Sarouja

WITHIN A SHORT WALK

In and around Sarouja

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

Tomb of Shaykh Mujahidقبر الشيخ مجاهدTomb & Shrine≈ 269 mGrave of a local saint remembered as Shaykh Mujahid, a place of quiet visitation in the old city.

Tomb of an Algerian Emirقبر أمير جزائريTomb & Shrine≈ 274 mGrave of one of the Algerian emirs who followed Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri into Damascene exile after the French conquest of Algeria.

al-Umari Zawiyaزاوية العمريSufi Lodge≈ 343 mSufi zawiya attached to the Umariyya complex in al-Salihiyya, hosting dhikr gatherings and lessons.

al-Dahdah Cemeteryمقبرة الدحداحCemetery≈ 388 mCemetery north of the old city where many late scholars of Damascus lie, including shaykhs of the 20th century.

al-Tawba Mosqueجامع التوبةMosque≈ 411 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.

Tombs of Abd al-Wahhab & Abd al-Rahim Dibs wa Zaytقبر عبد الوهاب وعبد الرحيم دبس وزيتTomb & Shrine≈ 418 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 Salih al-Hamawiقبر محمد صالح الحمويTomb & Shrine≈ 422 mTomb of Muhammad Salih al-Hamawi, Hama-born shaykh who settled in Damascus as a teacher of the religious sciences.

Tomb of Muhammad Adil Khurshidقبر محمد عادل خورشيدTomb & Shrine≈ 434 mTomb of Muhammad Adil Khurshid, an Ottoman-descended Damascene scholar and preacher.

Tomb of Husayn Sa'biyyaقبر حسين صعبيةTomb & Shrine≈ 434 mTomb of the Damascene shaykh Husayn Sa'biyya, a local teacher of the religious sciences.

Tomb of Ahmad Nasib al-Mahamidقبر أحمد نصيب المحاميدTomb & Shrine≈ 439 mTomb of Ahmad Nasib al-Mahamid, shaykh of the Rifa'i line in Damascus and teacher of Qur'anic recitation.

Tomb of Mahmud al-Rankusiقبر محمود الرنكوسيTomb & Shrine≈ 444 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-Halwaniقبر محمد سعيد الحلوانيTomb & Shrine≈ 445 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.

Rawdat al-Ulama Cemeteryمقبرة روضة العلماءCemetery≈ 447 m'Garden of the Scholars' — burial ground on Qasioun's slopes reserved for the ulama of Damascus.

Tomb of Muhammad Lutfi al-Fayyumiقبر محمد لطفي الفيوميTomb & Shrine≈ 448 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≈ 448 mTomb of Muhammad Abu al-Khayr al-Maydani (d. 1961), shaykh of the Maydan quarter and mufti of the Hanafis in Damascus.

Tomb of Munir al-Kasmقبر منير الكسمTomb & Shrine≈ 448 mTomb of Munir al-Kasm, 20th-century Damascene scholar and imam from a family of jurists.

Tomb of Muhammad Lutfi Shukriقبر محمد لطفي شكريTomb & Shrine≈ 448 mTomb of the Damascene shaykh Muhammad Lutfi Shukri, remembered as a preacher and teacher of the Qur'an.

Tomb of Salim al-Masutiقبر سليم المسوتيTomb & Shrine≈ 452 mTomb of Salim al-Masuti (d. 1888), Damascene Hanafi jurist and Sufi remembered for his asceticism.

Tomb of Muhammad Sa'id al-Burhaniقبر محمد سعيد البرهانيTomb & Shrine≈ 454 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.

Tomb of Muhammad Hisham al-Burhaniقبر محمد هشام البرهانيTomb & Shrine≈ 454 mTomb of Muhammad Hisham al-Burhani (1932–2014), scholar of the Umayyad Mosque and professor of Islamic law at Damascus University.

Tomb of Muhammad al-Hashimiقبر محمد الهاشميTomb & Shrine≈ 454 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.

Tomb of Abu Shama al-Maqdisiقبر أبي شامة المقدسيTomb & Shrine≈ 498 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.

al-Nahhasiyya Khanqah Mosqueمسجد الخانقاه النحاسيةMosque≈ 507 mFormer Sufi khanqah (lodge) endowed by the coppersmiths' guild, later converted to a congregational mosque.

Tomb of Muhammad Jamil al-Shattiقبر محمد جميل الشطيTomb & Shrine≈ 510 mTomb of Muhammad Jamil al-Shatti (1882–1959), last of the great Hanbali muftis of Damascus and historian of the Hanbali school.

Tomb of Abd al-Razzaq al-Halabiقبر عبد الرزاق الحلبيTomb & Shrine≈ 513 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-Sanjakdar Mosqueجامع السنجقدارMosque≈ 602 mMamluk mosque founded by the standard-bearer (sanjakdar) Arghun in the 14th century, just west of the old city walls.

al-Na'ura Mosqueمسجد الناعورةMosque≈ 639 mOld-city mosque named for the waterwheel (na'ura) that once turned beside it on the Barada channel.

al-Iman Mosqueجامع الإيمانMosque≈ 640 mModern congregational mosque in the Mazra'a district, one of central Damascus's busiest Friday mosques.

al-Malik al-Zahir Bathhouseحمام الملك الظاهرLandmark≈ 667 mMedieval hammam named for al-Malik al-Zahir, still keeping the domed hot rooms of the Ayyubid bath tradition.

Citadel of Damascusقلعة دمشقLandmark≈ 668 mThe Citadel of Damascus, an Ayyubid fortress rebuilt by al-Adil (1203–16) at the old city's northwest corner — unusual among citadels for standing on flat ground.

al-Adiliyya al-Kubra Schoolالمدرسة العادلية الكبرىSchool & Library≈ 670 mThe great Adiliyya Madrasa (completed 1223), burial place of Sultan al-Adil and later seat of the Arab Academy of Damascus.

al-Sadat al-Mujahidin Mosqueجامع السادات المجاهدينMosque≈ 685 mOld mosque near the citadel whose name honours the 'lords of the holy warriors', restored under the Mamluks.

al-Zahiriyya Libraryالمكتبة الظاهريةSchool & Library≈ 686 mThe Zahiriyya — Baybars's tomb-madrasa turned national library (1880), whose manuscript hoard made it the memory of Damascus.

Tomb of al-Zahir Baybarsقبر الظاهر بيبرسTomb & Shrine≈ 694 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.

Dar al-Hadith al-Ashrafiyyaدار الحديث الأشرفيةSchool & Library≈ 703 mDar al-Hadith al-Ashrafiyya (1232), the Ayyubid academy where al-Nawawi taught; for centuries the most prestigious chair of hadith in Islam.

Dar al-Hadith al-Adiliyyaدار الحديث العادليةSchool & Library≈ 708 mAyyubid hadith college of the Adiliyya complex, endowed under Sultan al-Adil, Saladin's brother.

Dar al-Hadith al-Nuriyyaدار الحديث النوريةSchool & Library≈ 716 mHadith college founded by Nur al-Din al-Zanki — the first institution in Islam devoted solely to the Prophet's traditions.

Al-Hamidiyah SouqCovered Market≈ 731 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 Sukayna bint al-Husaynقبر سكينة بنت الحسينTomb & Shrine≈ 731 mShrine attributed to Sukayna bint al-Husayn, granddaughter of Ali famed in early Islam for her wit, beauty, and patronage of poets.

Tomb of Ibn Asrunقبر ابن عصرونTomb & Shrine≈ 732 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.

Mausoleum of Salah al-Dinقبر صلاح الدين الأيوبيMemorial≈ 755 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.

Tankiz Mosqueجامع تنكزMosque≈ 756 mTinkiz Mosque Built by Sayf al-Din Tinkiz al-Nasiri the deputy of the Mamluk Sultanate in Damascus, it was transformed by Ibrahim Pasha in his campaign in Syria, and it was later bombed and destroyed by France in their aggression on Damascu

Tomb of Ruqayya bint al-Husaynقبر رقية بنت الحسينTomb & Shrine≈ 757 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.

al-Jaqmaqiyya Schoolالمدرسة الجقمقيةSchool & Library≈ 768 mMamluk madrasa of 1421 with a striking ablaq portal, now the Museum of Arabic Epigraphy.

Bilad al-Sham University — Sayyida Ruqayya Complexجامعة بلاد الشام مجمع السيدة رقيةSchool & Library≈ 791 mCampus of Bilad al-Sham University for Shar'ia studies housed in the Sayyida Ruqayya complex, training imams and teachers.

al-Shumaysatiyya Schoolالمدرسة الشميساطيةSchool & Library≈ 795 mMedieval Sufi convent and school near the citadel, one of the earliest khanqahs of Damascus.

Mawlawi Takiyyaالتكية المولويةSufi Lodge≈ 800 mLodge of the Mevlevi whirling dervishes in Damascus, active from the 16th century until the order's dissolution.

al-Mawlawiyya Mosqueجامع المولويةMosque≈ 812 mMosque of the Mevlevi dervish complex in Suq Saruja, where the whirling order kept its Damascus lodge.

al-Nuri Bimaristanالبيمارستان النوريLandmark≈ 832 mTeaching hospital founded by Nur al-Din al-Zanki in 1154, among the great medieval bimaristans.

al-Nuriyya Hadith Institute for Womenمعهد النورية للحديث للإناثSchool & Library≈ 851 mWomen's institute of hadith studies attached to the Nuriyya tradition, training female scholars and teachers.

Umayyad Mosqueالجامع الأمويHistoric Landmark≈ 858 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.

Shrine of al-Husayn ibn Aliمشهد الحسين بن عليTomb & Shrine≈ 869 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-Tahdhib Institute of Islamic Educationمعهد التهذيب والتعليم الشرعيSchool & Library≈ 873 mPrivate institute of Islamic education in Damascus offering structured study of Qur'an, law, and Arabic for young students.

Tomb of Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist)قبر نبي الله يحيىTomb & Shrine≈ 886 mShrine within the Umayyad Mosque said to hold the head of Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist).

Azm PalaceOttoman Residence≈ 897 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.