Site and urban network
[Picture source: © 2006 Stefan Knost] [Picture source: © 2006 Stefan Knost] The Madrasat al-Firdaws is situated to the south of Aleppo’s built-up area in the middle of old graveyards not far from the Maqam as-Salihin, the most important holy place connected with the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) in Aleppo. It was an important pilgrimage center that since the late 11th century had attracted increased attention from Seljuk rulers and their successors, like Dayfa Khatun’s husband al-Malik az-Zahir Ghazi.[1] In Ayyubid times, attention to this area increased even more, resulting in the construction of three madrasas close to each other: the Madrasat al-Kamaliyya, the Madrasat az-Zahiriyya, and the Madrasat al-Firdaws.
