Al-Qaymariyah

WITHIN A SHORT WALK

In and around Al-Qaymariyah

Measured on foot from the heart of Al-Qaymariyah — everything here is within about a fifteen-minute walk.

Straight StreetRoman Thoroughfare≈ 289 mThe old east–west spine of Roman Damascus crosses the walled city from Bab al-Jabiyah to Bab Sharqi, past souqs, workshops, and a surviving triumphal arch.

Bilad al-Sham University — Sayyida Ruqayya Complexجامعة بلاد الشام مجمع السيدة رقيةSchool & Library≈ 320 mCampus of Bilad al-Sham University for Shar'ia studies housed in the Sayyida Ruqayya complex, training imams and teachers.

al-Nuriyya Hadith Institute for Womenمعهد النورية للحديث للإناثSchool & Library≈ 337 mWomen's institute of hadith studies attached to the Nuriyya tradition, training female scholars and teachers.

Tomb of Ruqayya bint al-Husaynقبر رقية بنت الحسينTomb & Shrine≈ 344 mShrine of the infant Ruqayya, daughter of al-Husayn ibn Ali, said to have died in Yazid's prison after Karbala; rebuilt in the 1980s in Persian style with mirror-work and blue tile.

Tomb of Sukayna bint al-Husaynقبر سكينة بنت الحسينTomb & Shrine≈ 366 mShrine attributed to Sukayna bint al-Husayn, granddaughter of Ali famed in early Islam for her wit, beauty, and patronage of poets.

Shrine of al-Husayn ibn Aliمشهد الحسين بن عليTomb & Shrine≈ 374 mShrine within the Umayyad Mosque precinct marking where the head of al-Husayn, the Prophet's grandson martyred at Karbala in 680, was displayed and kept.

al-Sadat al-Mujahidin Mosqueجامع السادات المجاهدينMosque≈ 391 mOld mosque near the citadel whose name honours the 'lords of the holy warriors', restored under the Mamluks.

al-Shumaysatiyya Schoolالمدرسة الشميساطيةSchool & Library≈ 408 mMedieval Sufi convent and school near the citadel, one of the earliest khanqahs of Damascus.

Tomb of Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist)قبر نبي الله يحيىTomb & Shrine≈ 413 mShrine within the Umayyad Mosque said to hold the head of Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist).

al-Jaqmaqiyya Schoolالمدرسة الجقمقيةSchool & Library≈ 424 mMamluk madrasa of 1421 with a striking ablaq portal, now the Museum of Arabic Epigraphy.

Umayyad Mosqueالجامع الأمويHistoric Landmark≈ 443 mOne of the oldest and largest mosques in the world, raised on a site of worship stretching back three millennia. Its marble courtyard and shimmering mosaics remain the centre of religious and cultural life in Damascus.

Mausoleum of Salah al-Dinقبر صلاح الدين الأيوبيMemorial≈ 480 mIn a small garden against the north wall of the Umayyad Mosque stands the red-domed mausoleum of Salah al-Din, built three years after his death in Damascus in 1193.

Azm PalaceOttoman Residence≈ 519 mBuilt for governor As'ad Pasha al-Azm, the palace is a masterwork of Damascene craft — banded stone, painted wood, and cool courtyards. It now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.

Khan As'ad PashaCaravanserai≈ 520 mThe largest caravanserai in the Old City covers 2,500 square metres along Al-Buzuriyah Souq. Light falls from nine domes into a single monumental hall of grey-and-white stone.

Tomb of al-Zahir Baybarsقبر الظاهر بيبرسTomb & Shrine≈ 537 mTomb of al-Zahir Baybars (1223–1277), the Kipchak slave who became Mamluk sultan, crushed the Mongols at Ayn Jalut, and broke the Crusader strongholds; buried in the Zahiriyya Library's domed hall.

al-Malik al-Zahir Bathhouseحمام الملك الظاهرLandmark≈ 539 mMedieval hammam named for al-Malik al-Zahir, still keeping the domed hot rooms of the Ayyubid bath tradition.

al-Zahiriyya Libraryالمكتبة الظاهريةSchool & Library≈ 540 mThe Zahiriyya — Baybars's tomb-madrasa turned national library (1880), whose manuscript hoard made it the memory of Damascus.

al-Nahhasiyya Khanqah Mosqueمسجد الخانقاه النحاسيةMosque≈ 549 mFormer Sufi khanqah (lodge) endowed by the coppersmiths' guild, later converted to a congregational mosque.

al-Farisiyya Madrasa Mosqueجامع المدرسة الفارسيةMosque≈ 557 mMamluk-era madrasa-mosque founded as a school of Shafi'i law, its prayer hall still in use by the surrounding quarter.

Tomb of Abu Shama al-Maqdisiقبر أبي شامة المقدسيTomb & Shrine≈ 564 mTomb of Abu Shama (1203–1268), Damascene historian and Qur'an scholar whose 'Book of the Two Gardens' chronicled the reigns of Nur al-Din and Saladin. He was murdered in his home in al-Salihiyya.

Tomb of Abd al-Razzaq al-Halabiقبر عبد الرزاق الحلبيTomb & Shrine≈ 565 mTomb of Abd al-Razzaq al-Halabi (1925–2012), shaykh of the Umayyad Mosque and dean of the Hanafi jurists of Damascus in his time.

al-Adiliyya al-Kubra Schoolالمدرسة العادلية الكبرىSchool & Library≈ 567 mThe great Adiliyya Madrasa (completed 1223), burial place of Sultan al-Adil and later seat of the Arab Academy of Damascus.

Tomb of Muhammad Jamil al-Shattiقبر محمد جميل الشطيTomb & Shrine≈ 570 mTomb of Muhammad Jamil al-Shatti (1882–1959), last of the great Hanbali muftis of Damascus and historian of the Hanbali school.

Bab ToumaHistoric Quarter≈ 605 mNamed for Saint Thomas, the gate opens onto lanes of jasmine, courtyard houses, cafés, and churches — the liveliest corner of the old city after dark.

Tomb of Ibn Asrunقبر ابن عصرونTomb & Shrine≈ 615 mTomb of Ibn Abi Asrun (d. 1189), Shafi'i chief judge of Damascus under Saladin and author of influential legal works, buried in the madrasa he founded.

Abdullah Pasha al-Azm Mosqueجامع عبد الله باشا العظمMosque≈ 618 mOttoman mosque endowed by Abdullah Pasha al-Azm, of the dynasty of governors that ruled 18th-century Damascus.

al-Tahdhib Institute of Islamic Educationمعهد التهذيب والتعليم الشرعيSchool & Library≈ 628 mPrivate institute of Islamic education in Damascus offering structured study of Qur'an, law, and Arabic for young students.

Dar al-Hadith al-Nuriyyaدار الحديث النوريةSchool & Library≈ 641 mHadith college founded by Nur al-Din al-Zanki — the first institution in Islam devoted solely to the Prophet's traditions.

Tomb of Salim al-Masutiقبر سليم المسوتيTomb & Shrine≈ 643 mTomb of Salim al-Masuti (d. 1888), Damascene Hanafi jurist and Sufi remembered for his asceticism.

Dar al-Hadith al-Adiliyyaدار الحديث العادليةSchool & Library≈ 644 mAyyubid hadith college of the Adiliyya complex, endowed under Sultan al-Adil, Saladin's brother.

Tomb of Muhammad Sa'id al-Halwaniقبر محمد سعيد الحلوانيTomb & Shrine≈ 649 mTomb of Muhammad Sa'id al-Halwani, head of a Damascene family of Qur'an reciters who preserved the city's readings through the late Ottoman era.

al-Tawba Mosqueجامع التوبةMosque≈ 654 mThe 'Mosque of Repentance' in al-Uqayba, converted from a khan into a mosque by the Ayyubid ruler al-Malik al-Ashraf in 1234; famed for centuries of hadith teaching.

Tomb of Nur al-Din al-Zankiقبر نور الدين الزنكي الشهيدTomb & Shrine≈ 656 mTomb of Nur al-Din al-Zanki (1118–1174), the just sultan who unified Syria against the Crusaders, patron of schools and hospitals, and mentor of Saladin. His madrasa-tomb has a celebrated muqarnas dome.

Tomb of Muhammad Salih al-Hamawiقبر محمد صالح الحمويTomb & Shrine≈ 668 mTomb of Muhammad Salih al-Hamawi, Hama-born shaykh who settled in Damascus as a teacher of the religious sciences.

al-Nuriyya al-Kubra Schoolالمدرسة النورية الكبرىSchool & Library≈ 669 mNur al-Din's great law college (1167) and his burial place — its honeycomb muqarnas dome over the street is a landmark of medieval Damascus.

Dar al-Hadith al-Ashrafiyyaدار الحديث الأشرفيةSchool & Library≈ 682 mDar al-Hadith al-Ashrafiyya (1232), the Ayyubid academy where al-Nawawi taught; for centuries the most prestigious chair of hadith in Islam.

Tombs of Abd al-Wahhab & Abd al-Rahim Dibs wa Zaytقبر عبد الوهاب وعبد الرحيم دبس وزيتTomb & Shrine≈ 696 mTombs of the brothers Abd al-Wahhab and Abd al-Rahim Dibs wa Zayt, Damascene Qur'an masters whose family name — 'molasses and oil' — recalls their ancestor's trade.

Tomb of Muhammad Adil Khurshidقبر محمد عادل خورشيدTomb & Shrine≈ 714 mTomb of Muhammad Adil Khurshid, an Ottoman-descended Damascene scholar and preacher.

al-Umari Zawiyaزاوية العمريSufi Lodge≈ 731 mSufi zawiya attached to the Umariyya complex in al-Salihiyya, hosting dhikr gatherings and lessons.

al-Nuri Bimaristanالبيمارستان النوريLandmark≈ 772 mTeaching hospital founded by Nur al-Din al-Zanki in 1154, among the great medieval bimaristans.

al-Dahdah Cemeteryمقبرة الدحداحCemetery≈ 774 mCemetery north of the old city where many late scholars of Damascus lie, including shaykhs of the 20th century.

Tomb of Munir al-Kasmقبر منير الكسمTomb & Shrine≈ 783 mTomb of Munir al-Kasm, 20th-century Damascene scholar and imam from a family of jurists.

Tomb of Ahmad Nasib al-Mahamidقبر أحمد نصيب المحاميدTomb & Shrine≈ 785 mTomb of Ahmad Nasib al-Mahamid, shaykh of the Rifa'i line in Damascus and teacher of Qur'anic recitation.

Tomb of Muhammad Lutfi Shukriقبر محمد لطفي شكريTomb & Shrine≈ 785 mTomb of the Damascene shaykh Muhammad Lutfi Shukri, remembered as a preacher and teacher of the Qur'an.

Tomb of Muhammad Lutfi al-Fayyumiقبر محمد لطفي الفيوميTomb & Shrine≈ 787 mTomb of Muhammad Lutfi al-Fayyumi, Egyptian-descended Damascene scholar of jurisprudence and Arabic.

Tomb of Muhammad Abu al-Khayr al-Maydaniقبر محمد أبي الخير الميدانيTomb & Shrine≈ 788 mTomb of Muhammad Abu al-Khayr al-Maydani (d. 1961), shaykh of the Maydan quarter and mufti of the Hanafis in Damascus.

Tomb of Mahmud al-Rankusiقبر محمود الرنكوسيTomb & Shrine≈ 790 mTomb of Mahmud al-Rankusi, Kurdish-born shaykh of the Naqshbandi order who taught on the slopes of Qasioun.

Tomb of Muhammad Sa'id al-Burhaniقبر محمد سعيد البرهانيTomb & Shrine≈ 790 mTomb of Muhammad Sa'id al-Burhani (1894–1967), Daghestani-descended shaykh who taught for decades at the Tawba Mosque and guided the Naqshbandi path in Damascus.

Rawdat al-Ulama Cemeteryمقبرة روضة العلماءCemetery≈ 792 m'Garden of the Scholars' — burial ground on Qasioun's slopes reserved for the ulama of Damascus.

Tomb of Muhammad Hisham al-Burhaniقبر محمد هشام البرهانيTomb & Shrine≈ 792 mTomb of Muhammad Hisham al-Burhani (1932–2014), scholar of the Umayyad Mosque and professor of Islamic law at Damascus University.

Al-Hamidiyah SouqCovered Market≈ 792 mDamascus's central souq runs six hundred metres from the citadel toward the Umayyad Mosque. Beneath its arched iron roof, stalls trade in textiles, sweets, and ice cream pressed with pistachio.

Tomb of Muhammad al-Hashimiقبر محمد الهاشميTomb & Shrine≈ 793 mTomb of Muhammad al-Hashimi (1881–1961), Algerian-born Shadhili master exiled to Damascus, where he became the order's foremost guide in the Levant and teacher of many of its modern shaykhs.

Hisham ibn Ammar Mosqueجامع هشام بن عمارMosque≈ 795 mMosque named for Hisham ibn Ammar (d. 859), Damascus's leading Qur'an reciter and hadith transmitter of his age and preacher of the Umayyad Mosque.

Tomb of Husayn Sa'biyyaقبر حسين صعبيةTomb & Shrine≈ 797 mTomb of the Damascene shaykh Husayn Sa'biyya, a local teacher of the religious sciences.

Church of Saint AnaniasSacred Site≈ 808 mFive metres below street level near Bab Sharqi, this ancient cellar chapel is venerated as the house of Ananias, where Saul of Tarsus regained his sight and was baptised.

Tomb of an Algerian Emirقبر أمير جزائريTomb & Shrine≈ 842 mGrave of one of the Algerian emirs who followed Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri into Damascene exile after the French conquest of Algeria.

Tomb of Shaykh Mujahidقبر الشيخ مجاهدTomb & Shrine≈ 865 mGrave of a local saint remembered as Shaykh Mujahid, a place of quiet visitation in the old city.