Layout Plan
[Picture source: © 2017 Alaaeddin Haddad] [Picture source: © 2017 Alaaeddin Haddad] 
Figure 4: Portal in the Northern Façade [Picture source: © 2017 Alaaeddin Haddad] 
Figure 5: Portal on the Eastern Façade [Picture source: © 1920 Creswell] This mosque is rich history of building phases and additions, some of which are mentioned in historical sources.
The mosque corresponds to the architectural type of a riwaq mosque, which means that a courtyard (sahn) is surrounded by a prayer hall on one side and colonnaded porticoes (riwaq) on the remaining three. Its plan is rectangular[1] and follows the example of the mosque of Altunbugha Salihi, dated half a century earlier.[2]
The main entrance of the mosque is situated in the middle of the northern façade (Fig. 4). Another entrance was originally situated on the east (Fig. 5), but is obstructed today by an ablution area, which was added in 1264/1848[3].
The prayer hall is constructed as a double nave. Originally the prayer hall consisted of ten bays covered by cross vaults. Two further rooms were added in its southeast, and protrude from the linear contour of the eastern façade in this area[4]. These two rooms might correspond to two iwans Ibn al-ʿAjami described on the east side of the prayer hall. He reports that in one of them was a small door, through which Mankalibugha came to participate in the Friday prayer without disturbing the attending public.[5] Ibn al-ʿAjami also reports that the qibla-riwaq received a new floor by the administrator of this mosque Khushqadam, dawadar of governor Qanibay al-Ḥamzawi, who was in office intermittently between 843/1439 and 25. Ṣafar 859/14.2.1455.[6] In later times the surface of the prayer hall was reduced and the two outer aisles in the East and West were separated by walls and made into gardens (Fig. 6).[7]
Figure 6: Aerial view of the mosque and courtyard [Picture source: © 1976 Jean-Claude David] 
Figure 7: Qibla wall and mihrab [Picture source: © 2017 Alaaeddin Haddad] 
Figure 8: Mihrab, flanking columns on the left [Picture source: © 2007 Miriam Kühn] 
Figure 9: Mihrab, flanking columns on the right [Picture source: © 2007 Miriam Kühn] The mihrab is placed in the middle of the qibla wall. The area in front of it is emphasized by a cupola rising above a dodecagonal drum with a window on each side. The central bay of the qibla wall is further accentuated by polished yellow stone from the light-coloured ashlar that today dominates the remaining wall surfaces (Fig. 7). The mihrab is richly decorated. Two marble columns with capitals and completely covered by floral scrollwork in flat relief accentuate its corners (Figs. 8-9). Further vertical and two horizontal marble layers structure the interior of the lower part of the mihrab, which is further framed by a moulding. A deep calotte behind an arch decorated with ablaq rises above. The framing face arch is decorated with multicoloured interlaced stone bands surrounding surfaces inlaid with green and red stones.
A marble panel with flat relief is inserted into the yellow stone bond left of the mihrab. It depicts two columns carrying an arch (Fig. 10): The two columns and the ground is covered by chevron pattern, while the arch is adorned with floral decoration. A mosque lamp is depicted hanging above, flanked below by two candle sticks. An inscription is placed above.[8]
A marble minbar is located west of the mihrab (Fig. 11). Its plinth, the handrail of the canopy, the center of the area below the preacher’s seat, as well as a triangular frame embellishing its flanks, are made of yellow stone. The portal is rather simple: Only a floral flat relief is inserted above the opening and inscriptions are added in black. The doors are made of wood and open upon a staircase leading to the preacher’s seat. The latter is topped by a canopy consisting of four marble columns carrying polylobed (multifoil) arches. They support a roof placed above a moulding, topped by a slightly ribbed dome, painted green. The flanks are characterized by geometrical flat relief on marble accentuating the vertical structure of the canopy, the horizontal structure of the plinth and the diagonal structure of the staircase of the minbar (Fig. 12). The handrail of the staircase is decorated with a very delicate and intricate floral pattern (Fig. 13).
Figure 14: Dikka, Syrian Heritage [Picture source: © 2017 Alaaeddin Haddad] 
Figure 15: Facade of the payer hall [Picture source: © 2007 Miriam Kühn] A platform for the reciter is inserted above the entrance opposite the mihrab (Fig. 14). It is made of wood and supported by two wooden pillars.[9]
The façade of the prayer hall facing the courtyard is walled up and pierced by a door flanked by two windows, each topped by a smaller window[10]. Two mihrabs are inserted into the wall between door and the flanking windows. Above the door there is a renovation inscription dated to 1269/1852-53[11] (Fig. 15).
Figure 16: Western portico of the mosque and courtyard [Picture source: © 1983 Jean-Claude David] 
Figure 17: North-Eastern part of the courtyard with additions [Picture source: © 2017 Alaaeddin Haddad] The courtyard is enclosed by porticoes, the ones in the east and west were originally facing the courtyard with two large arcades. All porticoes were extensively modified over time (Fig. 16-17). Ibn al-ʿAjami reports that dilapidation prompted the renovation of the western wall of the mosque and parts of the vaulting connecting with it between 19. Muḥarram 852/25.3.1448 and the 2nd decade Rabīʿ II 852 /23.6.-2.7.1448.[12] Governor Tanam min ʿAbd ar-Razzaq ordered the work and Khwaja Shihab ad-Din Aḥmad al-Malaṭi and Muḥibb ad-Din Ibn ash-Shiḥna financed it. A master architect (muʿallim) and an engineer (muhandis) from Cairo were involved in these renovations.[13] However, the vaulting cracked again, as did the northern wall and vaults in 873/1468-1469.[14] Hajj Muhammad b. Ṣafā endowed some funds with which the northern wall was later redone.[15]
Originally the Northern portico consisted of one nave with three bays and was vaulted like the other two porticoes with cross vaults.[16] However, it was removed and only its outer wall left standing, probably in the first half of the 16th century.[17] A small building was added on the north-eastern corner of the courtyard, also incorporating parts of the eastern portico, in 1320/1902 (Fig. 17). Abd el-Razik refers to Tabbakh, when pointing out that this building was commissioned and financed by the rich Aleppine merchant called Bakayr, when a sufi called ash-Shaykh Ragab came to Aleppo and decided to stay in that mosque.[18]
The courtyard is recessed, or rather the floors of the porticoes are slightly raised. Its floor is decorated with five squares of marble inlay. A large water basin is placed in the centre of the courtyard.
The exterior of the mosque is characterized by plain ashlar, except for its richly adorned portals and the minaret. The main portal is imbedded into the northern façade (Fig. 3). Two benches with moulded contours flank the entrance. The back wall of the portal up to the height of the door is decorated with stones in ablaq technique, i.e. alternating layers of black and white ashlar. Three lines of inscription are inserted into a cartouche above the door lintel, mentioning the mosque’s patron (see above). Three lines of inscription flanked by a roundel with floral relief follow above and commemorate Hatim al-Hamzawi’s contribution to the mosque in Rajab 927/ June 1521.[19]
A square plaque with square kufic script is set further above in the centre (Fig. 18) of a five-zone muqarnas vaulting. It is topped by a calotte, which is composed of radiating stones in red and white ablaq. The upper muqarnas elements on the corners as well as the front side of the calotte are decorated by flat relief, the latter shows interlacing arches. Another square kufic inscription panel is set in the centre of the calotte.
Figure 18: Top of the portal in the Northern façade [Picture source: © 2007 Miriam Kühn] A second portal is imbedded into the northern part of the eastern façade. Today it is no longer visible, as it is obstructed by adjoining buildings.[20] However the upper part of the portal is documented in a historic photograph by Creswell (Fig. 5). The portal is set apart from the rest of the façade by a moulded frame. In addition, a square plaque with square kufic script is visible. It is placed below a six-zone muqarnas vaulting and flanked by four roundels resembling the ones on the northern portal.[21]
Figure 19: Minaret. Syrian Heritage [Picture source: © 2005 Wolfgang Mayer] The cylindrical minaret is situated on the north-eastern corner of the mosque (Fig. 19). Three rectangular inscription panels surrounded by a moulded frame take up the width of the minaret’s base, inserted on its eastern, western and northern sides (Fig. 2). An octagonal transition zone follows above, on which the shaft of the minaret is placed. It is structured by horizontal friezes into four floors and a top. The lowest frieze consists of a single line of muqarnas elements. A palmette frieze follows above. The third frieze consists of two lines of muqarnas elements. A multizonal muqarnas frieze supports the top.
A sundial is inserted on the lower section of the minaret. Abd el-Razik records the name of its craftsman, who is mentioned in an inscription above: Muḥammad at-Tayẓini, born in Tayẓin, a small city in the district of Hama, in 818/1415, d. 911/1505. [22] It was obviously added later to the minaret. The walls of the third floor are decorated with four roundels above which four rectangular windows with moulded frames follow on the fourth floor. The top of the minaret has a smaller diameter and is octagonal. Great parts of the top and upper part of the minaret were destroyed in recent years. It was bombed several times in 2013.[23]
