombs inside of it.[7].

The above-mentioned historic photo (see fig. 11) shows the remains of the public kitchen outside the enclosure wall at the southeast of the complex; these were completely removed at a later date. Also, the photo shows an empty zone in front of the eastern gate later was fenced and added to the complex.

The Aleppine historian al-Tabbakh stated in the 1920s that Jamil Namiq Pasha, governor of Aleppo (wali, 1880–1886), restored the complex and reopened it as a madrasa around 1302 AH / 1885 AD. [8]. In 1326 AH / 1908–09 AD, Shaykh Rida al-Zaʿim al-Dimashqi promoted the restoration and revival of the Friday mosque and the madrasa; an inscription in the northern arcade mentions the same date without name. In 1340 AH / 1921 AD, ʿAbd al-Hamid al-Kayyali, mufti of Aleppo, did additional renovation on the madrasa [9].

In 1949, the Madrasa al-Khusrawiyya was – together with the Madrasa al-Shaʿbaniyya – the only two functioning Islamic schools in Aleppo. In 1959, it was designated as a Religious Secondary School for Boys (al-Thanawiyya al-Sharʿiyya li-l-Banin) under the Ministry of Endowments [10]. In 1972, when a science curriculum was added to the traditional curriculum, many modifications applied: whereas all the rooms of the old madrasa and the former takiyya were converted into classrooms, new space was built at the eastern side of the complex (see fig. 7, 13) [11].

In the 1990s, the prayer hall of the Friday mosque has been closed for a while due to cracking in the dome; it was restored in 2004. The minaret was also restored and new underglaze tiles below its balcony were added.[12].

Footnotes

[1] See al-Ghazzi, Nahr al-Dhahab, 2:94.
[2] See Watenpaugh, The Image of an Ottoman City, 63–65.
[3] See Kasmo,“Restoration Project of al-Ahmadiyya,” 61–62.
[4] Necipoğlu, The Age of Sinan, 473.
[5] Al-Ghazzi, Nahr al-Dhahab, 2:94.
[6] Al-Ghazzi, Nahr al-Dhahab, 2:94.
[7] Özpay and Yakar, Halep’te Adım – Taqasi Khuta, 179.
[8] Al-Tabbakh, Iʿlam al-Nubalaʾ, 3:158.
[9] Al-Ghazzi, Nahr al-Dhahab, 1:135.
[10] Al-Jassir, “Tatawwur ʿAmarat al-Madaris,” 345.
[11] Al-Jassir, “Tatawwur ʿAmarat al-Madaris,” 356.
[12] Özpay and Yakar, Halep’te Adım – Taqasi Khuta, 175.