Saladin Khanqah Mosque - Jerusalem
Introduction
The Saladin khanqah and Mosque is located at the end of St. Francis Street in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem. Full name of this building is Salah Ad-Deen Ayyobi Waqf or al-Khanqah al-Salahiyya. The building is named after the famous Muslim general Saladin, this mosque is from 1189.
A small arch from the street opens into a courtyard. A Palestinian family lives in the courtyard and mosque is to the right side of the courtyard. A staircase rises from the courtyard to the roof and it brings to the minaret of the mosque. The minaret of the mosque resembles to the Mosque of Omer in Jerusalem.
There is also a madrasa (Islamic school) on the site, it is called al-Huda (School of the right way). A plaque inside the mosque shows that Saladin conquered Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187 and this Khanqah was built in 1189. This mosque is built with stones and tower was added in 1418.
Iron bars on the windows bear names of Allah (God), Muhammad (Holy Prophet) and Salah Ad-Deen (Saladin). There is a basement in the mosque which can be reached through stone steps. This is the spot where Saladin and his emirs sat in aitkaaf (devoted prayers for long time).
