Building date, patron and architect
[Picture source: © 1978 Michael Meinecke] [Picture source: © 1978 Michael Meinecke] 
Figure 1: Aleppo, al-Utrush Mosque, left part of the western facade with portal, minaret and mausoleum [Picture source: © 2001 Jean-Claude David] Jamiʿ al-Utrush, “Utrush Friday Mosque”, was built in two phases.[1] Aqbugha al-Utrush, Mamluk governor of Aleppo, commenced the construction in 801 AH / 1399 AD; it concluded in 802 AH / 1400 AD when the mosque’s western facade, minaret, and mausoleum were finished (fig. 1). In 806 AH / 1404 AD, the patron died during his second term in office and was subsequently buried there. The mosque was officially completed in the second phase of construction 811–12 AH / 1409–10 AD, during the rule of the governor Damurdash al-Muhammadi. Both patrons set up awqaf (sing. waqf, “endowment”) in order to provide revenue for the mosque.
There are several inscriptions that give information about significant names and dates in the construction process.[2] Above the middle window of the mosque’s prayer hall in the west-facing front facade, the main inscription announces the start date and the name of the first patron, Aqbugha (fig. 2). The text is arranged in four elongated cartouches:
أنشأ هذا الجامع المقرّ العالي
السيفي آقبغا الملكي الظاهري
أعزّ الله أنصاره بمحمّد وآله وذلك في
شهر ذو الحجّة سنة إحدى وثمان مائة[3]
This mosque was founded by His High Excellency
Sayf al-Din Aqbugha al-Maliki al-Zahiri,
may God glorify his victories through Muhammad and his family, in
the month of Dhu l-Hiija of the year 801 [August 1399 AD].[4]
The architect responsible for the mosque’s elaborate main facade during the first construction phase was Ahmad al-Kutubi; this is indicated in a small separate inscription cartouche centrally located above the same window (fig. 2):
عمل الحاج أحمد الكتبي[5]
The work of the pilgrim Ahmad al-Kutubi.
Figure 2: Aleppo, al-Utrush Mosque, inscriptions over the prayer hall’s middle window in the western facade [Picture source: © 1999 Julia Gonnella] Above the northern side gate, another inscription refers to the completion of the mosque (fig. 3). The text is a variant of the earlier text on the inscription panel above the main gate in the western portal niche;[6] in addition, it indicates that the work was carried out under the supervision of Yusuf al-Ashrafi. The inscription cartouche is flanked by two blazons depicting cups. These signify saqi (cup-bearer), a rank the Mamluk sultan awarded to his princes and officers – in this case Damurdash, the mosque’s second patron. The cartouche contains three lines of text:
عمر هذا الجامع المبرور ابتغاء لوجه الله تعالى المقر الأشرف العالي المولوي العالمي العادلي المخدومي الكافلي
السيفي دمرداش الناصري مولانا ملك الأمراء كافل المملكتين الشريفتين الحلبية والطرابلسية أعز الله أنصاره وضاعف اقتداره
بمحمد وآله بتولي العبد الفقير إلى الله تعالى يوسف الأشرفي وكان الفراغ منه سلخ شعبان المكرم من سنة اثنا عشر وثمان ماية[7]
This blessed mosque was built, seeking the Countenance of God the Exalted, by His Most Noble and High Excellency, the Master, the Learned, the Just, the Well-Served, the Viceregal
Damurdash al-Nasiri, our Master, Governor-General, Viceroy of the two Noble Kingdoms of Aleppo and Tripoli, may God glorify his victories and double his power
through Muhammad and his family, under the supervision of the slave in need of God the Exalted, Yusuf al-Ashrafi, it was completed at the end of the esteemed Shaʿban of the year 812 [January 1410 AD].[8]
Figure 3: Aleppo, al-Utrush Mosque, inscription cartouche and blazons above the northern gate [Picture source: © 2010 Lamia Jasser] 