Ibn Uthman Mosque
| Ibn Uthman Mosque | |
|---|---|
 Location within Gaza
|
|
| Basic information | |
| Location |
 Suq Street, Turukman Quarter, Shuja'iyya, Gaza Strip
|
| Geographic coordinates | 31°30′14.96″N 34°28′10.99″E / 31.5041556°N 34.4697194°ECoordinates: 31°30′14.96″N 34°28′10.99″E / 31.5041556°N 34.4697194°E |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| District | Gaza Governorate |
| Province | Gaza Strip |
| Region | Levant |
| Status | Active |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Mosque |
| Architectural style | Mamluk |
| Groundbreaking | 1399-1400 |
| Completed | 1430-1431 |
| Minaret(s) | 1 |
The Ibn Uthman Mosque (Arabic: مسجد ابن عثمان Jami Ibn 'Uthman) is the second largest old mosque in Gaza City. It is also regarded as second to the Great Mosque of Gaza in terms of physical appearance and status as a Friday mosque. Noted for its architectural patterns, the mosque was established in three different stages during the Burji Mamluk period of rule in Gaza.
The Ibn Uthman Mosque is situated along Suq Street ("Bazaar Street") in the Turukman Quarter in the southeastern Shuja'iyya district of Gaza City. The large Shuja'iyya Market is located across the building. The mosque lies below street level.
The mosque was founded by Sheikh Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Uthman ibn Umar ibn Abdullah al-Nabulsi al-Maqdisi and its name is attributed to him. Born in Nablus, he moved to Gaza where he became locally well known as a holy man. In 1402-03 Sheikh Ahmad ibn Uthman died in Mecca. Local tradition has it that he was min al-salihin ("of the righteous people.") Although there are no inscriptions in the mosque that mention Sheikh Ahmad ibn Uthman, literary sources from the Mamluk era confirm the mosque was named after him.
In 1394-95 Emir Arzamak assigned the surplus of the Shuja'iyya marketplace, four shops bordering the Ibn Marwan Mosque and his residence in Gaza to a waqf ("religious endowment") dedicated to the maintenance of the Ibn Uthman mosque. Other revenue from this waqf was allocated to the madrasa ("Islamic law school"), kuttab ("boys' elementary school"), sabil ("public fountain") and bread distribution center Arzamak founded.
The initial components of the mosque, including its double-entrance western facade, the first few room spaces behind the facade and the minaret were not laid out until 1399-1400. According to one inscription in the mosque, this first stage of construction occurred under the auspices of the Emir Aqbugha ibn al-Tulutumari. However, because Emir Aqbugha's term as governor of Gaza ended prior to 1398, it is likelier that building work on the mosque, or reconstruction of some of its parts, started during his term but ended after his reassignment to Karak in 1399. A second inscription credits Emir Azdamur, the Circassian general of Sultan Barquq, as the mosque's founder on 18 April 1398.
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