The monuments are featured in architecture compilation
per se, the Holy Sepulcher
[1], al-Masjid al-Aqsa
[2] and other eminent sites such as the Wall of the Old city of Jerusalem.
al-Masjid al-Aqsa is considered among the most prominent and famous landmarks of the city of Jerusalem owing to its religious and heritage prominence, as well as the setting on a pivotal important and discerning location over-viewing a panoramic scene captured and depicted in all postcards and city maps in addition to other raison d'être.
al-Masjid al-Aqsa encloses a major group of religious, historical and architectural buildings which retain an immortal status in the Arab history and Islamic faith and are the result of elongated architecture evolvement that produced such a cluster of buildings. The amalgam of these buildings embrace features such as; aisles, minarets, domes, public water fountains, terraces, mihrabs, as well as sufi cells (khilwas), and theological Madrasas. To date, there still exists at al-Masjid al-Aqsa an assortment of historical architectural Madrasas, the most prominent is al-Madrasa al-Ashrafiyya, the topic of the book.
Since the establishment of al-Madrasa al-Ashrafiyya and to date, the Madrasa captured espy of writers, researchers and authors. It amassed writings in various languages and an exhaustively anthology of studies were published, mainly historical segments based on the recurring writings of Mujir al-Din and al-Arif. The overwhelming meticulously studies were neither published in Arabic nor addressed originally to Arabic readers. In addition to literature and publication, al-Madrasa al-Ashrafiyya was of paramount attention to assorted restoration projects of crucial importance in the second half of the 20th century: however, the various projects and stakeholders who were involved were all Arab Muslims. Mujir al-Din, historian of Jerusalem and Hebron, considered al-Madrasa al-Ashrafiyya the third jewel of al-Masjid al-Aqsa, as it will be discussed later.
Based on the above mentioned, the director of Welfare Association and in consultation with the author of this study concurred that al-Madrasa al-Ashrafiyya encompassing all the heritage and architectural momentum deserve to be singled out in a book written in Arabic, to be subsequently translated into English in order to reach a wide audience of readers, specialists, and professionals. The book strives to be comprehensive and interesting rather than hyperbolic in details whilst addressing intellectuals, specialists and students of all levels to delve into historical, architectural, and renovation aspects. The book is comprehensively inclusive of illustrations, architectural plans and dwell on previous efforts to study al-Madrsa al-Ashrafiyya. Within this context, the book will dedicate an ample chapter to restoration projects and efforts exerted to maintain the architecture fabric of al-Madrsa al-Ashrafiyya which is categorized as a beacon and considered as a guide to students majoring in architectural, engineering and restoration.
[1] Refer to information provided at the data base of Holy Sepulcher prepared by a researcher for the Welfare Association that will be available at the Data Base network
[2] Refer to information provided at the data base of al-Aqsa Mosque prepared by a researcher for the Welfare Association that will be available at the Data Base network
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