Two New Arabic Ayyubid and Mamluk Inscriptions from the Omari Mosque in AL-karak.

Abstract

This paper sheds light on the city of al-Karak with regard to its location, toponym, and establishment with main focus on the Omari congregational mosque that is positioned in the middle of the city. The mosque was built during the reign of Omar Bin al-Khattab (13-24 AH\634-644 AD). The Omari mosque played a fundamental role during the subsequent periods up until the crusader occupation of the region in 1136 AD. After Salah al-Deen al Ayoubi (r. 589-567 AH\1171-1193 AD) regained the city from the crusaders, he allotted it to his brother al Malik al-Adel Abu Bakar Bin Ayub (615-589 AH\1193-1235 AD) who rebuilt the Omari Mosque in 607 AH\1210 AD. An inscription commemorating this restoration was set up between the two nave entrances in the north side of the mosque. This inscription was the subject of a historical\ archaeological study herein. As well, a full description of the architectural elements of the mosque supplemented by architectural illustration is provided in this paper. This research concludes that the current mosque was established by  al-Malik al-Adel. Another inscription found on top of the former reports that the mosque was rejuvenated by al-Amir Barakah ibn Abdullah al-Jaubani Zainuldin in 782 AH\1380 AD during the reign of Mamluk Sultan al-Mansur Aladdin Ali (778-783 AH\ 1376-1381 AD). This architectural activity of Amir Barakah ibn Abdullah in  al-Karak is not mentioned in any of the known textual resources. The results of this research are given in the conclusion.                                                                                         

Keywords،  Al-Karak, al-Omari Mosque, al Malik al Adel, al-Amir al-Ashraf al-Zaini Barakah ibn Abdullah, Ayyubid Period, Mamluk Period.