35. ‘Ammān | عمّان

Jabal al-Nuzḥa (‘Ammān Governorate) 

Maqām Shēkh al-Faqīr

JADIS no. none

MEGA no. none

Coordinates: 331°57'28.0"N 35°55'57.0"E

31.957778, 35.932500

Plan: Rock-cut chamber in E-W orientation which partially extends below the actual side road from Shara Khaled bin Walīd from Jabal Ḥussein to Jabal al-Qal‘at.

Measurements: Not retrievable.

Exterior: unknown.

Interior: unknown.

Building Materials: Natural limestone rock.

Construction details: unknown.

Preservation: The rock cut chamber has been closed recently by a modern hollow concrete block wall because  the adjacent space was used for dwelling. According to oral reports, people used to visit the maqām for burning  incense, praying Q.1 al-fātiḥa, touching the wall for receiving blessing and sacrificing animals to make their wishes fulfilled, cf. here traveler reports.

Inscription(s): none known. 

Date(s): Unknown.

Traveler Reports: Munif 1994, 30; 1996: 13-14:

Translation (S. Kawar 1998): “Religious families preferred the tombs of  folk  saints because they had been tried before and had proved capable for intercession. The best  known of them was al-Faqir. His tomb was inside a sordid empty cave in Jabal al-Qal’ah, the mountain on which the ancient citadel was built. The cave lacked that inspired respect or awe. It is there that sick children were taken. Once inside the cave, candles would be lit and the patient would be carried around the grave while prayers were  said. Offerings  and vows would be made. Some of the vows were akin to public promises. The supplicant would say ‘A sheep  that is more than one year will be slaughtered if God, through  the  intercession  and blessing of al-Faqir, grants that  the poor patient shall be healed’. The patient  would be led or carried around the grave seven times. The last round had to be completed while the candles were still  lit, and the last words to be said were: ‘May god light your grave, Oh Faqir, you who respond to every prayer and to everybody in need. I trust you and God with my request, so please answer, Oh helper of those in need.’ The ritual used to take place on most days of the week, but it doubled in frequence on Mondays and  Thursdays .    Some Christians did not hesitate to visit al-Faqir’s tomb, and they made votive offerings to him if a sick person was healed or a wish was granted. One day, one of the children of the family was taken there because he was late in walking and talking. Grand mother went with him. When she saw the bare cave and humble tomb, she said loudly, shaking her hands regret fully and derisively ‘Shame on al-Faqir, no door or window. He doesn’t even begin to compare with al- ‘Abbas’. When  she was asked to lower her voice and  not to insult the saint, because he gave signs and was a figure  of  blessing and intercession, she laughingly replied ‘ Obviously! His signs are as high as a flag’.

Bibliography: unpublished.