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Ribat of Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun

The Ribat of Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun (, ), or simply al-Ribat al-Mansuri () or al-Mansuriyya. It is a ribat (refuge for the poor of Sufis) that was given by (Waqf) the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt Al-Mansur Qalawun to the poor and visitors of Jerusalem in the year 681 AH / 1282 AD, as can be seen from an inscription above the door of the ribat. Alaa al-Din Al-Basir supervised its construction. It is one of the few royal institutions built outside Al-Aqsa Mosque. A number of sheikhs supervised it.

Description

The ribat consists of an open courtyard surrounded by a number of rooms and cells. A mosque has been attached to it. It is reached through an arched entrance leading to its doors, which have a cross-vaulted ceiling. The porch, in turn, leads to the open courtyard, rooms, cells, and the mosque. In the late Ottoman era and early 20th century, this ribat was transformed into a prison, and it was called Habs al-Ribat "Ribat Prison." Afro-Palestinians residents began to reside in the ribat due to its proximity to Al-Aqsa Mosque, where they took over guarding and caring for it and providing services to its visitors. Over time, the ribat became attached to the African community, which established a community association there. Then it was used in the late Ottoman era as a residence, and it remains so until now. Several families of Takarta Sudanese live there, as does Ribat al-Basir. A number of rooms have recently been added to it inside the open courtyard.

References