Minbar of Burhan-ud-Din
Minbar of Burhan ud-Din
Burhan ud-Din pulpit, also known The Summer Pulpit or Minbar al Sayf is a historic pulpit located in the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. It is one of the most significant pieces of Islamic architecture and is a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of the Islam.
Construction
The Supreme Judge Burhan ad-Din bin Jamaa’ ordered the building of a marble pulpit in 1309 CE (709 AH) to replace a small portable one made of wood. That wooden Pulpit was built to carry out sermons in the compound of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa Al-Mubarak.
Location
It is present in the southern part of the mosque, near the Mihrab, which is the semicircular niche that indicates the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, adjacent to the colonnade at close proximity to the steps leading to the Qibli Masjid.
Structure
The pulpit is supported by four pillars, and there is a small staircase leading up to it. The pulpit's overall design is a testament to the artistic and technical skill of Islamic craftsmen during the 13th century. It is topped with a dome called the “Dome of the Scale” or Quba tul Meezan because of its adjacent location to one of the arched gates that were previously known as scales in the past. The pulpit was named after Baha' ad-Din, who was known for his piety and his contributions to the development of Islamic scholarship. Baha' ad-Din served as the chief judge and legal advisor to Saladin, the famous Muslim military leader who conquered Jerusalem in 1187 C.E. The pulpit was used by Baha' ad-Din to deliver sermons and teach Islamic jurisprudence to the people of Jerusalem.
Historical Use
The Burhan ud din pulpit has played an important role in the history of Jerusalem and the Islamic world. It has been the site of many important events, including the proclamation of the Fatimid Caliphate and the recitation of the khutbah, or Friday sermon, by Muslim leaders throughout history. Today, the Burhan ud din minbar is locked and is not used.
References
"The Burhan al-Din Pulpit in the Aqsa Mosque," by K. A. C. Creswell, Ars Islamica, vol. 11/12 (1946): 89-102.
"The Burhan al-Din Pulpit in the Al-Aqsa Mosque," by Nurith Kenaan-Kedar, in The Architecture of Islamic Jerusalem: The Holy City in Context, 3000 BCE-2015 CE, ed. by Mohammad Gharipour (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2017), pp. 122-135.
"The Burhan al-Din Pulpit in the Al-Aqsa Mosque: From Mamluk Ornament to Ottoman Restoration," by Doris Behrens-Abouseif, Muqarnas, vol. 22 (2005): 13-32.
