Memory Statement

Omar Abd Alwahhab Kattaa, interviewed by Andre Yacoubian

July 2019

I have known al-Adiliyya mosque for more than 45 to 50 years now, as my father used to take me with him since I was 4 – 5 years old. That is why I have a strong and long history of attachment to this place.

It is a very important place for Muslims in general and the people of Aleppo in particular as it is one of the most ancient historic mosques. It is an early ottoman mosque. It has a historic value of course but also a religious and symbolic value for the people of Aleppo like me, as I used to attend in there sessions of dhikr since I was very young until 10 to 15 years ago when these sessions stopped due to several reasons, among which are the death or move of the people who were responsible.

This of course did not prevent me from going there anyway as the place is full of charm and has a certain specificity to it. Friday prayers used to take place in al-Adiliyya mosque, many people including myself would attend, especially those who knew the mosque and the people responsible for it in the early times. Also on special occassions and religious holidays, especially on Friday, dhikr sessions would take part in the mosque with chanting and sufi ceremonies. Ramadan, Isra and Meraj, mid of Sha’ban. Every Friday there would be something special in this mosque which I assign so many of my memories to from childhood.

Anyone who used to go regularly to the mosque would remember how all your senses would ignite in that place. It has a very specific smell and image to it. There are several Ottoman mosques in Aleppo, but this one has something very unique, whether in  its entrance, prayer hall, courtyard, trees, domes, or the niches upstairs where children would sit during special sessions. The memory of the place is so distictive.

The mosque stood for centuries and lived along since my childhood with all its beautiful details. It stands now so strong in my memory. I used to go there regularly to release the stress of daily life, and therefore, it has an incredible value in my heart. The minute I step my foot inside the mosque I feel relieved and all the memories come again. The fragrance of Ahl al-Khier (people of good will) of historic times accompanies you when you enter this place.

I feel really sad and in agony to see the mosque in its current state. It burns my heart to see what had happened to the mosque and Aleppo, of all its historic bits and details. It puts me in tears, and I can not even go and visit it now. If we could just see a real support I am sure many people would just volunteer to help rebuilding it. We can restore a destoryed building but we can not restore how it really used to be, as every stone holds a story of the people of the mosque. I really hope to recover the story of a beautiful time by restoring the stones of the building.

Omar Abd Alwahhab Katta