The Private Levantine Zengid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk Cemeteries: A Study According to the Islamic and Social Perspective

Abstract

The cities of the Levant, such as Damascus, Jerusalem (Al-Quds), and Aleppo, witnessed the widespread construction of private tombs for the sultans and emirs of the Zengid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk dynasties, as well as for prominent members of Levantine society, including religious figures and merchants. This study examines the symbolism of these tombs as a cultural intersection between religion and society by analyzing their architectural elements and describing their designs, which range from simple to grand. It also examines the Islamic legal stance on its components, based on the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as recorded in the recognized Hadith collections of Sunni Muslims. Additionally, the study aims to highlight the social customs associated with these tombs and their reflection of cultural perspectives and perceptions of death. It investigates whether the community neglected these tombs, causing them to fade with time, or whether they were preserved as witnesses to civilization. One of the most important findings of the study is that the word "soil" (Turba), which means "private cemetery," has become synonymous among Levantines with "mosque," "school," "library," and "orphanage." So, the concept of private Levantine cemeteries has evolved from a deserted place inhabited by the dead, shrouded in sadness and fear, to a vibrant, life-filled place where the living coexist with the dead, offering a sense of joy and hope. The private Levantine cemeteries supported the Islamic scientific movement; they became icons embodying the art of Islamic material civilization and served as centers of Islamic intellectual civilization.