Al-Attarine Madrasa

Al-Attarine Madrasa

madrasa

Part of	Medina of Fez
Year dem found am	1320, 1323
Country	Morocco
Edey de administrative territorial entity insyd	Fez
Coordinate location	34°3′55″N 4°58′25″W
Heritage designation	Moroccan cultural heritage, part of UNESCO World Heritage Site

De Al-Attarine Madrasa anaa Medersa al-Attarine (Arabic: مدرسة العطارين, romanized: madrasat al-ʿattārīn, lit. 'school of de perfumers') be madrasa insyd Fes, Morocco, near de Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque. Na de Marinid sultan Uthman II Abu Said (r. 1310-1331) build am insyd 1323-5. De madrasa dey take ein name from de Souk al-Attarine, de spice den perfume market. Dem consider am one of de highest achievements of Marinid architecture secof ein rich den harmonious decoration den ein efficient use of limited space.

History

Photograph of de madrasa ein prayer hall insyd de 1920s, plus de mihrab den original bronze chandelier visible

Context: Marinid madrasas

Na de Marinids be prolific builders of madrasas, a type of institution wich originate insyd northeastern Iran by de early 11th century wey na dem progressively adopt am further west. Dese establishments serve make dem train Islamic scholars, particularly insyd Islamic law den jurisprudence (fiqh). Na de madrasa insyd de Sunni world be generally antithetical to more "heterodox" religious doctrines, wey dey include de doctrine dem espouse by de Almohad dynasty. As such, na e only cam flourish insyd Morocco under de Marinid dynasty wich dem succeed de Almohads. To de Marinids, madrasas play a part make edey bolster de political legitimacy of dema dynasty. Dem use dis patronage make e encourage de loyalty of Fes ein influential buh fiercely independent religious elites wey e sanso portray demaselves to de general population as protectors den promoters of orthodox Sunni Islam. De madrasas sanso serve make e train de scholars den elites wey operate dema state ein bureaucracy.

De al-Attarine Madrasa, along plus oda nearby madrasas like de Saffarin den de Mesbahiyya, na dem build am in close proximity to de al-Qarawiyyin Mosque/University, de main center of learning insyd Fes den historically de most important intellectual center of Morocco. De madrasas play a supporting role to de Qarawiyyin; unlike de mosque, provide accommodations for students, particularly those wey dey cam from outside of Fes. Na chaw of dese students be poor, wey dey seek sufficient education make e gain a higher position insyd dema home towns, wey na dem provide de madrasas plus basic necessities such as lodging den bread. However, na de madrasas sanso be teaching institutions insyd dema own right wey dem offer dema own courses, plus sam Islamic scholars wey dey make am dema reputation by teaching for certain madrasas.

Construction den operation of de madrasa

Courtyard of de madrasa insyd 1916

Na dem build de al-Attarine madrasa between 1323 den 1325 for de orders of de Marinid sultan Abu Sa'id Uthman II. Na de supervisor of construction be Sheikh Beni Abu Muhammad Abdallah ibn Qasim al-Mizwar. According to de Rawd el-Qirtas (historical chronicle), de sultan personally observe de laying of de madrasa ein foundations, insyd de company of local ulema.

De creation of de madrasa, as plus all Islamic religious den charitable institutions of de time, require de endowment of a habous, a charitable trust wey usually dey consist of mortmain properties, wich provide revenues make e sustain de madrasa ein operations den upkeep, set up for de sultan ein directive. Dis provide for de madrasa make e host an imam, muezzins, teachers, den accommodations give 50-60 students. Na chaw of de students for dis particular madrasa be from towns den cities insyd northwestern Morocco such as Tangier, Larache, den Ksar el-Kebir.

Na dem classify de madrasa as historic heritage monument insyd Morocco since 1915. Na dem since restore de madrasa chaw times, buh in a manner consistent plus ein original architectural style. Today ebe open as a historic site den tourist attraction.

Gallery

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  Wooden roof den stucco decoration over de street in front of de madrasa ein entrance
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  Wooden mashrabiya screen at de entrance of de courtyard
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  Western syd of de courtyard, wey dey look towards de entrance
• 
  One of de galleries along de sides of de courtyard
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  Eastern side of de courtyard, wey dey look towards de entrance of de prayer hall
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  De prayer hall den mihrab
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  De former ablutions facility (mida'a)
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  De upper floors of de madrasa, wer de student sleeping quarters dey locate

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  Example of zellij tilework insyd de madrasa, plus complex geometric patterns for de lower walls den a band of calligraphy above
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  Close-up of Arabic calligraphy insyd carved stucco (above) den glazed sgraffito-type tiles (below)
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  View of de small arches den blind arches (anaa niches) for de corners of de courtyard wich dem sculpt plus muqarnas
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  Example of motifs insyd carved stucco around de courtyard
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  Details of de wood-carving along de top of de walls insyd de courtyard
• 
  Wooden cupola ceiling insyd de prayer hall
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  De "lambrequin" anaa muqarnas arch of de prayer hall ein entrance
• 
  Details of de stucco decoration (den a marble engaged column) around de mihrab
• 
  Stucco decoration den coloured glass windows insyd de upper walls of de prayer hall
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  One of de intricately-carved marble capitals above de columns insyd de courtyard
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  De decorative bronze plating of de doors for de madrasa ein entrance (replicas of de originals)
• 
  De Marinid-era bronze chandelier insyd de prayer hall

External links

• 'Attarin Madrasa at Museum with no Frontiers
• Attarine Madrasa فاس - مدرسة العطارين - Photos from the Manar al-Athar Digital Photo archive