Ashrafya Mosque in Taiz Calls for Help [Archives:2000/16/Culture]

There are three outstanding landmarks in the city of Taiz. These landmarks are Cairo castle, Ashrafya mosque minarets, and Modafar mosque domes. As one passes by the two minarets of Ashrafya, one is struck by their beautiful architecture. He would unfailingly remember our ancestors who built these landmarks during Bani Rasool Era and how they were creative in architecture and building decorations.
The old antiquities of Bani Rasool Era are located in old Taiz, where we find Modafar and Ashrafya mosques, fragrance of history, relics of the era of different sciences, literature, and architecture.
When you reach Modafar mosque, you are sure to be astonished by the attractive design of that mosque. You cannot but remember Modafar Omar Bin Ali Bin Rasool who built that mosque in 600 Hegira. After getting the full view of the breath-taking MONUMENT, I proceeded towards Ashrafya mosque. When I looked at that mosque, I thought it a giant guard standing at a high hill taking-care of the magnificent Modafar mosque. The two minarets of that mosque form a wonderful view as they are standing in majesty and grandeur behind that mosque.
When I arrived at the mosque, I found the gate open. Instead of finding the footsteps of king Ashraf, I was astonished to find a number of children playing and eating carelessly. They did not care about that place because they were not aware of its historical significance. I thought that it was my mistake to tread into that place. However, I stood still for a moment till I saw a person passing by. He was a teacher. I rushed to him and asked him about this precarious situation. He said that due to large number of students in the neighboring schools, and in view of the horrible event at Nasser School where many pupils were killed, they could not help decide to teach students in some of the rooms of the mosque. They were constrained to take this decision because Ashrafya school had been for long ignored by authorities concerned.
Had these ancient mosques with their beautiful variegations been in any other country, they would have paid them the attention they deserve and promote them into a major tourist attraction.
Ashrafya mosque consists of two floors. The first floor is used as an annex to Ashrafya school. The second floor forms the mosque. The mosque has the capacity for 200 worshippers. At the back of the mosque there are a number of classrooms. These classrooms are used to teach the Holy Qur’an. This year they are converted into a primary school. The cemetery of King Ashraf and his family is located between the mosque and the school. There is a small room housing each tomb.
It is worth mentioning that the wife of king Ashraf, Jeha Attawashi Jamal’edden Matab Bin Abdullah Al-Ashraf built Matabya school, close to the Ashrafya mosque. This school is truly a symbolic expression of the revival of Bani Rasool Era. This school signals the prominent role of women during that golden era in the history of Yemen.
On the gate of the Ashrafya mosque, on its outer surface, there is an inscription on a stone which mentions the name of the architect who built the mosque and the date of its construction. The mosque was founded between the year 800 to 803 Hegira by King Ismail Bin Al-Abass Bin Ali Bin Dawod Bin Yosief Bin Omar Bin Ali Rasool. He was known as King Ashraf Al-Rasoli. You will be astonished as you look at the beautiful decorations on the walls and the ceiling of the mosque, especially those on the dome, in the middle of ceiling. The decoration of the dome is the top Islamic design of the era of Bani Rasool. But the mosque needs to be renovated from inside by experts in order to protect the old variegations. There are also some variegations which have been erased and need urgent renovation.
When I reached the mosque, I talked with Mr. Ahmed Abdullah Abdulrazaq, the Imam of the mosque. He said: ” Ashrafya mosque is used as a school for teaching the Holy Qur’an. Although this school has been subjected to gross neglect for many years, the Holy Qur’an is still taught in this school. Only in the morning pupils learn in that school. It is because of the large number of students in the neighboring schools. Pupils create problems at this mosque because they are not conscious about this ancient landmark. They tamper walls and throw waste articles of food on the floor of the mosque.
Regarding the water of the mosque, it was flowing from Sabir mountain fountains. But farmers cut those fountains and drained them to their qat farms. I remember my late father when he went to some officials in the Ministry of Religious Endowments to ask them to return water to the Ashrafya mosque. The official in charge replied: ‘Where is this mosque?!’ The mosque suffered for long from want of water, but lately, we could solve this problem by connecting pipes from Sabir fountains to the mosque. But, we are apprehensive that one day water connection may again be cut to irrigate qat trees.
The Office of Endowments is doing some renovation for the mosque from outside. The Archaeology Department meticulously scrutinized the old decorations and tried to make them distinctly visible. A couple of years ago, some of the small domes were tarnished. The Endowment Office erected a support to protect the ceiling, but this caused erasing of some decorations. Rainwater leaks through the cracks appearing in the mosque. A number of tourists who visit this ancient landmark and the cemetery adjacent to it do not enter the mosque. This places heavy onus on the authorities concerned to pay more serious attention to this mosque. “We are doing an Islamic service, but we receive a low salary amounting to YR 2000 only. We want to stop children tampering the walls and the ground of the mosque. We also want to join hands with the Imam of this mosque so as to restore its tranquility and cleanliness.”Ashrafya mosque and other historical landmarks are in need of urgent attention and renovation because they reflect the excellence of our civilization, tradition of ancient Yemeni people who could engrave beautiful artistry on the walls of mosques. They proved their mettle in the field of ancient architecture and decorations. However, authorities concerned say that their resources being limited, they do not have adequate means to preserve their ancient historical landmarks. In conclusion, I can say that the one who does not have past does no have present nor future. To make a prosperous future, we have to preserve our past, our history and our identity.
By: Yemen Times Staff, Taiz
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