46. ‘Azraq, al-, Drūz (north) | أزرق الدروز / الأزرق الشمالي

az-Zarqā’ Governorate

Maqām Ḥojred al-Muāffaq al-Qādi / al-‘Eid

JADIS no. 321 14003

MEGA no. 7938 (‘Azraq Drūz, maqām not registered).

Coordinates: 31°52'43.5"N 36°49'17.5"E

31.878750, 36.821528

Plan: The main tomb is located in a larger graveyard used by the local Drūz al-Qādi and al-‘Eid families who maintain several other stone heaped tombs and a covered mausoleum of rectangular ground plan accessible from the E via a (now blocked) wooden door. The importance of the tomb of the Shēkh (Ḥojred) Muḥammad al-Qādi (al-Muāffaq) is emphasized by a stone-lined path arriving from the NE border of the graveyard. The tomb consists of a structure rectangular in plan, oriented E-W, topped by a single massive catenary dome. On the N long side, attached to it, lies another more coarsely constructed tomb of approximately the same dimensions and in the same orientation, most probably the tomb of his wife. Measurements: unknown.

Exterior: unknown.

Interior: unknown.

Building Materials: bluish- dark grey olivine basalt of local origin with slight purple shade by patination.

Construction details: The main tomb consists of a cubic building rectangular in plan, constructed in six horizontal layers of semi-dressed rectangular basalt blocks with- out the use of mortar. The layers are arranged in steps in gradually reduced perimeter toward the top. The interior is massively filled with unworked boulders and rubble. In the W central sector of the roof top, a small catenary solid dome indicates the dignity of the buried Shēkh. Preservation: Intact. There are traces of veneration which indicate religious activities to the present day. Inscription(s): In the center of the fifth masonry layer on the E side is an irregular boulder with smooth ened frontal face carrying an Arabic incised inscription on four lines (transcription and translation by NAt):

Translation: “The venerated Muḥammad al-Qādi al- Muāffaq (scil.: ‘the happy one’ 1354 (H).”

Date(s): 1354 H (= 1935 AD).

Traveler Reports: none known.

Bibliography: For Druze burials in Jordan see Lash - Horun 20018.