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History and Architectural Design

Al-Ashrafiya Mosque and Madrasa, located in the old city of Taiz at the foot of Mount Sabr in the southwestern part of the city, is arguably the most notable preserved artifact of Taiz given its distinct and beautiful design. It was supposedly built in two stages: (1) by Sultan Ashraf Ismail bin Abbas (1295-6) or 800 Hijri, (2) by Al-Ashraf Umar II (1377-1400) and opened in 1382. This compound can be found in the neighborhood of Ashrafiya, surrounded by a number of locations that overlook the old city. Located in the northern part of the compound, the prayer room is the main space of this mosque. It forms a large rectangular area that spans approximately 25.40 meters east to west and is 7.65 meters wide from north to south. The center of the mosque is sheltered by a large dome decorated with colorful motifs. The dome's square is neighbored by two separate hallways, each one covered by four smaller domes. In its earliest model, the mosque consisted of a single prayer hall along with eight smaller domes. In its first stage, the mosque had a prayer hall with eight small domes surrounding a much larger central dome. On the premises, there is a square courtyard that can be found behind the mosque. A royal tomb chamber and classrooms for the Quranic school surround the courtyard creating an almost perfect square of the land plot. The south side of the courtyard contains a pair of non-homogenously designed minarets in the corners. Artistically, the mosque was decorated in stucco and painted ornament of quality that proved to be impressive in comparison to its regional counterparts. Notably, the qibla wall is decorated to match the design of the courtyard. It has a succession of contiguous arches with supporting columns, or arcades, that superimpose and get increasingly smaller.

Domed buildings became very prominent with the architectural design of madrasas like the Ashrafiya mosque. However, the Ashrafiya Mosque varied from other traditional models in that the library and Quranic school were integral to the structure of the complex. The madrasa was built of stone and plaster; it is considered one of the most influential centers of education of the Shafiʽi Islamic school of thought and jurisprudence. The school has a vast library with books ranging from various subjects to satisfy the curiosity of the students. Structurally, it has four entrances. Above the main entrance is an inscription the reads the following:"'Order of the building of this blessed school by our lord and king Sultan Al-Sayyid by the terms of the honorable king of the country and the religion Ismail bin Abbas bin Ali bin Dawud bin Yusuf God gave his kingdom and victory.'"Tomb History in Yemen

In addition to a prayer hall and Islamic school, the mosque compound contains a burial yard where buried kings from the Rasulid dynasty that ruled Yemen can be found. In Yemen, the concept of tomb architecture as a part of a mosque compound began to emerge in the sixteenth century. Previously, tombs and mosques were two separate concepts until under Ottoman rule of Murad Pasha was a dome placed over the tomb in a mosque setting.

Recent Impacts of War

Recently, the architectural integrity of this landmark has been compromised by the destruction caused as a consequence of the Yemeni Civil War. An unexpected artillery shell was launched by the Ansar Allah group (Houthis) and the forces of their former ally Saleh against the neighborhood of Al-Ashrafiya. In June 2015, severe damage to the mosque was caused when an artillery shell hit the eastern lighthouse. Although the intention was not to gravely damage the minaret, locals have reported that the Houthis were trying to target a house nearby and missed. Houthi militias have shelled the Ashrafiya Mosque several times before, thus damaging the historic site.

The deputy director-general of tourism in the governorate of Taiz was a witness to this incident. He detailed that "On Wednesday, June 17th, 2015, at 4:30, the eastern minaret of the historic Al- Ashrafiya Mosque was suddenly bombed." This particular incident shook the entire area surrounding the mosque and shattered the windows of the houses neighboring the mosque. Regarding the structural integrity of the mosque itself, the minaret was visibly damaged by the shell in its middle section and was cracked. Citizens and activist groups have long called for intervention in order to protect this mosque as a historical monument. They have even gone on to directly accuse the Houthis of "intentionally damaging the country’s historical ruins and of not respecting the mosque’s sanctity."

The implications of this war go beyond the worries of that period alone. Tourism, mainly for the purpose of visiting the city’s archaeological sites, quickly came to a halt, which led to a recession for artisans of the region as tourist engagement was their primary source of income. Ultimately, Al-Ashrafiya Mosque and Madrasa did not only serve as a cultural monument and school as its title suggests, but it also held an important role in the economic sector of the community due to tourism.

Restoration

Along with the destruction caused by war and conflict, the mosque faces degradation caused by many other environmental factors such as seismic movements, geological instability, and rooftop water seepage. Consequently, damage by both physical and chemical means as well as anthropogenic degradation have been of significant concern to locals and officials alike.

In the past decade, the project of restoring the Al-Ashrafiya Mosque and Madrasa has been made an example for the purpose of rescue and restoration measures and rehabilitation within the Third International Architectural Conservation Conference and Exhibition in Dubai of 2012. The cooperation and participation of local community members throughout various phases of the project have been instrumental in facilitating a smooth and authentic reconstruction.

As part of the last phase of the restoration project, the southern and northern walls, eastern domes, and the basement were restored were plaster resurfacing. In the process of preparing a task force, thirteen technicians were trained on documentation and restoration of gypsum motifs. These sessions were constructed and facilitated by a local expert knowledge about the field in this particular region. Mural paintings and gypsum decorations at the shrines and the open courtyard were chemically cleaned more than fifty percent of their original state. Also, the central dome of the mosque, along with the wall of the prayer hall were mechanically cleaned and consolidated up to sixty-five percent. To update the functionality of the structure, electrical wiring was installed throughout all parts of the premises omitting the primary prayer hall. In July of 2014, restoration efforts on the mosque were considered complete.