al-Madrasa al-Adiliyeh:
al-Madrasa al-Adiliyeh, nestled in the heart of Damascus, is a religious school that dates back to the Ayyubid era. It pays homage to the influential figure of al-Aadil Seif al-Din Abu Bakr Bin Ayoub. Known as a prominent figure during the early Ayyubid period and the younger brother of Salah al-Din Yousef Bin Ayoub, the construction of this religious school commenced in the late Seljuq period (1172-1173). However, it took fifty years for the project to reach completion.
It was al-Moazem Aisa Bin Ahmad, one of the sons of al-Adil Seif al-Din, who undertook the responsibility of finishing the construction in 1222-1223. The purpose of completing the construction was to serve as a mausoleum for his father, during the reign of al-Kamil Nasr al-Din Mohammed Bin al-Adil, his elder brother.
Al-Adil Seif al-Din was born in 1145 and gained recognition as an officer in the army of Nur al-Din during the campaign in Egypt between 1168 and 1169. From 1174 onward, he governed Egypt on behalf of Salah al-Din, rallying support for his older brother’s campaigns against the Crusaders in Syria. He also held the positions of governor of Aleppo from 1183 to 1186 and governor of the northern provinces from 1192 to 1193.
Following the death of Salah al-Din in 1193, al-Adil Seif al-Din became the governor of Damascus. However, power struggles over succession led to significant family conflicts throughout the decade that followed Salah al-Din’s demise. Eventually, al-Adil Seif al-Din emerged victorious and was proclaimed sultan in 1201.
During his rule, which spanned almost two decades, al-Adil Seif al-Din governed Syria and Egypt, overseeing a relatively prosperous period for the Ayyubid state. Rather than focusing on expansion, he concentrated on consolidating power, avoiding direct confrontation with the Crusaders, and promoting trade and commerce with the Europeans.
He played a key role in the construction of major fortifications throughout the state, with the Damascus Citadel being one of the notable examples. However, renewed Crusader offensives starting in 1217 compelled al-Adil Seif al-Din to engage in further military campaigns. Unfortunately, he succumbed to illness the following year. His son, al-Kamil, succeeded him, but internal conflicts left the Ayyubid state divided, with al-Kamil ruling over Egypt while Damascus remained a contested territory.
Al-Madrasa al-Adiliyeh stands as a rather modest structure, constructed using large limestone blocks and exhibiting minimal ornamental features on its facades. The eastern façade, however, boasts a notable entryway featuring a spacious iwan that extends almost the full height of the building. Two stone vaults crown the iwan, culminating in a suspended keystone that divides the iwan into two arches. The iwan is enclosed by two small stone muqarnas domes.
A grand doorway framed by alternating black and white stone blocks, adorned with stone-carved decorative elements and a marble panel inscribed with Arabic writings, marks the entrance. Passing through the entry portal of Al-Madrasa al-Adiliyeh leads one into a courtyard measuring eighteen by seventeen meters, where a square fountain serves as its centrepiece.
The layout of al-Madrasa al-Adiliyeh is cantered around this courtyard, with the prayer hall positioned to the south and a large iwan located to the north. Although the western side has undergone extensive renovations in recent times, it originally consisted of a series of residential cells. This section also features a staircase leading to the second story, which comprises additional cells and smaller halls.
The interior facades of Al-Madrasa al-Adiliyeh lack elaborate ornamentation, contributing to a serene atmosphere within the premises. The mausoleum, situated in the southeast corner of the structure, stands as arguably the most impressive element of the building. It is crowned by a dome raised on an octagonal base and supported by stone muqarnas pendentives. Similar to the rest of the building, the mausoleum exhibits restrained decorative elements and includes a mihrab resembling the one found in the prayer hall. In addition to al-Adil Seif al-Din, another of his sons, Mujber al-Din Yaqoub, finds his final resting place within the mausoleum.
Although al-Madrasa al-Adiliyeh has undergone recent restoration efforts, gaining access to the site can present challenges as the opening hours tend to be sporadic. Directly across from al-Madrasa al-Adiliyeh lies another significant structure worth visiting, known as al-Madrasa al-Zahiriyeh.
