By Talak Al-Kayed (with photos)
DAMASCUS, Oct 14 (KUNA) -- An ancient mosque perched aloft a mountain overlooking the Syrian capital, filling a vast plain with rows of buildings and scattered cement structures, is a mecca for many worshippers and favorites of thoughts of an eminent Islamic sufi scholar.
The mosque, named after the scholar, Sheikh Muhi-eddine Al-Arabi, who left behind books shedding light in an extensive manner on the spiritual aspects of the Islamic doctrine and religious manners, is situated atop Qasyoun mountain.
A source at the ministry of awqaf said the credit for building the mosque goes to the Ottoman ruler, Sultan Selim I, who had turned it from a small prayer corner into a large mosque, adorned with a minarate, a mark of the Ottomans' architectural skills.
The Ottoman sultan had given the order to build the mosque after he was deeply impressed with the thoughts of the sufi scholar, admired by many Muslims and non-Muslims throughout the world.
Bin Arabi's body, laid in the courtyard of the mosque, had neighbored another prominent Islamic figure, but of different calibre, prince Abdel Qader Al-Jazaeri, a well-known Islamic jihadist. The tomb of the latter has been empty since years ago, when the Algerian Government transferred the corpse to his hometown.
The mosque had witnessed golden days during era of Sultan Selim, who had built an affiliate house for the poor, three food warehouses, kitchen, a large bakery and a fountain.
Till today, the mosque is busy with worshippers at prayer times, in addition to religious teaching sessions. Sufis favor the place for religious quires.
Bin Arabi is author of 500 books. Some of his writings are seen as controversial by followers of other Islamic schools that eye sufism with deep doubts.
