Tarikh (al-Tabari) 2402
The Year 96
وَفِي سنة ست وتسعين تَكَامَلَ بِنَاءُ الْجَامِعِ الْأُمَوِيِّ بِدِمَشْقَ عَلَى يَدِ بَانِيهِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ، جَزَاهُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ خَيْرَ الْجَزَاءِ، وَكَانَ أَصْلُ مَوْضِعِ هَذَا الْجَامِعِ قَدِيمًا مَعْبَدًا بَنَتْهُ الْيُونَانُ الْكُلْدَانِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَعْمُرُونَ دِمَشْقَ، وَهُمُ الَّذِينَ وَضَعُوهَا وَعَمَرُوهَا أَوَّلًا; فَهُمْ أَوَّلُ مَنْ بَنَاهَا، وَقَدْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ الْكَوَاكِبَ السَّبْعَةَ الْمُتَحَيِّرَةَ; وَهِيَ الْقَمَرُ فِي السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، وَعُطَارِدُ فِي السَّمَاءِ الثَّانِيَةِ، وَالزُّهْرَةُ فِي السَّمَاءِ الثَّالِثَةِ، وَالشَّمْسُ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ، وَالْمِرِّيخُ فِي الْخَامِسَةِ، وَالْمُشْتَرِي فِي السَّادِسَةِ، وَزُحَلُ فِي السَّابِعَةِ. وَكَانُوا قَدْ صَوَّرُوا عَلَى كُلِّ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ دِمَشْقَ هَيْكَلًا لِكَوْكَبٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْكَوَاكِبِ السَّبْعَةِ، وَكَانَتْ أَبْوَابُ دِمَشْقَ سَبْعَةً، وَضَعُوهَا قَصْدًا لِذَلِكَ، فَنَصَبُوا هَيَاكِلَ سَبْعَةً لِكُلِّ كَوْكَبٍ هَيْكَلٌ، وَكَانَ لَهُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ دِمَشْقَ عِيدٌ فِي السَّنَةِ، وَهَؤُلَاءِ هُمُ الَّذِينَ وَضَعُوا الْأَرْصَادَ، وَتَكَلَّمُوا عَلَى حَرَكَاتِ الْكَوَاكِبِ وَاتِّصَالَاتِهَا وَمُقَارَنَتِهَا، وَبَنَوْا دِمَشْقَ، وَاخْتَارُوا لَهَا هَذِهِ الْبُقْعَةَ إِلَى جَانِبِ الْمَاءِ الْوَارِدِ مِنْ بَيْنِ هَذَيْنِ الْجَبَلَيْنِ، وَصَرَّفُوهُ أَنْهَارًا تَجْرِي إِلَى الْأَمَاكِنِ الْمُرْتَفِعَةِ وَالْمُنْخَفِضَةِ، وَسَلَكُوا الْمَاءَ فِي أَفْنَاءِ أَبْنِيَةِ الدُّورِ بِدِمَشْقَ، فَكَانَتْ دِمَشْقُ فِي أَيَّامِهِمْ مِنْ أَحْسَنِ الْمُدُنِ، بَلْ هِيَ أَحْسَنُهَا لِمَا فِيهَا مِنَ التَّصَارِيفِ الْعَجِيبَةِ. وَبَنَوْا هَذَا الْمَعْبَدَ وَهُوَ الْجَامِعُ الْيَوْمَ إِلَى جِهَةِ الْقُطْبِ، وَكَانُوا يُصَلُّونَ إِلَى الْقُطْبِ الشَّمَالِيِّ، وَكَانَتْ مَحَارِيبُهُ تُجَاهَ الشَّمَالِ، وَكَانَ بَابُ مَعْبَدِهِمْ يُفْتَحُ إِلَى جِهَةِ الْقِبْلَةِ، خَلْفَ الْمِحْرَابِ الْيَوْمَ، كَمَا شَاهَدْنَا ذَلِكَ عِيَانًا، وَرَأَيْنَا مَحَارِيبَهُمْ إِلَى جِهَةِ الْقُطْبِ، وَرَأَيْنَا الْبَابَ، وَهُوَ بَابٌ حَسَنٌ، مَبْنِيٌّ بِحِجَارَةٍ مَنْقُوشَةٍ، وَعَلَيْهِ كِتَابٌ بِخَطِّهِمْ، وَعَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَيَسَارِهِ بَابَانِ صَغِيرَانِ بِالنِّسْبَةِ إِلَيْهِ، وَكَانَ غَرْبِيَّ الْمَعْبَدِ قَصْرٌ مُنِيفٌ جِدًّا، تَحْمِلُهُ هَذِهِ الْأَعْمِدَةُ الَّتِي بِبَابِ الْبَرِيدِ، وَشَرْقِيَّ الْمَعْبَدِ قَصْرُ جَيْرُونَ الْمَلِكِ الَّذِي كَانَ مَلِكَهُمْ وَكَانَ هُنَاكَ دَارَانِ عَظِيمَتَانِ مُعَدَّتَانِ لِمَنْ يَتَمَلَّكُ دِمَشْقَ قَدِيمًا مِنْهُمْ. وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّهُ كَانَ مَعَ الْمَعْبَدِ ثَلَاثُ دُورٍ عَظِيمَةٍ لِلْمُلُوكِ، وَيُحِيطُ بِهَذِهِ الدُّورِ وَالْمَعْبَدِ سُورٌ وَاحِدٌ عَالٍ مُنِيفٌ، بِحِجَارَةٍ كِبَارٍ مَنْحُوتَةٍ; وَهُنَّ دَارُ الْمُطْبِقِ، وَدَارُ الْخَيْلِ، وَدَارٌ كَانَتْ تَكُونُ مَكَانَ الْخَضْرَاءِ الَّتِي بَنَاهَا مُعَاوِيَةُ. قَالَ الْحَافِظُ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ فِيمَا حَكَاهُ عَنْ كُتُبِ بَعْضِ الْأَوَائِلِ: إِنَّهُمْ مَكَثُوا يَأْخُذُونَ الطَّالِعَ لِبِنَاءِ دِمَشْقَ، وَهَذِهِ الْأَمَاكِنَ ثَمَانِيَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً، وَقَدْ حَفَرُوا أَسَاسَ الْجُدْرَانِ حَتَّى وَافَاهُمُ الْوَقْتُ الَّذِي طَلَعَ فِيهِ الْكَوْكَبَانِ اللَّذَانِ أَرَادُوا أَنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ لَا يَخْرُبُ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَخْلُو مِنْهُ الْعِبَادَةُ، وَأَنَّ هَذِهِ الدَّارَ إِذَا بُنِيَتْ لَا تَخْلُو مِنْ أَنْ تَكُونَ دَارَ الْمَلِكِ وَالسَّلْطَنَةِ. قُلْتُ: أَمَّا الْمَعْبَدُ فَلَمْ يَخْلُ مِنَ الْعِبَادَةِ. قَالَ كَعْبُ الْأَحْبَارِ: لَا يَخْلُو مِنْهَا حَتَّى تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُ. وَأَمَّا دَارُ الْمَلِكِ الَّتِي هِيَ الْخَضْرَاءُ فَقَدْ جَدَّدَ بِنَاءَهَا مُعَاوِيَةُ، ثُمَّ أُحْرِقَتْ فِي سَنَةِ إِحْدَى وَسِتِّينَ وَأَرْبَعِمِائَةٍ فَبَادَتْ وَصَارَتْ مَسَاكِنَ ضُعَفَاءِ النَّاسِ وَأَرَاذِلِهِمْ فِي الْغَالِبِ إِلَى زَمَانِنَا هَذَا، وَبِاللَّهِ الْمُسْتَعَانُ. وَالْمَقْصُودُ أَنَّ الْيُونَانَ اسْتَمَرُّوا عَلَى هَذِهِ الصِّفَةِ الَّتِي ذَكَّرْنَاهَا بِدِمَشْقَ مُدَدًا طَوِيلَةً، تَزِيدُ عَلَى أَرْبَعَةِ آلَافِ سَنَةٍ، حَتَّى إِنَّهُ يُقَالُ: إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ بَنَى جُدْرَانَ هَذَا الْمَعْبَدِ الْأَرْبَعَةَ هُودٌ، عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ، وَقَدْ كَانَ هُودٌ قَبْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْخَلِيلِ بِمُدَّةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ. نزول الخليل إبراهيم دمشق وَقَدْ وَرَدَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْخَلِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، دِمَشْقَ وَنَزَلَ شَمَالِيَّهَا عِنْدَ بَرْزَةَ، وَقَاتَلَ هُنَاكَ قَوْمًا مِنْ أَعْدَائِهِ فَظَفِرَ بِهِمْ، وَنَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَكَانَ مَقَامُهُ لِمُقَاتَلَتِهِمْ عِنْدَ بَرْزَةَ. فَهَذَا الْمَكَانُ الْمَنْسُوبُ إِلَيْهِ بِهَا مَنْصُوصٌ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْكُتُبِ الْمُتَقَدِّمَةِ يَأْثِرُونَهُ كَابِرًا عَنْ كَابِرٍ، وَإِلَى زَمَانِنَا. وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. وَكَانَتْ دِمَشْقُ إِذْ ذَاكَ عَامِرَةً آهِلَةً بِمَنْ فِيهَا مِنَ الْيُونَانِ، وَكَانُوا خَلْقًا لَا يُحْصِيهِمْ إِلَّا اللَّهُ; وَهُمْ خُصَمَاءُ الْخَلِيلِ، وَقَدْ نَاظَرَهُمْ الْخَلِيلُ فِي عِبَادَتِهِمُ الْأَصْنَامَ وَالْكَوَاكِبَ وَغَيْرَهَا فِي غَيْرِ مَوْضِعٍ. وَالْمَقْصُودُ أَنَّ الْيُونَانَ لَمْ يَزَالُوا يَعْمُرُونَ دِمَشْقَ وَيَبْنُونَ فِيهَا وَفِي مُعَامَلَاتِهَا مِنْ أَرْضِ حَوْرَانَ وَالْبِقَاعِ وَبَعْلَبَكَّ وَغَيْرِهَا الْبِنَايَاتِ الْهَائِلَةَ الْغَرِيبَةَ الْعَجِيبَةَ، حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ بَعْدَ الْمَسِيحِ بِمُدَّةٍ نَحْوٍ مَنْ ثَلَاثِمِائَةِ سَنَةٍ تَنَصَّرَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ عَلَى يَدِ الْمَلِكِ قُسْطَنْطِينَ بْنِ قُسْطَنْطِينَ، الَّذِي بَنَى الْمَدِينَةَ الْمَشْهُورَةَ فِي بِلَادِ الرُّومِ الَّتِي تُنْسَبُ إِلَيْهِ، وَهِيَ الْقُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةُ، وَهُوَ الَّذِي وَضَعَ لَهُمُ الْقَوَانِينَ، وَقَدْ كَانَ أَوَّلًا هُوَ وَقَوْمُهُ وَغَالِبُ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ يُونَانًا، وَوَضَعَتْ لَهُ بَطَارِكَةُ النَّصَارَى دِينًا مُخْتَرَعًا مُرَكَّبًا مِنْ أَصْلِ دِينِ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ مَمْزُوجًا بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الْأَوْثَانِ، وَصَلَّوْا بِهِ إِلَى الشَّرْقِ، وَزَادُوا فِي الصِّيَامِ، وَأَحَلُّوا الْخِنْزِيرَ، وَعَلَّمُوا أَوْلَادَهُمُ الْأَمَانَةَ الْكَبِيرَةَ فِيمَا يَزْعُمُونَ، وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ فِي الْحَقِيقَةِ خِيَانَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ، وَجِنَايَةٌ كَثِيرَةٌ حَقِيرَةٌ، وَهِيَ مَعَ ذَلِكَ فِي الْحَجْمِ صَغِيرَةٌ حَقِيرَةٌ نَقِيرَةٌ، فَبَنَى لَهُمْ هَذَا الْمَلِكُ، الَّذِي يَنْتَسِبُ إِلَيْهِ الطَّائِفَةُ الْمَلَكِيَّةُ مِنَ النَّصَارَى كَنَائِسَ كَثِيرَةً فِي دِمَشْقَ وَفِي غَيْرِهَا، حَتَّى يُقَالَ: إِنَّهُ بُنِيَ فِي زَمَانِهِ ثِنْتَيْ عَشْرَةَ أَلْفَ كَنِيسَةً، وَأُوقِفَ عَلَيْهَا أَوْقَافًا دَارَّةً، مِنْ ذَلِكَ كَنِيسَةُ بَيْتِ لَحْمٍ وَقُمَامَةَ بِالْقُدْسِ، بَنَتْهَا أُمُّ هَيْلَانَةَ الْفَنْدَقَانِيَّةُ، وَغَيْرُ ذَلِكَ. وَالْمَقْصُودُ أَنَّهُمْ يَعْنِي النَّصَارَى حَوَّلُوا بِنَاءَ هَذَا الْمَعْبَدِ الَّذِي هُوَ بِدِمَشْقَ مُعَظَّمًا عِنْدَ الْيُونَانِ، فَجَعَلُوهُ كَنِيسَةً، وَبَنَوْا لَهُ الْمَذَابِحَ فِي شَرْقِيِّهِ، وَسَمَّوْهُ كَنِيسَةَ مَرْيُحَنَّا. وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ: كَنِيسَةُ يُوحَنَّا. وَبَنَوْا بِدِمَشْقَ كَنَائِسَ كَثِيرَةً غَيْرَهَا مُسْتَأْنَفَةً. وَاسْتَمَرَّ النَّصَارَى عَلَى دِينِهِمْ هَذَا بِدِمَشْقَ وَغَيْرِهَا نَحْوًا مِنْ ثَلَاثِمِائَةِ سَنَةٍ، حَتَّى بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ. وَقَدْ بَعَثَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ وَسَلَامُهُ عَلَيْهِ إِلَى مَلِكِ الرُّومِ فِي زَمَانِهِ وَهُوَ قَيْصَرُ ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ وَاسْمُهُ هِرَقْلُ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَكَانَ مِنْ مُرَاجَعَتِهِ وَمُخَاطَبَتِهِ إِلَى أَبِي سُفْيَانَ صَخْرِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ. ثُمَّ بَعَثَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أُمَرَاءَهُ الثَّلَاثَةَ زَيْدَ بْنَ حَارِثَةَ مَوْلَاهُ، وَجَعْفَرَ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، وَعَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ رَوَاحَةَ، إِلَى الْبَلْقَاءِ مِنْ تُخُومِ الشَّامِ فَبَعَثَ الرُّومُ إِلَيْهِمْ جَيْشًا كَثِيرًا، فَقَتَلُوا هَؤُلَاءِ الْأُمَرَاءَ وَجَمَاعَةً مِمَّنْ مَعَهُمْ مِنَ الْجَيْشِ فَعَزَمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَلَى قِتَالِ الرُّومِ وَدُخُولِ الشَّامِ عَامَ تَبُوكَ، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَامَ ذَلِكَ لِشِدَّةِ الْحَرِّ وَضَعْفِ الْحَالِ وَضِيقِهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ. ثُمَّ لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعَثَ الصِّدِّيقُ الْجُيُوشَ إِلَى الشَّامِ وَإِلَى الْعِرَاقِ فَفَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ الشَّامَ بِكَمَالِهَا، وَمِنْ ذَلِكَ مَدِينَةُ دِمَشْقَ بِأَعْمَالِهَا، فَلَمَّا اسْتَقَرَّتِ الْيَدُ الْإِسْلَامِيَّةُ عَلَيْهَا، وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ رَحْمَتَهُ فِيهَا، وَسَاقَ بِرَّهُ إِلَيْهَا، وَكَتَبَ أَمِيرُ الْحَرْبِ إِذْ ذَاكَ، وَهُوَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ وَقِيلَ: خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ لِأَهْلِ دِمَشْقَ كِتَابَ أَمَانٍ، وَأَقَرُّوا أَيْدِيَ النَّصَارَى عَلَى أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ كَنِيسَةً، وَأَخَذُوا مِنْهُمْ نِصْفَ هَذِهِ الْكَنِيسَةِ الَّتِي كَانُوا يُسَمُّونَهَا كَنِيسَةَ مَرْيُحَنَّا، بِحُكْمِ أَنَّ الْبَلَدَ فَتَحَهُ خَالِدٌ مِنَ الْبَابِ الشَّرْقِيِّ بِالسَّيْفِ، وَأَخَذَتِ النَّصَارَى الْأَمَانَ مِنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ وَكَانَ عَلَى بَابِ الْجَابِيَةِ الصُّلْحُ، فَاخْتَلَفُوا، ثُمَّ اتَّفَقُوا عَلَى أَنْ جَعَلُوا نِصْفَ الْبَلَدِ صُلْحًا، وَنِصْفَهُ عَنْوَةً، فَأَخَذُوا نِصْفَ هَذِهِ الْكَنِيسَةِ الشَّرْقِيَّ، فَجَعَلَهُ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ مَسْجِدًا وَكَانَ قَدْ صَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ إِمْرَةُ الشَّامِ; لِعَزْلِ عُمَرَ خَالِدًا وَتَوْلِيَةِ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ صَلَّى فِي هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ، ؓ، ثُمَّ الصَّحَابَةُ بَعْدَهُ فِي الْبُقْعَةِ الشَّرْقِيَّةِ مِنْهُ; الَّتِي يُقَالُ لَهَا: مِحْرَابُ الصَّحَابَةِ. وَلَكِنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ الْجِدَارُ مَفْتُوحًا بِمِحْرَابٍ مَحْنِيٍّ، وَإِنَّمَا كَانُوا يُصَلُّونَ عِنْدَ هَذِهِ الْبُقْعَةِ الْمُبَارَكَةِ، وَالظَّاهِرُ أَنَّ الْوَلِيدَ هُوَ الَّذِي فَتَقَ الْمَحَارِيبَ فِي الْجِدَارِ الْقِبْلِيِّ. وَقَدْ كَرِهَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ السَّلَفِ الصَّلَاةَ فِي مِثْلِ هَذِهِ الْمَحَارِيبِ، وَجَعَلُوهُ مِنَ الْبِدَعِ الْمُحْدَثَةِ، وَكَانَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ وَالنَّصَارَى يَدْخُلُونَ هَذَا الْمَعْبَدَ مِنْ بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ، وَهُوَ بَابُ الْمَعْبَدِ الْأَصْلِيُّ الَّذِي كَانَ مِنْ جِهَةِ الْقِبْلَةِ، مَكَانَ الْمِحْرَابِ الْكَبِيرِ الَّذِي فِي الْمَقْصُورَةِ الْيَوْمَ، فَيَنْصَرِفُ النَّصَارَى إِلَى جِهَةِ الْغَرْبِ إِلَى كَنِيسَتِهِمْ، وَيَأْخُذُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ يَمْنَةً إِلَى مَسْجِدِهِمْ، وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُ النَّصَارَى أَنْ يَجْهَرُوا بِقِرَاءَةِ كِتَابِهِمْ، وَلَا يَضْرِبُوا بِنَاقُوسِهِمْ; إِجْلَالًا لِلصَّحَابَةِ وَمَهَابَةً وَخَوْفًا. وَقَدْ بَنَى مُعَاوِيَةُ ؓ، فِي أَيَّامِ وِلَايَتِهِ عَلَى الشَّامِ دَارَ الْإِمَارَةِ قِبْلِيَّ الْمَسْجِدِ الَّذِي كَانَ لِلصَّحَابَةِ، وَبَنَى فِيهَا قُبَّةً خَضْرَاءً، فَعُرِفَتِ الدَّارُ بِكَمَالِهَا بِهَا، فَسَكَنَهَا مُعَاوِيَةُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً. أخذ الوليد بن عبد الملك بقية الكنيسة وجعل الجميع مسجدا واحدا ثُمَّ لَمْ يَزَلِ الْأَمْرُ عَلَى مَا ذَكَرْنَا مِنْ أَمْرِ هَذِهِ الْكَنِيسَةِ شَطْرَيْنِ بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالنَّصَارَى، مِنْ سَنَةِ أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ إِلَى سَنَةِ سِتٍّ وَثَمَانِينَ فِي ذِي الْقَعْدَةِ مِنْهَا، وَقَدْ صَارَتِ الْخِلَافَةُ إِلَى الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ فِي شَوَّالٍ مِنْهَا، فَعَزَمَ الْوَلِيدُ عَلَى أَخْذِ بَقِيَّةِ هَذِهِ الْكَنِيسَةِ وَإِضَافَتِهَا إِلَى مَا بِأَيْدِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْهَا، وَجَعْلِ الْجَمِيعِ مَسْجِدًا وَاحِدًا; وَذَلِكَ لِأَنَّ بَعْضَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَانَ يَتَأَذَّى بِسَمَاعِ قِرَاءَةِ النَّصَارَى لِلْإِنْجِيلِ، وَرَفْعِ أَصْوَاتِهِمْ فِي صَلَوَاتِهِمْ، فَأَحَبَّ أَنْ يُبْعِدَهُمْ عَنِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَأَنْ يُضِيفَ ذَلِكَ الْمَكَانَ إِلَى هَذَا، فَيُكَبِّرَ بِهِ الْمَسْجِدَ الْجَامِعَ، فَطَلَبَ النَّصَارَى، وَسَأَلَ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا لَهُ عَنْ هَذَا الْمَكَانِ، وَيُعَوِّضَهُمْ إِقْطَاعَاتٍ كَثِيرَةً، وَعَرَضَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ، وَأَنْ يُقِرَّ لَهُمْ أَرْبَعَ كَنَائِسَ لَمْ تَدْخُلْ فِي الْعَهْدِ; وَهِيَ كَنِيسَةُ مَرْيَمَ، وَكَنِيسَةُ الْمُصَلِّبَةِ دَاخِلَ الْبَابِ الشَّرْقِيِّ، وَكَنِيسَةُ تَلِّ الْجُبْنِ، وَكَنِيسَةُ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ دُرَّةَ الَّتِي بِدَرْبِ الصَّقِيلِ، فَأَبَوْا ذَلِكَ أَشَدَّ الْإِبَاءِ، فَقَالَ: ائْتُونِي بِعَهْدِكُمْ. فَأَتَوْا بِعَهْدِهِمُ الَّذِي بِأَيْدِيهِمْ مِنْ زَمَنِ الصَّحَابَةِ، فَقُرِئَ بِحَضْرَةِ الْوَلِيدِ، فَإِذَا كَنِيسَةُ تُومَا الَّتِي كَانَتْ خَارِجَ بَابِ تُومَا عِنْدَ النَّهْرِ لَمْ تَدْخُلْ فِي الْعَهْدِ، وَكَانَتْ فِيمَا يُقَالُ أَكْبَرَ مِنْ كَنِيسَةِ مَرْيُحَنَّا، فَقَالَ الْوَلِيدُ: أَنَا أَهْدِمُهَا وَأَجْعَلُهَا مَسْجِدًا. فَقَالُوا: بَلْ يَتْرُكُهَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَا ذَكَرَ مِنَ الْكَنَائِسِ، وَنَحْنُ نَرْضَى بِأَخْذِ بَقِيَّةِ هَذِهِ الْكَنِيسَةِ فَأَقَرَّهُمْ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْكَنَائِسِ، وَأَخَذَ مِنْهُمْ بَقِيَّةَ هَذِهِ الْكَنِيسَةِ. هَذَا قَوْلٌ. وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّ الْوَلِيدَ لَمَّا أَهَمَّهُ ذَلِكَ وَعَرَضَ مَا عَرَضَ عَلَى النَّصَارَى فَأَبَوْا مِنْ قَبُولِهِ، دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ، فَأَرْشَدَهُ إِلَى أَنْ يَقِيسَ مِنْ بَابِ الشَّرْقِيِّ وَمِنْ بَابِ الْجَابِيَةِ، فَوَجَدَ مُنْتَصَفَ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَ سُوقِ الرَّيْحَانِ تَقْرِيبًا; فَإِذَا الْكَنِيسَةُ الْمُنَازَعُ فِيهَا قَدْ دَخَلَتْ فِي الْعَنْوَةِ، فَأَخَذَهَا. وَحُكِيَ عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ مَوْلَى الْوَلِيدِ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى الْوَلِيدِ فَوَجَدْتُهُ مَهْمُومًا، فَقُلْتُ: مَا لَكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَهْمُومًا؟ فَقَالَ: إِنَّهُ قَدْ كَثُرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، وَقَدْ ضَاقَ بِهِمُ الْمَسْجِدُ، فَأَحْضَرْتُ النَّصَارَى وَبَذَلْتُ لَهُمُ الْأَمْوَالَ فِي بَقِيَّةِ هَذِهِ الْكَنِيسَةِ; لِأُضِيفَهَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَيَتَّسِعَ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَأَبَوْا. فَقَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، عِنْدِي مَا يُزِيلُ هَمَّكَ. قَالَ: وَمَا هُوَ؟ قُلْتُ: إِنَّ الصَّحَابَةَ لَمَّا أَخَذُوا دِمَشْقَ دَخَلَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ مِنْ بَابِ الشَّرْقِيِّ بِالسَّيْفِ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَهْلُ الْبَلَدِ بِذَلِكَ فَزِعُوا إِلَى أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ يَطْلُبُونَ مِنْهُ الْأَمَانَ فَأَمَّنَهُمْ، وَفَتَحُوا لَهُ بَابَ الْجَابِيَةِ، فَدَخَلَ مِنْهُ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بِالصُّلْحِ، فَنَحْنُ نُمَاسِحُهُمْ إِلَى أَيِّ مَوْضِعٍ بَلَغَ السَّيْفُ أَخَذْنَاهُ، وَمَا بِالصُّلْحِ تَرَكْنَاهُ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ، وَأَرْجُو أَنْ تُدْخَلَ الْكَنِيسَةُ كُلُّهَا فِي الْعَنْوَةِ، فَتَدْخُلَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ. فَقَالَ الْوَلِيدُ: فَرَّجْتَ عَنِّي، فَتَوَلَّ أَنْتَ ذَلِكَ بِنَفْسِكَ. فَتَوَلَّاهُ الْمُغِيرَةُ وَمَسَحَ مِنَ الْبَابِ الشَّرْقِيِّ إِلَى نَحْوِ بَابِ الْجَابِيَةِ إِلَى سُوقِ الرَّيْحَانِ; فَوَجَدَ السَّيْفَ لَمْ يَزَلْ عَمَّالًا حَتَّى جَاوَزَ الْقَنْطَرَةَ الْكَبِيرَةَ بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَذْرُعٍ وَكَسْرٍ، فَدَخَلَتِ الْكَنِيسَةُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ. فَأَرْسَلَ الْوَلِيدُ إِلَى النَّصَارَى فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ، وَقَالَ: إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْكَنِيسَةَ كُلَّهَا دَخَلَتْ فِي الْعَنْوَةِ فَهِيَ لَنَا دُونَكُمْ. فَقَالُوا: إِنَّكَ أَوَّلًا دَفَعْتَ إِلَيْنَا الْأَمْوَالَ وَأَقْطَعْتَنَا الْإِقْطَاعَاتِ فَأَبَيْنَا، فَمِنْ إِحْسَانِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ يُصَالِحَنَا فَيُبْقِيَ لَنَا هَذِهِ الْكَنَائِسَ الْأَرْبَعَةَ بِأَيْدِينَا، وَنَحْنُ نَتْرُكُ لَهُ بَقِيَّةَ هَذِهِ الْكَنِيسَةِ. فَصَالَحَهُمْ عَلَى إِبْقَاءِ هَذِهِ الْأَرْبَعِ كَنَائِسَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ. وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. وَقِيلَ: إِنَّهُ عَوَّضَهُمْ مِنْهَا كَنِيسَةً عِنْدَ حَمَّامِ الْقَاسِمِ عِنْدَ بَابِ الْفَرَادِيسِ، فَسَمَّوْهَا مَرْيُحَنَّا بِاسْمِ تِلْكَ الْكَنِيسَةِ الَّتِي أُخِذَتْ مِنْهُمْ، وَأَخَذُوا شَاهِدَهَا فَوَضَعُوهُ فَوْقَ الَّتِي أَخَذُوهَا بَدَلَهَا. فَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. ثُمَّ أَمَرَ الْوَلِيدُ بِإِحْضَارِ آلَاتِ الْهَدْمِ، وَاجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ الْأُمَرَاءُ وَالْكُبَرَاءُ مِنْ رُؤَسَاءِ النَّاسِ، وَجَاءَ إِلَيْهِ أَسَاقِفَةُ النَّصَارَى وَقَسَاوِسَتُهُمْ، فَقَالُوا: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّا نَجِدُ فِي كُتُبِنَا أَنَّ مَنْ يَهْدِمُ هَذِهِ الْكَنِيسَةَ يُجَنُّ. فَقَالَ: أَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أُجَنَّ فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَوَاللَّهِ لَا يَهْدِمُ فِيهَا أَحَدٌ شَيْئًا قَبْلِي، ثُمَّ صَعِدَ الْمَنَارَةَ الشَّرْقِيَّةَ ذَاتِ الْأَضَالِعِ الْمَعْرُوفَةِ بِالسَّاعَاتِ وَكَانَتْ صَوْمَعَةً هَائِلَةً فِيهَا رَاهِبٌ مُعَظَّمٌ عِنْدَهُمْ، فَأَمَرَهُ الْوَلِيدُ بِالنُّزُولِ مِنْهَا، فَأَكْبَرَ الرَّاهِبُ ذَلِكَ، فَأَخَذَ الْوَلِيدُ بِقَفَاهُ، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَدْفَعُهُ حَتَّى أَحْدَرَهُ مِنْهَا، ثُمَّ صَعِدَ الْوَلِيدُ عَلَى أَعْلَى مَكَانٍ فِي الْكَنِيسَةِ; فَوْقَ الْمَذْبَحِ الْأَكْبَرِ مِنْهَا الَّذِي يُسَمُّونَهُ الشَّاهِدَ; وَهُوَ تِمْثَالٌ فِي أَعْلَى الْكَنِيسَةِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ الرُّهْبَانُ: احْذَرِ الشَّاهِدَ. فَقَالَ: أَنَا أَوَّلُ مَا أَضَعُ فَأْسِي فِي رَأْسِ الشَّاهِدِ. ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ وَضَرَبَهُ فَهَدَمَهُ، وَكَانَ عَلَى الْوَلِيدِ قَبَاءٌ لَوْنُهُ أَصْفَرُ سَفَرْجَلِيٌّ، قَدْ غَرَزَ أَذْيَالَهُ فِي الْمِنْطَقَةِ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ فَأْسًا فِي يَدِهِ فَضَرَبَ بِهَا فِي أَعْلَى حَجَرٍ فَأَلْقَاهُ، فَتَبَادَرَ الْأُمَرَاءُ إِلَى الْهَدْمِ، وَكَبَّرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ ثَلَاثَ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ، وَصَرَخَتِ النَّصَارَى بِالْعَوِيلِ عَلَى دَرَجِ جَيْرُونَ، وَكَانُوا قَدِ اجْتَمَعُوا هُنَالِكَ، فَأَمَرَ الْوَلِيدُ أَمِيرَ الشُّرَطَةِ وَهُوَ أَبُو نَاتِلٍ رِيَاحٌ الْغَسَّانِيُّ أَنْ يَضْرِبَهُمْ حَتَّى يَذْهَبُوا مِنْ هُنَالِكَ، فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ، فَهَدَمَ الْوَلِيدُ وَالْأُمَرَاءُ جَمِيعَ مَا جَدَّدَهُ النَّصَارَى فِي تَرْبِيعِ هَذَا الْمَكَانِ; مِنَ الْمَذَابِحِ وَالْأَبْنِيَةِ وَالْحَنَايَا، حَتَّى بَقِيَ صَرْحَةً مُرَبَّعَةً، ثُمَّ شَرَعَ فِي بِنَائِهِ بِفِكْرَةٍ جَيِّدَةٍ عَلَى هَذِهِ الصِّفَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ الْأَنِيقَةِ، الَّتِي لَمْ يَشْتَهِرْ مِثْلُهَا قَبْلَهَا. وَقَدِ اسْتَعْمَلَ الْوَلِيدُ فِي بِنَاءِ هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ خَلْقًا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الصُّنَّاعِ وَالْمُهَنْدِسِينَ وَالْفَعَلَةِ، وَكَانَ الْمُسْتَحِثُّ عَلَى عِمَارَتِهِ أَخُوهُ وَوَلِيُّ عَهْدِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، بعث الوليد إلى ملك الروم يطلب منه صناعا ليستعين بهم على بناء المسجد وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّ الْوَلِيدَ بَعَثَ إِلَى مَلِكِ الرُّومِ يَطْلُبُ مِنْهُ صُنَّاعًا فِي الرُّخَامِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ; لِيَسْتَعِينَ بِهِمْ عَلَى عِمَارَةِ هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ عَلَى مَا يُرِيدُ، وَأَرْسَلَ يَتَوَعَّدُهُ; لَئِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ لَيَغْزُوَنَّ بِلَادَهُ بِالْجُيُوشِ، وَلَيُخَرِّبَنَ كُلَّ كَنِيسَةٍ فِي بِلَادِهِ، حَتَّى كَنِيسَةَ الْقُدْسِ، وَكَنِيسَةَ الرُّهَا، وَسَائِرَ آثَارِ الرُّومِ، فَبَعَثَ مَلِكُ الرُّومِ إِلَيْهِ صُنَّاعًا كَثِيرَةً جِدًّا; مِائَتَيْ صَانِعٍ، وَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ يَقُولُ: إِنْ كَانَ أَبُوكَ فَهِمَ هَذَا الَّذِي تَصْنَعُهُ وَتَرَكَهُ، فَإِنَّهُ لَوَصْمَةٌ عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَهِمَهُ وَفَهِمْتَهُ أَنْتَ، فَإِنَّهُ لَوَصْمَةٌ عَلَيْهِ. فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ إِلَى الْوَلِيدِ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُجِيبَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ، وَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ عِنْدَهُ لِذَلِكَ، وَكَانَ فِيهِمُ الْفَرَزْدَقُ الشَّاعِرُ، فَقَالَ: أَنَا أُجِيبُهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى. قَالَ الْوَلِيدُ: وَمَا هُوَ وَيْحَكَ؟ فَقَالَ: قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: فَفَهَّمْنَاهَا سُلَيْمَانَ وَكُلًّا آتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا، وَسُلَيْمَانُ هُوَ ابْنُ دَاوُدَ، فَفَهَّمَهُ اللَّهُ مَا لَمْ يَفْهَمْهُ أَبُوهُ. فَأَعْجَبَ ذَلِكَ الْوَلِيدَ، فَأَرْسَلَ بِهِ جَوَابًا إِلَى مَلِكِ الرُّومِ. وَقَدْ قَالَ الْفَرَزْدَقُ فِي ذَلِكَ: فَرَّقْتَ بَيْنَ النَّصَارَى فِي كَنَائِسِهِمْ وَالْعَابِدِينَ مَعَ الْأَسْحَارِ وَالْعَتَمِ وَهُمْ جَمِيعًا إِذَا صَلَّوْا وَأَوْجُهُهُمْ شَتَّى إِذَا سَجَدُوا لِلَّهِ وَالصَّنَمِ وَكَيْفَ يَجْتَمِعُ النَّاقُوسُ يَضْرِبُهُ أَهْلُ الصَّلِيبِ مَعَ الْقُرَّاءِ لَمْ تَنَمِ فُهِّمْتَ تَحْوِيلَهَا عَنْهُمْ كَمَا فَهِمَا إِذْ يَحْكُمَانِ لَهُمْ فِي الْحَرْثِ وَالْغَنَمِ دَاوُدُ وَالْمَلِكُ الْمَهْدِيُّ إِذْ جَزَّا أَوْلَادَهَا وَاجْتِزَازُ الصُّوفِ بِالْجَلَمِ فَهَّمَكَ اللَّهُ تَحْوِيلًا لِبَيْعَتِهِمْ عَنْ مَسْجِدٍ فِيهِ يُتْلَى طَيِّبُ الْكَلِمِ مَا مِنْ أَبٍ حَمَلَتْهُ الْأَرْضُ نَعْلَمُهُ خَيْرٌ بَنِينَ وَلَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْحَكَمِ قَالَ الْحَافِظُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ دُحَيْمٌ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ: بَنَى الْوَلِيدُ مَا كَانَ دَاخِلَ حِيطَانِ الْمَسْجِدِ، وَزَادَ فِي سَمْكِ الْحِيطَانِ. وَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْخُشَنِيُّ: إِنَّ هُودًا، عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، هُوَ الَّذِي بَنَى الْحَائِطَ الْقِبْلِيَّ مِنْ مَسْجِدِ دِمَشْقَ. وَقَالَ غَيْرُهُ: لَمَّا أَرَادَ الْوَلِيدُ بِنَاءَ الْقُبَّةِ الَّتِي وَسَطَ الرِّوَاقَاتِ وَهِيَ قُبَّةُ النَّسْرِ، وَهُوَ اسْمٌ حَادِثٌ لَهَا، وَكَأَنَّهُمْ شَبَّهُوهَا بِالنَّسْرِ فِي شَكْلِهِ; لِأَنَّ الرِّوَاقَاتِ عَنْ يَمِينِهَا وَشِمَالِهَا كَالْأَجْنِحَةِ لَهَا حَفَرُوا لِأَرْكَانِهَا، حَتَّى وَصَلُوا إِلَى الْمَاءِ وَشَرِبُوا مِنْهُ مَاءً عَذْبًا زُلَالًا، ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ وَضَعُوا فِيهِ جِرَارَ الْكَرْمِ، وَبَنَوْا فَوْقَهَا بِالْحِجَارَةِ فَلَمَّا ارْتَفَعَتِ الْأَرْكَانُ بَنَوْا عَلَيْهَا الْقُبَّةَ فَسَقَطَتْ، فَقَالَ الْوَلِيدُ لِبَعْضِ الْمُهَنْدِسِينَ: أُرِيدُ أَنْ تَبْنِيَ لِي أَنْتَ هَذِهِ الْقُبَّةَ. فَقَالَ: عَلَى أَنْ تُعْطِيَنِي عَهْدَ اللَّهِ وَمِيثَاقَهُ أَنْ لَا يَبْنِيَهَا أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي. فَفَعَلَ، فَبَنَى الْأَرْكَانَ ثُمَّ غَلَّفَهَا بِالْبَوَارِي، وَغَابَ عَنْهَا سَنَةً كَامِلَةً لَا يَدْرِي الْوَلِيدُ أَيْنَ ذَهَبَ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ السَّنَةِ حَضَرَ، فَهَمَّ بِهِ الْوَلِيدُ، فَأَخَذَهُ وَمَعَهُ رُءُوسُ النَّاسِ، فَكَشَفَ الْبَوَارِيَ عَنِ الْأَرْكَانِ; فَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ هَبَطَتْ بَعْدَ ارْتِفَاعِهَا حَتَّى سَاوَتِ الْأَرْضَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: مِنْ هَذَا أُتِيتَ. ثُمَّ بَنَاهَا فَانْعَقَدَتْ. وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: أَرَادَ الْوَلِيدُ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ بَيْضَةَ الْقُبَّةِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ خَالِصٍ; لِيُعَظِّمَ بِذَلِكَ شَأْنَ الْمَسْجِدِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمِعْمَارُ: إِنَّكَ لَا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ؟ فَضَرَبَهُ خَمْسِينَ سَوْطًا وَقَالَ لَهُ: وَيْلَكَ أَنَا لَا أَقْدِرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، وَتَزْعُمُ أَنِّي أَعْجَزُ عَنْهُ، وَخَرَاجُ الْأَرْضِ وَأَمْوَالُهَا تُجْبَى إِلَيَّ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، أَنَا أُبَيِّنُ لَكَ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ: فَبَيِّنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ: اضْرِبْ لَبِنَةً وَاحِدَةً مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَقِسْ عَلَيْهَا مَا تُرِيدُ هَذِهِ الْقُبَّةُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. فَأَمَرَ الْوَلِيدُ، فَأُحْضِرَ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ مَا سُبِكَ بِهِ لَبِنَةٌ; فَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ دَخَلَهَا أُلُوفٌ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِنَّا نُرِيدُ مِنْ هَذِهِ كَذَا وَكَذَا أَلْفِ لَبِنَةً، فَإِنْ كَانَ عِنْدَكَ مَا يَكْفِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ عَمِلْنَاهُ. فَلَمَّا تَحَقَّقَ الْوَلِيدُ صِحَّةَ قَوْلِهِ أَطْلَقَ لَهُ خَمْسِينَ دِينَارًا، ثُمَّ عَقَدَهَا عَلَى مَا أَشَارَ بِهِ الْمِعْمَارُ. وَلَمَّا سَقَفَ الْوَلِيدُ الْجَامِعَ جَعَلُوا سَقْفَهُ جَمَلُونَاتٍ، وَبَاطِنَهَا مُسَطَّحًا مُقَرْنَصًا بِالذَّهَبِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ أَهْلِهِ: أَتْعَبْتَ النَّاسَ بَعْدَكَ فِي تَطْيِينِ أَسْطِحَةِ هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ. فَأَمَرَ الْوَلِيدُ أَنْ يُجْمَعَ مَا فِي بِلَادِهِ مِنَ الرَّصَاصِ; لِيَجْعَلَهُ عِوَضَ الطِّينِ، وَيَكُونَ أَخَفَّ عَلَى السُّقُوفِ، فَجَمَعَ مِنْ كُلِّ نَاحِيَةٍ مِنَ الشَّامِ وَغَيْرِهِ مِنَ الْأَقَالِيمِ، فَعَازُوا، فَإِذَا عِنْدَ امْرَأَةٍ مِنْهُ قَنَاطِيرُ مُقَنْطَرَةٌ، فَسَاوَمُوهَا فِيهِ، فَأَبَتْ أَنْ تَبِيعَهُ إِلَّا بِوَزْنِهِ فِضَّةً، فَكَتَبُوا إِلَى الْوَلِيدِ فَقَالَ: اشْتَرُوهُ مِنْهَا، وَلَوْ بِوَزْنِهِ فِضَّةً. فَلَمَّا بَذَلُوا لَهَا ذَلِكَ قَالَتْ: أَمَا إِذَا فَعَلْتُمْ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ صَدَقَةٌ لِلَّهِ يَكُونُ فِي سَقْفِ هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ. فَكَتَبُوا عَلَى أَلْوَاحِهَا بِطَابَعٍ: " لِلَّهِ ". وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ إِسْرَائِيلِيَّةً، وَإِنَّهُ كُتِبَ عَلَى الْأَلْوَاحِ الَّتِي أُخِذَتْ مِنْهَا: هَذَا مَا أَعْطَتْهُ الْإِسْرَائِيلِيَّةُ. وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَائِذٍ: سَمِعْتُ الْمَشَايِخَ يَقُولُونَ: مَا تَمَّ بِنَاءُ مَسْجِدِ دِمَشْقَ إِلَّا بِأَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ، لَقَدْ كَانَ يَفْضُلُ عِنْدَ الرَّجُلِ مِنَ الْقَوَمَةِ يَعْنُونَ الْفَعَلَةَ الْفَأْسَ وَرَأْسَ الْمِسْمَارِ، فَيَجِيءُ حَتَّى يَضَعَهُ فِي الْخِزَانَةِ. وَقَالَ بَعْضُ مَشَايِخِ الدَّمَاشِقَةِ: لَيْسَ فِي الْجَامِعِ مِنَ الرُّخَامِ شَيْءٌ إِلَّا الرُّخَامَتَانِ اللَّتَانِ فِي الْمَقَامِ مِنْ عَرْشِ بِلْقِيسَ، وَالْبَاقِي كُلُّهُ مَرْمَرٌ. وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: اشْتَرَى الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ الْعَمُودَيْنِ الْأَخْضَرَيْنِ اللَّذَيْنِ تَحْتَ النَّسْرِ، مِنْ حَرْبِ بْنِ خَالِدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ بِأَلْفٍ وَخَمْسِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ. وَقَالَ دُحَيْمٌ، بسنده عن مَرْوَانُ بْنُ جَنَاحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: كَانَ فِي مَسْجِدِ دِمَشْقَ اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَلْفَ مَرْخَمٍ. قبلة جامع الجامع الأموي بدمشق وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: كَانَ فِي قِبْلَةِ جَامِعِ دِمَشْقَ ثَلَاثُ صَفَائِحَ مُذَهَّبَةٍ بِلَازُورْدَ، فِي كُلٍّ مِنْهَا: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَلَا نَعْبُدُ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ، رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ، وَدِينُنَا الْإِسْلَامُ، وَنَبِيُّنَا مُحَمَّدٌ ﷺ. أَمَرَ بِبُنْيَانِ هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ، وَهَدْمِ الْكَنِيسَةَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ فِيهِ، عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْوَلِيدُ، فِي ذِي الْقَعْدَةِ سَنَةَ سِتٍّ وَثَمَانِينَ. وَفِي صَفِيحَةٍ أُخْرَى رَابِعَةٍ مِنْ تِلْكَ الصَّفَائِحِ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ [ الْفَاتِحَةِ: 2 - 4 ] إِلَى آخِرِ السُّورَةِ، ثُمَّ النَّازِعَاتِ، ثُمَّ عَبَسَ، ثُمَّ إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ [ التَّكْوِيرِ: 1 ]. قَالُوا: ثُمَّ مُحِيَتْ بَعْدَ مَجِيءِ الْمَأْمُونِ إِلَى دِمَشْقَ. وَذَكَرُوا أَنَّ أَرْضَهُ كَانَتْ مُفَضَّضَةً كُلَّهَا، وَأَنَّ الرُّخَامَ كَانَ فِي جُدْرَانِهِ إِلَى قَامَاتٍ، وَفَوْقَ الرُّخَامِ كَرْمَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، وَفَوْقَ الْكَرْمَةِ الْفُصُوصُ الْمُذَهَّبَةُ وَالْخُضْرُ وَالْحُمْرُ وَالزُّرْقُ وَالْبِيضُ، قَدْ صَوَّرُوا بِهَا سَائِرَ الْبُلْدَانِ الْمَشْهُورَةِ: الْكَعْبَةَ فَوْقَ الْمِحْرَابِ، وَسَائِرَ الْأَقَالِيمِ يَمْنَةً وَيَسْرَةً، وَصَوَّرُوا مَا فِي الْبُلْدَانِ مِنَ الْأَشْجَارِ الْحَسَنَةِ الْمُثْمِرَةِ وَالْمُزْهِرَةِ، وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ، وَسَقْفُهُ مُقَرْنَصٌ بِالذَّهَبِ، وَالسَّلَاسِلُ الْمُعَلَّقَةُ فِيهِ جَمِيعُهَا مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَفِضَّةٍ، وَأَنْوَارُ الشُّمُوعِ فِي أَمَاكِنِهِ مُفَرَّقَةٌ. قَالَ: وَكَانَ فِي مِحْرَابِ الصَّحَابَةِ بَرْنِيَّةٌ; حَجَرٌ مِنْ بَلُّورٍ وَيُقَالُ: بَلْ كَانَتْ حَجَرًا مِنْ جَوْهَرٍ، وَهِيَ الدُّرَّةُ، وَكَانَتْ تُسَمَّى الْقَلِيلَةَ، وَكَانَتْ إِذَا طَفِئَتِ الْقَنَادِيلُ تُضِيءُ لِمَنْ هُنَاكَ بِنُورِهَا، فَلَمَّا كَانَ زَمَنُ الْأَمِينِ بْنِ الرَّشِيدِ وَكَانَ يُحِبُّ الْبَلُّورَ، وَقِيلَ: الْجَوْهَرَ بَعَثَ إِلَى سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِلَى شُرَطَةِ دِمَشْقَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ بِهَا إِلَيْهِ، فَسَرَقَهَا، وَسَيَّرَهَا إِلَى الْأَمِينِ، فَلَمَّا وَلِيَ الْمَأْمُونُ رَدَّهَا إِلَى دِمَشْقَ; لِيُشَنِّعَ بِذَلِكَ عَلَى الْأَمِينِ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ: ثُمَّ ذَهَبَتْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ، فَجُعِلَ مَكَانَهَا بَرْنِيَّةٌ مِنْ زُجَاجٍ. قَالَ: وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ تِلْكَ الْبَرْنِيَّةَ ثُمَّ انْكَسَرَتْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ، فَلَمْ يُجْعَلْ مَكَانَهَا شَيْءٌ. قَالُوا: وَكَانَتِ الْأَبْوَابُ الشَّارِعَةُ مِنْ دَاخِلِ الصَّحْنِ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهَا أَغْلَاقٌ، وَإِنَّمَا كَانَ عَلَيْهَا السُّتُورُ مُرْخَاةً، وَكَذَلِكَ السُّتُورُ عَلَى سَائِرِ جُدْرَانِهِ إِلَى حَدِّ الْكَرْمَةِ الَّتِي فَوْقَهَا الْفُصُوصُ الْمُذَهَّبَةُ، وَرُءُوسُ الْأَعْمِدَةِ مَطْلِيَّةٌ بِالذَّهَبِ الْخَالِصِ الْكَثِيرِ، وَعَمِلُوا لَهُ شُرُفَاتٍ تُحِيطُ بِهِ، وَبَنَى الْوَلِيدُ الْمَنَارَةَ الشَّمَالِيَّةَ الَّتِي يُقَالُ لَهَا: مِئْذَنَةُ الْعَرُوسِ. فَأَمَّا الشَّرْقِيَّةُ وَالْغَرْبِيَّةُ فَكَانَتَا فِيهِ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ بِدُهُورٍ مُتَطَاوِلَةٍ، وَقَدْ كَانَ فِي كُلِّ زَاوِيَةٍ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَعْبَدِ صَوْمَعَةٌ شَاهِقَةٌ جِدًّا، بَنَتْهَا الْيُونَانُ لِلرَّصْدِ، ثُمَّ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ سَقَطَتِ الشَّمَالِيَّتَانِ وَبَقِيَتِ الْقِبْلِيَّتَانِ إِلَى الْآنَ، وَقَدْ أُحْرِقَ بَعْضُ الشَّرْقِيَّةِ بَعْدَ الْأَرْبَعِينَ وَسَبْعِمِائَةٍ، فَنُقِضَتْ وَجُدِّدَ بِنَاؤُهَا مِنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّصَارَى، حَيْثُ اتُّهِمُوا بِحَرِيقِهَا، فَقَامَتْ عَلَى أَحْسَنِ الْأَشْكَالِ بَيْضَاءَ بِذَاتِهَا وَهِيَ، وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ، الْمَنَارَةُ الشَّرْقِيَّةُ الَّتِي يَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهَا عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِ الدَّجَّالِ، كَمَا ثَبَتَ ذَلِكَ فِي " صَحِيحِ مُسْلِمٍ "، عَنِ النَّوَّاسِ بْنِ سَمْعَانَ. قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ أُحْرِقَ أَعْلَى هَذِهِ الْمَنَارَةِ وَجُدِّدَتْ، وَكَانَ أَعْلَاهَا مِنْ خَشَبٍ، فَبُنِيَتْ بِحِجَارَةٍ كُلُّهَا فِي آخِرِ السَّبْعِينَ وَسَبْعِمِائَةٍ، فَصَارَتْ كُلُّهَا مَبْنِيَّةً بِالْحِجَارَةِ. حسن بناء الجامع الأموي وَالْمَقْصُودُ أَنَّ الْجَامِعَ الْأُمَوِيَّ لَمَّا كَمُلَ بِنَاؤُهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ بِنَاءٌ أَحْسَنَ مِنْهُ، وَلَا أَبْهَى وَلَا أَجَلَّ مِنْهُ، بِحَيْثُ إِنَّهُ إِذَا نَظَرَ النَّاظِرُ إِلَيْهِ، أَوْ إِلَى أَيِّ جِهَةٍ مِنْهُ أَوْ إِلَى أَيِّ بُقْعَةٍ أَوْ مَكَانٍ مِنْهُ، تَحَيَّرَ فِيمَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ; لِحُسْنِهِ جَمِيعِهِ، وَلَا يَمَلُّ نَاظِرُهُ، بَلْ كُلَّمَا أَدْمَنَ النَّظَرَ، بَانَتْ لَهُ أُعْجُوبَةٌ لَيْسَتْ كَالْأُخْرَى. وَكَانَتْ فِيهِ طِلَّسْمَاتٌ مِنْ أَيَّامِ الْيُونَانَ، فَلَا يَدْخُلُ هَذِهِ الْبُقْعَةَ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الْحَشَرَاتِ بِالْكُلِّيَّةِ; لَا مِنَ الْحَيَّاتِ، وَلَا مِنَ الْعَقَارِبِ، وَلَا الْخَنَافِسِ، وَلَا الْعَنَاكِيبِ، وَيُقَالُ: وَلَا الْعَصَافِيرُ أَيْضًا تُعَشِّشُ فِيهِ، وَلَا الْحَمَامُ، وَلَا شَيْءٌ مِمَّا يَتَأَذَّى بِهِ النَّاسُ. وَأَكْثَرُ هَذِهِ الطِلَّسْمَاتِ أَوْ كُلُّهَا كَانَتْ مُودَعَةً فِي سَقْفِ الْجَامِعِ، مِمَّا يَلِي السُّبْعَ، فَأُحْرِقَتْ لَمَّا وَقَعَ فِيهِ الْحَرِيقُ، وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ، سَنَةَ إِحْدَى وَسِتِّينَ وَأَرْبَعِمِائَةٍ، فِي دَوْلَةِ الْفَاطِمِيِّينَ،. وَقَدْ كَانَتْ بِدِمَشْقَ طِلَّسْمَاتٌ وَضَعَتْهَا الْيُونَانُ، بَعْضُهَا بَاقٍ إِلَى يَوْمِنَا هَذَا. وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ، الْعَمُودُ الَّذِي فِي رَأْسِهِ مِثْلُ الْكُرَةِ بِسُوقِ الشَّعِيرِ عِنْدَ قَنْطَرَةِ أُمِّ حَكِيمٍ، وَهَذَا الْمَكَانُ يُعْرَفُ الْيَوْمَ بِالْعَلَبِيِّينَ، ذَكَرَ مَشَايِخُ دِمَشْقَ أَنَّهُ مِنْ وَضْعِ الْيُونَانِ لِعُسْرِ بَوْلِ الْحَيَوَانِ، فَإِذَا دَارُوا بِالْحَيَوَانِ حَوْلَ هَذَا الْعَمُودِ ثَلَاثَ دَوْرَاتٍ انْطَلَقَ بَوْلُهُ، وَذَلِكَ مُجَرَّبٌ عِنْدَ الْيُونَانِ. وَمَا زَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ يَعْمَلُ فِي تَكْمِلَةِ الْجَامِعِ الْأُمَوِيِّ بَعْدَ مَوْتِ أَخِيهِ مُدَّةَ وِلَايَتِهِ، وَجُدِّدَتْ لَهُ فِيهِ الْمَقْصُورَةُ، فَلَمَّا وَلِيَ عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، عَزَمَ عَلَى أَنْ يُجَرِّدَ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ، وَيَقْلَعُ السَّلَاسِلَ وَالرُّخَامَ وَالْفُسَيْفِسَاءَ، وَيَرُدَّ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَالِ، وَيُطَيِّنَهُ مَكَانَ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ، فَشَقَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْبَلَدِ، وَاجْتَمَعَ أَشْرَافُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ، وَقَالَ خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْقَسْرِيُّ: أَنَا أُكَلِّمُهُ لَكُمْ. فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعُوا قَالَ خَالِدٌ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، بَلَغَنَا أَنَّكَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَصْنَعَ كَذَا وَكَذَا. قَالَ: نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ خَالِدٌ: لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ لَكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: وَلِمَ يَا ابْنَ الْكَافِرَةِ؟ وَكَانَتْ أُمُّهُ نَصْرَانِيَّةً رُومِيَّةً أُمَّ وَلَدٍ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِنْ كَانَتْ كَافِرَةً، فَقَدْ وَلَدَتْ رَجُلًا مُؤْمِنًا. فَقَالَ: صَدَقْتَ. وَاسْتَحْيَا عُمَرُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ: فَلِمَ قُلْتَ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ; لِأَنَّ غَالِبَ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ الرُّخَامِ إِنَّمَا حَمَلَهُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ مِنْ سَائِرِ الْأَقَالِيمِ، وَلَيْسَ هُوَ لِبَيْتِ الْمَالِ. فَأَطْرَقَ عُمَرُ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ. قَالُوا: وَاتَّفَقَ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ قُدُومُ جَمَاعَةٍ مِنْ بِلَادِ الرُّومِ رُسُلًا مِنْ عِنْدِ مَلِكِهِمْ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا مِنْ بَابِ الْبَرِيدِ، وَانْتَهَوْا إِلَى الْبَابِ الْكَبِيرِ الَّذِي تَحْتَ النَّسْرِ، وَرَأَوْا مَا بَهَرَ عُقُولَهُمْ مِنْ حُسْنِ ذَلِكَ الْجَامِعِ الْبَاهِرِ، وَالزَّخْرَفَةِ الَّتِي لَمْ يُسْمَعْ بِمِثْلِهَا صَعِقَ كَبِيرُهُمْ، وَخَرَّ مَغْشِيًّا عَلَيْهِ، فَحَمَلُوهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِمْ، فَبَقِيَ أَيَّامًا مُدْنِفًا، فَلَمَّا تَمَاثَلَ سَأَلُوهُ عَمَّا عَرَضَ لَهُ، فَقَالَ: مَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنْ يَبْنِيَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِثْلَ هَذَا الْبِنَاءِ، وَكُنْتُ أَعْتَقِدُ أَنَّ مُدَّتَهُمْ تَكُونُ أَقْصَرَ مِنْ هَذَا. فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ عُمَرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ قَالَ: أَوَإِنَّ هَذَا لَغَيْظُ الْكُفَّارِ؟ دَعُوهُ. وَسَأَلَتِ النَّصَارَى فِي أَيَّامِ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ أَنْ يَعْقِدَ لَهُمْ مَجْلِسًا فِي شَأْنِ مَا كَانَ أَخَذَهُ الْوَلِيدُ مِنْهُمْ وَكَانَ عُمَرُ عَادِلًا، فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا كَانَ أَخَذَهُ الْوَلِيدُ مِنْهُمْ فَأَدْخَلَهُ فِي الْجَامِعِ، ثُمَّ حَقَّقَ عُمَرُ الْقَضِيَّةَ، ثُمَّ نَظَرَ فَإِذَا الْكَنَائِسُ الَّتِي هِيَ خَارِجُ الْبَلَدِ لَمْ تَدْخُلْ فِي الصُّلْحِ الَّذِي كَتَبَهُ لَهُمُ الصَّحَابَةُ; مِثْلَ كَنِيسَةِ دَيْرِ مُرَّانَ، وَكَنِيسَةِ الرَّاهِبِ، وَكَنِيسَةِ تُومَا، خَارِجَ بَابِ تُومَا، وَسَائِرِ الْكَنَائِسِ الَّتِي بِقُرَى الْحَوَاجِزِ، فَخَيَّرَهُمْ بَيْنَ رَدِّ مَا سَأَلُوهُ، وَتَخْرِيبِ هَذِهِ الْكَنَائِسِ كُلِّهَا، أَوْ تَبْقَى تِلْكَ الْكَنَائِسُ وَيَطِيبُوا نَفْسًا لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ بِهَذِهِ الْبُقْعَةِ، فَاتَّفَقَتْ آرَاؤُهُمْ بَعْدَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ عَلَى إِبْقَاءِ تِلْكَ الْكَنَائِسِ، وَيَكْتُبُ لَهُمْ كِتَابَ أَمَانٍ بِهَا، وَيَطِيبُوا نَفْسًا بِهَذِهِ الْبُقْعَةِ، فَكَتَبَ لَهُمْ كِتَابَ أَمَانٍ بِهَا. وَالْمَقْصُودُ أَنَّ الْجَامِعَ الْأُمَوِيَّ كَانَ حِينَ تَكَامَلَ بِنَاؤُهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا نَظِيرٌ فِي حُسْنِهِ وَبَهْجَتِهِ. أقوال في الجامع الأموي قَالَ الْفَرَزْدَقُ: أَهْلُ دِمَشْقَ فِي بَلَدِهِمْ قَصْرٌ مِنْ قُصُورِ الْجَنَّةِ، يَعْنِي بِهِ الْجَامِعَ الْأُمَوِيَّ. وَقَالَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي الْحَوَارِيِّ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ ثَوْبَانَ: مَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ أَحَدٌ أَشَدَّ شَوْقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ مِنْ أَهْلِ دِمَشْقَ; لِمَا يَرَوْنَ مِنْ حُسْنِ مَسْجِدِهَا. قَالُوا: وَلَمَّا دَخَلَ الْمَهْدِيُّ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْعَبَّاسِيُّ دِمَشْقَ يُرِيدُ زِيَارَةَ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ، نَظَرَ إِلَى جَامِعِ دِمَشْقَ فَقَالَ لِكَاتِبِهِ أَبِي عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ: سَبَقَنَا بَنُو أُمَيَّةَ بِثَلَاثٍ; بِهَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ، لَا أَعْلَمُ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُ، وَبِنُبْلِ الْمَوَالِي، وَبِعُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، لَا يَكُونُ وَاللَّهِ فِينَا مِثْلُهُ أَبَدًا. ثُمَّ لَمَّا أَتَى بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ وَكَانَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ هُوَ الَّذِي بَنَاهَا قَالَ لِكَاتِبِهِ: وَهَذِهِ رَابِعَةٌ. وَلَمَّا دَخَلَ الْمَأْمُونُ دِمَشْقَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى جَامِعِهَا، وَكَانَ مَعَهُ أَخُوهُ الْمُعْتَصِمُ، وَقَاضِيهِ يَحْيَى بْنُ أَكْثَمَ، قَالَ: مَا أَعْجَبُ مَا فِيهِ؟ فَقَالَ أَخُوهُ: هَذِهِ الْأَذْهَابُ الَّتِي فِيهِ. وَقَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ أَكْثَمَ: هَذَا الرُّخَامُ، وَهَذِهِ الْعُقَدُ. فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ: إِنَّمَا أَعْجَبُ مِنْ حُسْنِ بُنْيَانِهِ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِثَالٍ مُتَقَدِّمٍ. ثُمَّ قَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ لِقَاسِمٍ التَّمَّارِ: أَخْبِرْنِي بِاسْمٍ حَسَنٍ أُسَمِّي بِهِ جَارِيَتِي هَذِهِ. فَقَالَ: سَمِّهَا مَسْجِدَ دِمَشْقَ; فَإِنَّهُ أَحْسَنُ شَيْءٍ. وَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنِ الشَّافِعِيِّ قَالَ: عَجَائِبُ الدُّنْيَا خَمْسَةٌ; أَحَدُهَا مَنَارَتُكُمْ هَذِهِ يَعْنِي مَنَارَةَ ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ الَّتِي بِإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةَ وَالثَّانِيَةُ أَصْحَابُ الرَّقِيمِ; وَهْمُ بِالرُّومِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ رَجُلًا، أَوْ ثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلًا، وَالثَّالِثَةُ مِرْآةٌ بِبَابِ الْأَنْدَلُسِ عَلَى بَابِ مَدِينَتِهَا، يَجْلِسُ الرَّجُلُ تَحْتَهَا، فَيَنْظُرُ فِيهَا صَاحِبَهُ مِنْ مَسَافَةِ مِائَةِ فَرْسَخٍ، وَالرَّابِعُ مَسْجِدُ دِمَشْقَ وَمَا يُوصَفُ مِنَ الْإِنْفَاقِ عَلَيْهِ، وَالْخَامِسُ الرُّخَامُ وَالْفُسَيْفِسَاءُ; فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُدْرَى لَهُمَا مَوْضِعٌ، وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّ الرُّخَامَ مَعْجُونٌ، وَالدَّلِيلُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ يَذُوبُ عَلَى النَّارِ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ: وَذَكَرَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ أَبِي اللَّيْثِ الْكَاتِبُ وَكَانَ قَدِمَ دِمَشْقَ سَنَةَ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَثَلَاثِينَ وَأَرْبَعِمِائَةٍ فِي رِسَالَةٍ لَهُ قَالَ: ثُمَّ أُمِرْنَا بِالِانْتِقَالِ إِلَى الْبَلَدِ، فَانْتَقَلْتُ مِنْهُ إِلَى بَلَدٍ تَمَّتْ مَحَاسِنُهُ، وَوَافَقَ ظَاهِرَهُ بَاطِنُهُ، أَزِقَّتُهُ أَرِجَةٌ، وَشَوَارِعُهُ فَرِجَةٌ، فَحَيْثُ مَا شِئْتَ شَمَمْتَ طِيبًا، وَأَيْنَ سَعَيْتَ رَأَيْتَ مَنْظَرًا عَجِيبًا، وَأَفْضَيْتُ إِلَى جَامِعِهِ، فَشَاهَدْتُ مِنْهُ مَا لَيْسَ فِي اسْتِطَاعَةِ الْوَاصِفِ أَنْ يَصِفَهُ، وَلَا الرَّائِي أَنْ يُعَرِّفَهُ، وَجُمْلَتُهُ أَنَّهُ بِكْرُ الدَّهْرِ، وَنَادِرَةُ الْوَقْتِ، وَأُعْجُوبَةُ الزَّمَانِ، وَغَرِيبَةُ الْأَوْقَاتِ، وَلَقَدْ أَثْبَتَ اللَّهُ، عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، بِهِ ذِكْرًا يُدْرَسُ، وَخَلَّفَ بِهِ أَمْرًا لَا يَخْفَى وَلَا يَدْرُسُ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ: وَأَنْشَدَنِي بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْأَدَبِ لِبَعْضِ الْمُحَدِّثِينَ فِي جَامِعِ دِمَشْقَ، عَمَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بِذِكْرِهِ: دِمَشْقُ قَدْ شَاعَ حُسْنُ جَامِعِهَا وَمَا حَوَتْهُ رُبَى مَرَابِعِهَا بَدِيعَةُ الْحَسَنِ فِي الْكَمَالِ لِمَا يُدْرِكُهُ الطَّرْفُ مِنْ بَدَائِعِهَا طَيِّبَةٌ أَرْضُهَا مُبَارَكَةٌ بِالْيُمْنِ وَالسَّعْدِ أَخْذُ طَالِعِهَا جَامِعُهَا جَامِعُ الْمَحَاسِنِ قَدْ فَاقَتْ بِهِ الْمُدْنَ فِي جَوَامِعِهَا بَنِيَّةٌ بِالْإِتْقَانِ قَدْ وُضِعَتْ لَا ضَيَّعَ اللَّهُ سَعْيَ وَاضِعِهَا تُذْكَرُ فِي فَضْلِهِ وَرِفْعَتِهِ أَخْبَارُ صِدْقٍ رَاقَتْ لِسَامِعِهَا قَدْ كَانَ قَبْلَ الْحَرِيقِ مَدْهَشَةً فَغَيَّرَتْهُ نَارٌ بِلَافِعِهَا فَأَذْهَبَتْ بِالْحَرِيقِ بَهْجَتَهُ فَلَيْسَ يُرْجَى إِيَابُ رَاجِعِهَا إِذَا تَفَكَّرْتَ فِي الْفُصُوصِ وَمَا فِيهَا تَيَقَّنْتَ حِذْقَ رَاصِعِهَا أَشْجَارُهَا لَا تَزَالُ مُثْمِرَةً لَا تَذْهَبُ الرِّيحُ مِنْ مَدَافِعِهَا كَأَنَّهَا مِنْ زُمُرُّدٍ غُرِسَتْ فِي أَرْضِ تِبْرٍ تَغْشَى بِفَاقِعِهَا فِيهَا ثِمَارٌ تَخَالُهَا يَنَعَتْ وَلَيْسَ يُخْشَى فَسَادُ يَانِعِهَا تُقْطَفُ بِاللَّحْظِ لَا بِجَارِحَةِ الْ أَيْدِي وَلَا تُجْتَنَى لِبَائِعِهَا وَتَحْتَهَا مِنْ رُخَامِهِ قِطَعٌ لَا قَطَّعَ اللَّهُ كَفَّ قَاطِعِهَا أَحْكَمَ تَرْخِيمَهَا الْمُرَخِّمُ قَدْ بَانَ عَلَيْهَا إِحْكَامُ صَانِعِهَا وَإِنْ تَفَكَّرْتَ فِي قَنَاطِرِهِ وَسَقْفِهِ بَانَ حِذْقُ رَافِعِهَا وَإِنْ تَبَيَّنْتَ حُسْنَ قُبَّتِهِ تَحَيَّرَ اللُّبُّ فِي أَضَالِعِهَا تَخْتَرِقُ الرِّيحُ فِي مَخَارِمِهَا عَصْفًا فَتَقْوَى عَلَى زَعَازِعِهَا وَأَرْضُهُ بِالرُّخَامِ قَدْ فُرِشَتْ يَنْفَسِحُ الطَّرْفُ فِي مَوَاضِعِهَا مَجَالِسُ الْعِلْمِ فِيهِ مُتْقَنَةٌ يَنْشَرِحُ الصَّدْرُ فِي مَجَامِعِهَا وَكُلُّ بَابٍ عَلَيْهِ مَطْهَرَةٌ قَدْ أَمِنَ النَّاسُ دَفْعَ مَانِعِهَا يَرْتَفِقُ الْخَلْقُ مِنْ مَرَافِقِهَا وَلَا يَصُدُّونَ عَنْ مَنَافِعِهَا وَلَا تَزَالُ الْمِيَاهُ جَارِيَةً فِيهَا لِمَا شُقَّ مِنْ مَشَارِعِهَا وَسُوقُهَا لَا تَزَالُ آهِلَةً لِيَزْدَحِمَ النَّاسُ فِي شَوَارِعِهَا لِمَا يَشَاءُونَ مِنْ فَوَاكِهِهَا وَمَا يُرِيدُونَ مِنْ بَضَائِعِهَا كَأَنَّهَا جَنَّةٌ مُعَجَّلَةٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَوْلَا سُرَى فَجَائِعِهَا دَامَتْ بِرَغْمِ الْعِدَى مُسَلَّمَةً وَحَاطَهَا اللَّهُ مِنْ قَوَارِعِهَا ما روي في الجامع الأموي من الآثار وما ورد في فضله من الأخبار فِيمَا رُوِيَ فِي جَامِعِ دِمَشْقَ مِنَ الْآثَارِ وَمَا وَرَدَ فِي فَضْلِهِ مِنَ الْأَخْبَارِ، عَنْ جَمَاعَةٍ مِنَ السَّادَةِ الْأَخْيَارِ رُوِيَ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: وَالتِّينِ قَالَ: هُوَ مَسْجِدُ دِمَشْقَ. وَالزَّيْتُونِ قَالَ: هُوَ مَسْجِدُ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ. وَطُورِ سِنِينَ حَيْثُ كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى وَهَذَا الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ وَهُوَ مَكَّةُ. وَنَقَلَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي الْعَاتِكَةِ، عَنْ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ، أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: وَالتِّينِ هُوَ مَسْجِدُ دِمَشْقَ. رَوَاهُ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ. وَقَالَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، بسنده عَنْ عَطِيَّةَ بْنِ قَيْسٍ الْكِلَابِيِّ، قَالَ: قَالَ كَعْبُ الْأَحْبَارِ: لَيُبْنَيَنَّ فِي دِمَشْقَ مَسْجِدٌ يَبْقَى بَعْدَ خَرَابِ الدُّنْيَا أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا. وَقَالَ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَاتِكَةِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ: أَوْحَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَى جَبَلِ قَاسِيُونَ أَنْ هَبْ ظِلَّكَ وَبَرَكَتَكَ إِلَى جَبَلِ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ. قَالَ: فَفَعَلَ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ: أَمَا إِذْ فَعَلْتَ فَإِنِّي سَأَبْنِي لِي فِي حِضْنِكَ بَيْتًا أُعْبَدُ فِيهِ بَعْدَ خَرَابِ الدُّنْيَا أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا، وَلَا تَذْهَبُ الْأَيَّامُ وَاللَّيَالِي حَتَّى أَرُدَّ عَلَيْكَ ظِلَّكَ وَبَرَكَتَكَ. قَالَ: فَهُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّجُلِ الضَّعِيفِ الْمُتَضَرِّعِ. وَقَالَ دُحَيْمٌ: حِيطَانُ الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَرْبَعَةُ مِنْ بِنَاءِ هُودٍ، عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْفُسَيْفِسَاءِ إِلَى فَوْقَ فَهُوَ مِنْ بِنَاءِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ يَعْنِي أَنَّهُ رَفَعَ الْجِدَارَ فَعَلَّاهُ مِنْ حَدِّ الرُّخَامِ وَالْكَرْمَةِ إِلَى فَوْقَ. وَقَالَ غَيْرُهُ: إِنَّمَا بَنَى هُودٌ الْجِدَارَ الْقِبْلِيَّ فَقَطْ. وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْفَرَجِ، الْمَعْرُوفُ بِابْنِ الْبِرَامِيِّ، الدِّمَشْقِيُّ: بسنده عن عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ يَحْيَى بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي الْمُهَاجِرِ قَالَ: كَانَ خَارِجَ بَابِ السَّاعَاتِ صَخْرَةٌ يُوضَعُ عَلَيْهَا الْقُرْبَانُ، فَمَا تُقُبِّلَ مِنْهُ جَاءَتْ نَارٌ فَأَكَلَتْهُ، وَمَا لَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنْهُ بَقِيَ عَلَى حَالِهِ. قُلْتُ: وَهَذِهِ الصَّخْرَةُ نُقِلَتْ إِلَى دَاخِلِ بَابِ السَّاعَاتِ، وَهِيَ مَوْجُودَةٌ إِلَى الْآنَ، وَبَعْضُ الْعَامَّةِ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهَا الصَّخْرَةُ الَّتِي وَضَعَ عَلَيْهَا ابْنَا آدَمَ قُرْبَانَهُمَا، فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الْآخَرِ. فَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. وَقَالَ هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ: ثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْخُشَنِيُّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةَ أُسَرِيَ بِهِ صَلَّى فِي مَوْضِعِ مَسْجِدِ دِمَشْقَ. قَالَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ: وَهَذَا مُنْقَطِعٌ. قُلْتُ: وَمُنْكَرٌ جِدًّا، وَلَا يَثْبُتُ أَيْضًا لَا مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ، وَلَا مِنْ غَيْرِهِ. وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الْبِرَامِيُّ: بسنده أَنَّ الْوَلِيدَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ تَقَدَّمَ إِلَى الْقُوَّامِ لَيْلَةً مِنَ اللَّيَالِي فَقَالَ: إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ اللَّيْلَةَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فَلَا تَتْرُكُوا فِيهِ أَحَدًا حَتَّى أُصَلِّيَ اللَّيْلَةَ. ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَتَى بَابَ السَّاعَاتِ، فَاسْتَفْتَحَ الْبَابَ فَفُتِحَ لَهُ، فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ قَائِمٌ بَيْنَ بَابِ السَّاعَاتِ، وَبَابِ الْخَضْرَاءِ الَّذِي يَلِي الْمَقْصُورَةَ يُصَلِّي، وَهُوَ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى بَابِ الْخَضْرَاءِ مِنْهُ إِلَى بَابِ السَّاعَاتِ، فَقَالَ لِلْقُوَّامِ: أَلَمْ آمُرْكُمْ أَنْ لَا تَتْرُكُوا أَحَدًا اللَّيْلَةَ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمَسْجِدِ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُهُمْ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، هَذَا الْخَضِرُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، يُصَلِّي كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ. فِي إِسْنَادِ هَذِهِ الْحِكَايَةِ وَصِحَّتِهَا نَظَرٌ، وَلَا يَثْبُتُ بِمِثْلِهَا وُجُودُ الْخَضِرِ بِالْكُلِّيَّةِ، وَلَا صَلَاتُهُ فِي هَذَا الْمَكَانِ الْمَذْكُورِ. وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. وَقَدِ اشْتُهِرَ فِي الْأَعْصَارِ الْمُتَأَخِّرَةِ أَنَّ الزَّاوِيَةَ الْقِبْلِيَّةَ عِنْدَ بَابِ الْمِئْذَنَةِ الْغَرْبِيَّةِ تُسَمَّى زَاوِيَةَ الْخَضِرِ، وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا سَبَبُ ذَلِكَ، وَالَّذِي ثَبَتَ بِالتَّوَاتُرِ صَلَاةُ الصَّحَابَةِ فِيهِ، أول من صلى إماما بالجامع الأموي وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ صَلَّى فِيهِ إِمَامًا أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ، وَهُوَ أَمِيرُ الْأُمَرَاءِ بِالشَّامِ، وَأَحَدُ الْعَشَرَةِ الْمَشْهُودِ لَهُمْ بِالْجَنَّةِ، وَأَمِينُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ، وَصَلَّى فِيهِ خَلْقٌ مِنَ الصَّحَابَةِ، لَكِنْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُغَيِّرَهُ الْوَلِيدُ إِلَى هَذِهِ الصِّفَةِ، فَأَمَّا بَعْدَ أَنْ غُيِّرَ إِلَى هَذَا الشَّكْلِ فَلَمْ يَرَهُ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الصَّحَابَةِ كَذَلِكَ إِلَّا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، فَإِنَّهُ وَرَدَ دِمَشْقَ سَنَةَ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَتِسْعِينَ، وَهُوَ يَبْنِي فِي هَذَا الْجَامِعِ، فَصَلَّى فِيهِ أَنَسٌ وَرَاءَ الْوَلِيدِ، وَأَنْكَرَ أَنَسٌ عَلَى الْوَلِيدِ تَأْخِيرَ الصَّلَاةِ إِلَى آخِرِ وَقْتِهَا، وَسَيُصَلِّي فِيهِ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِذَا نَزَلَ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ، إِذَا خَرَجَ الدَّجَّالُ وَعَمَّتِ الْبَلْوَى بِهِ، وَانْحَصَرَ النَّاسُ مِنْهُ بِدِمَشْقَ، فَيَنْزِلُ مَسِيحُ الْهُدَى فَيَقْتُلُ مَسِيحَ الضَّلَالَةِ، وَيَكُونُ نُزُولُهُ عَلَى الْمَنَارَةِ الشَّرْقِيَّةِ بِدِمَشْقَ وَقْتَ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ، فَيَأْتِي وَقَدْ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلَاةُ، فَيَقُولُ لَهُ إِمَامُ النَّاسِ: تَقَدَّمْ يَا رُوحَ اللَّهِ. فَيَقُولُ: إِنَّمَا أُقِيمَتْ لَكَ. فَيُصَلِّي عِيسَى تِلْكَ الصَّلَاةَ خَلْفَ رَجُلٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ. يُقَالُ إِنَّهُ الْمَهْدِيُّ. فَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ عِيسَى بِالنَّاسِ، فَيُدْرِكُ الدَّجَّالَ عِنْدَ عَقَبَةِ أَفِيقَ، وَقِيلَ: بِبَابِ لُدٍّ. فَيَقْتُلُهُ بِيَدِهِ هُنَالِكَ. وَقَدْ ذَكَرْنَا ذَلِكَ مَبْسُوطًا عِنْدَ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: وَإِنْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ ( النِّسَاءِ: 159 )، وَفِي الصَّحِيحِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ: وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَيَنْزِلَنَّ فِيكُمُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ حَكَمًا مُقْسِطًا، وَإِمَامًا عَادِلًا، فَيَكْسِرُ الصَّلِيبَ، وَيَقْتُلُ الْخِنْزِيرَ، وَيَضَعُ الْجِزْيَةَ، وَلَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا الْإِسْلَامَ. وَالْمَقْصُودُ أَنَّ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَنْزِلُ وَالْبَلَدُ مُحَصَّنٌ مِنَ الدَّجَّالِ، وَيَكُونُ نُزُولُهُ عَلَى الْمَنَارَةِ الشَّرْقِيَّةِ بِدِمَشْقَ وَهِيَ هَذِهِ الْمَنَارَةُ الْمَبْنِيَّةُ فِي زَمَانِنَا مِنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّصَارَى; حَيْثُ أَحْرَقُوهَا فَجُدِّدَتْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَكُونُ نُزُولُ عِيسَى حَتْفًا لَهُمْ، وَهَلَاكًا وَدَمَارًا عَلَيْهِمْ، يَنْزِلُ بَيْنَ مَلَكَيْنِ وَاضِعًا يَدَيْهِ عَلَى مَنَاكِبِهِمَا، وَعَلَيْهِ مَهْرُودَتَانِ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: مُمَصَّرَتَانِ يَقْطُرُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً، كَأَنَّمَا خَرَجَ مِنْ دِيمَاسٍ، وَذَلِكَ وَقْتَ الْفَجْرِ، فَيَنْزِلُ مِنَ الْمَنَارَةِ وَقَدْ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلَاةُ وَهَذَا إِنَّمَا يَكُونُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَعْظَمِ بِدِمَشْقَ، وَهُوَ هَذَا الْجَامِعُ. وَمَا وَقَعَ فِي " صَحِيحِ مُسْلِمٍ " مِنْ رِوَايَةِ النَّوَّاسِ بْنِ سَمْعَانَ الْكِلَابِيُّ: فَيَنْزِلُ عَلَى الْمَنَارَةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ شَرْقِيَّ دِمَشْقَ كَأَنَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ مَرْوِيٌّ بِالْمَعْنَى بِحَسَبِ مَا فَهِمَهُ الرَّاوِي، وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ يَنْزِلُ عَلَى الْمَنَارَةِ الشَّرْقِيَّةِ بِدِمَشْقَ، وَقَدْ أُخْبِرْتُ - وَلَمْ أَقِفْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا الْآنَ - أَنَّهُ كَذَلِكَ فِي بَعْضِ أَلْفَاظِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فِي بَعْضِ الْمُصَنَّفَاتِ، وَاللَّهُ الْمَسْئُولُ الْمَأْمُولُ أَنْ يُوَفِّقَنِي، فَيُوقِفَنِي عَلَى هَذِهِ اللَّفْظَةِ. وَلَيْسَ فِي الْبَلَدِ مَنَارَةٌ تُعْرَفُ بِالشَّرْقِيَّةِ سِوَى هَذِهِ، وَهِيَ بَيْضَاءُ بِنَفْسِهَا، وَلَا يُعْرَفُ فِي بِلَادِ الشَّامِ مَنَارَةٌ أَحْسَنُ مِنْهَا، وَلَا أَبْهَى وَلَا أَعْلَى مِنْهَا، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ وَالْمِنَّةُ.
Translation
✧ In the year 96, the construction of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus was completed by its builder, the Commander of the Faithful al-Walīd b. ʿAbd al-Malik b. Marwān—may Allah reward him on behalf of the Muslims with the best of rewards. The original site of this mosque was anciently a temple built by the Chaldean Greeks who inhabited Damascus; they were the ones who founded and first built it. They were the first to build it. They used to worship the seven moving stars, which are: the Moon in the lowest heaven, Mercury in the second heaven, Venus in the third heaven, the Sun in the fourth, Mars in the fifth, Jupiter in the sixth, and Saturn in the seventh. They had placed at every gate of the gates of Damascus an idol for one of these seven stars. Damascus had seven gates, which they had set up deliberately for that purpose. They erected seven idols, one for each star. They had a festival each year at every gate of Damascus. These were the people who set up observatories, and they spoke about the movements of the stars, their conjunctions, and their comparisons. They built Damascus and chose this spot beside the water coming from between these two mountains, and they diverted it into canals flowing to the high and low places, and they channeled the water into the courtyards of the buildings of the houses in Damascus. In their days, Damascus was one of the finest cities—indeed, it was the finest of them—because of the wonderful arrangements in it. They built this temple—which is today the mosque—facing the pole, and they used to pray toward the North Pole. Its prayer niches faced north. The door of their temple opened toward the qiblah, behind the prayer niche today, as we have witnessed with our own eyes. We saw their prayer niches facing the pole, and we saw the door—a fine door built of carved stones, with an inscription in their script upon it. To its right and left are two small doors relative to it. West of the temple was a very lofty palace, supported by those columns at Bāb al-Barīd. East of the temple was the palace of King Jairūn, who was their king, and there were two great houses prepared for whoever would rule Damascus in ancient times among them. It is said that with the temple there were three great houses for the kings. Surrounding these houses and the temple was a single high, lofty wall of large hewn stones. They are: Dār al-Muṭbiq, Dār al-Khayl, and a house that stood on the site of al-Khaḍrāʾ which Muʿāwiyah built. Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAsākir said, relating from the books of some of the ancients: They spent eighteen years taking the horoscope for the building of Damascus and these places, and they dug the foundations of the walls until the time came when the two stars rose which they wanted, so that the mosque would never fall into ruin and would never be devoid of worship, and that this house, when built, would not cease to be the house of king and sultanate. I say: As for the temple, it has never been devoid of worship. Kaʿb al-Aḥbār said: It will not be devoid of it until the Hour comes. As for the house of kingship, which is al-Khaḍrāʾ, Muʿāwiyah renovated its construction, then it was burned in the year 461, and it disappeared and became dwellings of the weak and the lowly among the people, generally, down to this time of ours. And with Allah is the seeking of help. The point is that the Greeks continued in this state that we have mentioned in Damascus for long periods, more than four thousand years, until it is said that the first to build the four walls of this temple was Hūd ﷺ. Hūd was a long time before Abraham the Friend. The descent of the Friend Abraham to Damascus: Abraham the Friend ﷺ came to Damascus, and he alighted north of it at Barzah, and he fought there a people among his enemies, and he prevailed over them, and Allah granted him victory over them. His station for fighting them was at Barzah. This place attributed to him there is explicitly indicated in the ancient books, which they transmit from one generation to another, down to our time. And Allah knows best. Damascus at that time was flourishing and populous with its Greek inhabitants, and they were a multitude whom none but Allah could count. They were the opponents of the Friend, and the Friend debated with them about their worship of idols, stars, and other things in more than one place. The point is that the Greeks continued to build up Damascus, constructing in it and in its districts—in the land of Ḥawrān, the Biqāʿ, Baʿlabakk, and elsewhere—tremendous, strange, wonderful buildings, until about three hundred years after the Messiah, when the people of Syria became Christians at the hands of King Constantine b. Constantine, who built the famous city in the land of the Byzantines that is named after him, Constantinople. He it was who laid down laws for them. He and his people and most of the people of the earth had originally been Greeks. The patriarchs of the Christians devised for him an invented religion, composed of the foundation of Christianity mixed with something of idol worship. They prayed in it toward the east, increased the fasting, permitted pork, and taught their children the great trust, as they claim—though in reality it is a great betrayal, a heinous and vile crime—and with that, in size it is small, contemptible, insignificant. This king, to whom the Melkite sect of Christians is traced, built for them many churches in Damascus and elsewhere, until it is said that in his time twelve thousand churches were built, and endowments with perpetual revenue were established for them. Among them were the Church of Bethlehem and the Church of the Resurrection (Qumāmah) in Jerusalem, which was built by the mother of Helena the innkeeper, and others. The point is that they—the Christians—converted the building of this temple in Damascus, which was venerated by the Greeks, and made it a church. They built altars for it on its eastern side and called it the Church of Mārī Ḥannā. Some say: the Church of John. They built many other churches anew in Damascus. The Christians continued in this religion of theirs in Damascus and elsewhere for about three hundred years, until Allah sent Muḥammad ﷺ. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent to the king of the Byzantines in his time, the Caesar of that time, whose name was Heraclius, calling him to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Among his replies and addresses was to Abū Sufyān Ṣakhr b. Ḥarb. Then he ﷺ sent his three commanders—Zayd b. Ḥārithah, his freedman; Jaʿfar b. Abī Ṭālib; and ʿAbd Allāh b. Rawāḥah—to al-Balqāʾ on the borders of Syria. The Byzantines sent against them a large army, and they killed these commanders and a group of the army with them. The Prophet ﷺ resolved to fight the Byzantines and enter Syria in the year of Tabūk. Then he ﷺ returned that year because of the intense heat, the weakness of circumstances, and the hardship upon the people. Then when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died, al-Ṣiddīq sent the armies to Syria and to Iraq, and Allah granted the Muslims the conquest of Syria in its entirety, including the city of Damascus with its districts. When Islamic control was established there, and Allah sent down His mercy upon it and brought His kindness to it, the commander of the army at that time—Abū ʿUbaydah, or it is said Khālid b. al-Walīd—wrote for the people of Damascus a document of security. They confirmed the Christians in possession of fourteen churches, and they took half of this church which they used to call the Church of Mārī Ḥannā, because the town was conquered by Khālid from the Eastern Gate by the sword, while the Christians received security from Abū ʿUbaydah, who was at Bāb al-Jābiyah by peaceful settlement. They disagreed, then they agreed to make half the town by peace and half by force. So they took the eastern half of this church, and Abū ʿUbaydah made it a mosque—the governorship of Syria had passed to him because ʿUmar dismissed Khālid and appointed Abū ʿUbaydah. The first to pray in this mosque was Abū ʿUbaydah ؓ, then the Companions after him, in the eastern section of it, which is called the Miḥrāb of the Companions. But the wall was not opened with an arched prayer niche; they only prayed at this blessed spot. Apparently it was al-Walīd who opened the prayer niches in the qiblah wall. Many of the early scholars disliked praying in such prayer niches and considered them among the newly introduced innovations. Muslims and Christians used to enter this temple through one door, the original door of the temple which was on the qiblah side, where the great prayer niche in the enclosure is today. The Christians would go west to their church, and the Muslims would take the right side to their mosque. The Christians were not able to recite their book aloud or ring their bell, out of reverence for the Companions, awe, and fear. Muʿāwiyah ؓ, during his governorship of Syria, built the governor's palace south of the mosque that belonged to the Companions, and he built in it a green dome, so the entire palace became known by it. Muʿāwiyah resided in it for forty years. The taking by al-Walīd b. ʿAbd al-Malik of the rest of the church and making all of it one mosque: The matter continued as we have mentioned regarding this church being in two halves between the Muslims and the Christians, from the year 14 until the year 86, in Dhū al-Qaʿdah of that year. The caliphate had passed to al-Walīd b. ʿAbd al-Malik in Shawwāl of that year. Al-Walīd resolved to take the rest of this church and add it to what the Muslims held, making the whole one mosque. This was because some Muslims were annoyed by hearing the Christians' recitation of the Gospel and their raising their voices in their prayers, so he wanted to remove them from the Muslims and add that place to this, enlarging the congregational mosque. He summoned the Christians and asked them to relinquish this place, offering them extensive fiefs as compensation, and he offered to confirm for them four churches that were not included in the pact: the Church of Mary, the Church of al-Muṣallabah inside the Eastern Gate, the Church of Tall al-Jubn, and the Church of Ḥumayd b. Durrah in Darb al-Ṣaqīl. They refused that most strongly. He said: Bring me your pact. They brought their pact which they had from the time of the Companions, and it was read in the presence of al-Walīd. It was found that the Church of Thomas, which was outside Bāb Tūmā by the river, was not included in the pact, and it was said to be larger than the Church of Mārī Ḥannā. Al-Walīd said: I will demolish it and make it a mosque. They said: Rather, let the Commander of the Faithful leave it and the churches he mentioned, and we will be content with the taking of the rest of this church. So he confirmed those churches for them and took from them the rest of this church. This is one account. It is said that when al-Walīd was concerned about that and made his offer to the Christians, and they refused to accept it, someone entered upon him and guided him to measure from the Eastern Gate and from Bāb al-Jābiyah. He found the midpoint of that approximately at Sūq al-Rayḥān, and it turned out that the church in dispute had fallen within the portion taken by force, so he took it. It is related from al-Mughīrah, the freedman of al-Walīd, who said: I entered upon al-Walīd and found him distressed. I said: What distresses you, O Commander of the Faithful? He said: The Muslims have increased in number, and the mosque has become too narrow for them. I summoned the Christians and offered them money for the rest of this church, to add it to the mosque so that it may be spacious for the Muslims, but they refused. Al-Mughīrah said: O Commander of the Faithful, I have something that will remove your distress. He said: What is it? I said: When the Companions took Damascus, Khālid b. al-Walīd entered from the Eastern Gate by the sword. When the people of the town heard that, they rushed to Abū ʿUbaydah seeking security from him; he granted them security, and they opened Bāb al-Jābiyah for him, and Abū ʿUbaydah entered through it by peaceful settlement. So we will measure for them: to whatever point the sword reached, we take it; and what was by peace, we leave in their hands. I hope that the entire church will fall within the portion taken by force, and so it will be included in the mosque. Al-Walīd said: You have relieved me; take charge of that yourself. So al-Mughīrah took charge and measured from the Eastern Gate toward Bāb al-Jābiyah to Sūq al-Rayḥān, and he found that the sword had continued to operate until it passed the great bridge by four cubits and a fraction, so the church fell within the mosque. Al-Walīd sent to the Christians and informed them, saying: This entire church has fallen within the portion taken by force, so it is ours, not yours. They said: You first offered us money and gave us fiefs, but we refused; it would be a kindness from the Commander of the Faithful to make a settlement with us, leaving these four churches in our hands, and we will leave to him the rest of this church. So he made a settlement with them on keeping those four churches in their hands. And Allah knows best. It is said that he compensated them for it with a church near the bath of al-Qāsim at Bāb al-Farādīs, and they called it Mārī Ḥannā after the name of that church which was taken from them, and they took its clock and placed it over the one they received in exchange. So Allah knows best. Then al-Walīd ordered the demolition tools to be brought, and the commanders and notables from among the leaders of the people gathered to him, and the bishops and priests of the Christians came to him and said: "O Commander of the Faithful, we find in our books that whoever demolishes this church will go mad." He said: "I would love to go mad for the sake of God, mighty and sublime. By God, no one will demolish anything in it before me." Then he climbed the eastern minaret with ribs known as the Clock Tower, which was a massive hermitage containing a monk greatly venerated by them. Al-Walīd ordered him to come down from it, but the monk deemed that a grave matter, so al-Walīd took him by the nape of his neck and kept pushing him until he brought him down from it. Then al-Walīd climbed to the highest place in the church, above its great altar, which they called al-Shāhid (the Witness), a figure at the top of the church. The monks said to him: "Beware of the Witness." He said: "I will first put my axe into the head of the Witness." Then he said Allāhu akbar and struck it and demolished it. Al-Walīd was wearing a qabāʾ of quince-yellow color, its skirts tucked into his belt. Then he took an axe in his hand and struck with it the topmost stone and cast it down. The commanders rushed to the demolition, the Muslims shouted Allāhu akbar three times, and the Christians cried out with wailing on the steps of Jayrūn, where they had gathered. Al-Walīd ordered the chief of the shurṭa, Abū Nātil Riyāḥ al-Ghassānī, to beat them until they left that place, and he did so. Thus al-Walīd and the commanders demolished all that the Christians had newly built in the squaring of this place—altars, structures, and arches—until it remained an open square. Then he began to build it with a fine idea according to this beautiful, elegant form, the like of which had not been famous before. Al-Walīd employed in the construction of this mosque a great many craftsmen, engineers, and laborers. The one urging on its building was his brother and heir apparent after him, Sulaymān b. ʿAbd al-Malik. Al-Walīd sent to the king of the Byzantines requesting craftsmen to help him in building the mosque. It is said: Al-Walīd sent to the king of the Byzantines requesting craftsmen in marble and other things to help him in building this mosque as he wished, and he sent threatening him: if he did not do so, he would invade his lands with armies and destroy every church in his lands, even the Church of Jerusalem, the Church of Edessa, and all the remains of the Byzantines. So the king of the Byzantines sent him a great many craftsmen—two hundred craftsmen—and wrote to him saying: "If your father understood this thing you are making and left it, it is a disgrace upon you; and if he did not understand it and you understand it, then it is a disgrace upon him." When that letter reached al-Walīd, he wanted to reply to it, and the people gathered before him for that purpose. Among them was the poet al-Farazdaq, who said: "I will answer it, O Commander of the Faithful, from the Book of God, exalted." Al-Walīd said: "And what is it, woe to you?" He said: "God, exalted, said: 'And We made Solomon to understand it, and to each We gave judgment and knowledge' (Q 21:79). Solomon is the son of David; God made him understand what his father did not understand." That pleased al-Walīd, so he sent it as a reply to the king of the Byzantines. Al-Farazdaq said about that: You separated the Christians in their churches and the worshippers with the dawn and the night prayers, And they are all together when they pray, but their faces are diverse when they prostrate to God and to the idol. How can the clapper, struck by the people of the cross, meet with the reciters who have not slept? You were made to understand its removal from them, as the two understood when they judged for them concerning the tilled field and the sheep, David and the rightly-guided king when they sheared its young and the shearing of wool with the shears. God made you understand the removal of their church from a mosque in which the goodly word is recited. There is no father whom the earth has carried, we know, better in sons, nor better than the one who judges. Al-Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Ibrāhīm Duḥaym al-Dimashqī said: Al-Walīd built what was inside the walls of the mosque, and he increased the height of the walls. Al-Ḥasan b. Yaḥyā al-Khushanī said: It was Hūd ﷺ who built the southern wall of the Mosque of Damascus. Others said: When al-Walīd wanted to build the dome in the middle of the porticoes, which is the Dome of the Eagle—a name newly applied to it, as if they likened it to an eagle in its shape because the porticoes to its right and left are like wings to it—they dug for its piers until they reached water and drank from it sweet, pure water. Then they placed jars of vines in it and built stones upon them. When the piers rose, they built the dome upon them, and it collapsed. Al-Walīd said to one of the engineers: "I want you to build this dome for me." He said: "On condition that you give me the covenant of God and His pledge that no one but me will build it." He did so, and he built the piers, then covered them with mats, and absented himself from it for a full year, al-Walīd not knowing where he had gone. When after the year he returned, al-Walīd was about to punish him, but he took him along with the leaders of the people, and he uncovered the mats from the piers. Behold, they had sunk after their height until they were level with the ground. He said to him: "From this you were undone." Then he built it, and it held together. Some of them said: Al-Walīd wanted to make the shell of the dome of pure gold in order to magnify thereby the status of the mosque. The architect said to him: "You are not able to do that." So he struck him fifty lashes and said to him: "Woe to you! I am not able to do that, and you claim that I am incapable of it, while the land tax and its wealth are collected for me?" He said: "Yes, I will explain that to you." He said: "Then explain it." He said: "Cast one brick of gold and measure against it what this dome requires of that." So al-Walīd ordered it, and gold was brought with which a brick was cast. Behold, thousands of gold coins had gone into it. He said: "O Commander of the Faithful, we need from these so many thousand bricks. If you have enough of that, we will do it." When al-Walīd verified the correctness of his statement, he released to him fifty dinars, then he bound it as the architect had indicated. When al-Walīd roofed the congregational mosque, they made its roof in the form of gabled vaults, and its inner side flat and muqarnas with gold. One of his family said to him: "You have wearied the people after you in plastering the roofs of this mosque every year." So al-Walīd ordered that all the lead in his lands be collected to use in place of clay, and that it be lighter on the roofs. He collected it from every region of Syria and other provinces, and they were short. Then, with a certain woman there were many qintars of it. They bargained with her for it, but she refused to sell it except for its weight in silver. They wrote to al-Walīd, and he said: "Buy it from her, even for its weight in silver." When they offered her that, she said: "Since you do that, it is a charity for God, to be in the roof of this mosque." So they wrote on its sheets with a stamp: "For God." It is said: She was an Israelite woman, and that it was written on the sheets taken from her: "This is what the Israelite woman gave." Muḥammad b. ʿĀʾidh said: I heard the elders say: "The building of the Mosque of Damascus was only completed through the rendering of trusts. A man among the workers—meaning the laborers—would have an axe or a nail head left over, and he would come and place it in the storehouse." Some of the elders of the Damascenes said: "There is in the mosque no marble except the two marble pieces in the Maqām, from the throne of Bilqīs; the rest is all marmar." Others said: "Al-Walīd b. ʿAbd al-Malik bought the two green columns that are under the Eagle from Ḥarb b. Khālid b. Yazīd b. Muʿāwiya for one thousand five hundred dinars." Duḥaym said, with his chain of transmission, from Marwān b. Janāḥ, from his father, who said: "In the Mosque of Damascus there were twelve thousand marakham." The qibla of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus: Some said: "In the qibla of the Mosque of Damascus there were three gilded plaques with lapis lazuli, on each of which was: 'In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. God, there is no god but He, the Living, the Self-Subsistent. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. There is no god but God alone, without partner, and we worship none but Him. Our Lord is God alone, our religion is Islam, and our Prophet is Muḥammad ﷺ. The servant of God, Commander of the Faithful al-Walīd, ordered the building of this mosque and the demolition of the church that was in it, in Dhū al-Qaʿda of the year eighty-six.' And on another, fourth plaque of those plaques was: 'Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, the Compassionate, the Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment [Q 1:2–4]' to the end of the sura, then al-Nāziʿāt, then ʿAbasa, then 'When the sun is wrapped up' [Q 81:1]. They said: Then it was effaced after the coming of al-Maʾmūn to Damascus. They mentioned that its floor was entirely covered with silver, and that the marble on its walls was up to a man's height, and above the marble was a great vine of gold, and above the vine were gilded and green, red, blue, and white mosaic cubes, with which they depicted all the famous cities: the Kaʿba above the miḥrāb, and the other regions to the right and left, and they depicted the beautiful fruit-bearing and flowering trees in the cities, and other things. Its ceiling was muqarnas with gold, and all the chains hanging in it were of gold and silver, and the lights of candles were distributed in their places. He said: In the miḥrāb of the Companions there was a barniyya—a stone of crystal—and it is said: rather it was a stone of jewel, which is the pearl, and it was called al-Qalīla. When the lamps went out, it would illuminate those there with its light. When it was the time of al-Amīn b. al-Rashīd, and he loved crystal—and it is said: jewels—he sent to Sulaymān and the shurṭa of Damascus to send it to him, and he stole it and dispatched it to al-Amīn. When al-Maʾmūn took power, he returned it to Damascus in order to disgrace al-Amīn thereby. Ibn ʿAsākir said: Then it disappeared after that, and in its place was put a barniyya of glass. He said: I saw that barniyya, then it broke after that, and nothing was put in its place. They said: The doors opening from inside the courtyard had no locks, but only curtains hung down, and likewise curtains on all its walls up to the line of the vine above which were the gilded mosaic cubes. The tops of the columns were coated with much pure gold, and they made for it crenellations surrounding it. Al-Walīd built the northern minaret called the Minaret of the Bride. As for the eastern and western minarets, they had been in it for long ages before that. In each corner of this temple there had been a very lofty hermitage built by the Greeks for observation. Then after that the two northern ones fell, and the two southern ones remain to this day. Part of the eastern one was burned after 740, so it was taken down and its construction was renewed from the wealth of the Christians when they were accused of burning it, so it rose in the finest forms, white in itself. It is, God knows best, the eastern minaret upon which Jesus son of Mary will descend at the end of time after the appearance of the Dajjāl, as is established in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim from al-Nawwās b. Samʿān. I say: Then the top of this minaret was burned and renewed; its top had been of wood, so it was built entirely of stone in the late 770s, and it became all built of stone. The excellence of the building of the Umayyad Mosque: The point is that when the Umayyad Mosque was completed in its construction, there was not on the face of the earth a building more beautiful, more splendid, or more magnificent than it, such that when a beholder looked at it, or at any part of it, or at any spot or place in it, he was bewildered at what he saw because of its entire beauty. Its beholder does not tire; rather, the more he gazes, the more a marvel appears to him unlike another. In it there were talismans from the days of the Greeks, so that nothing of vermin entered this spot at all—neither snakes, nor scorpions, nor beetles, nor spiders. It is said: not even sparrows nest in it, nor pigeons, nor anything that harms people. Most or all of these talismans were deposited in the ceiling of the mosque on the side facing the seventh part, and they were burned when the fire occurred in it. That happened on the night of the middle of Shaʿbān after the afternoon prayer, in the year 461, during the Fatimid state. There had been in Damascus talismans placed by the Greeks, some of which remain to this day. But God knows best. Among them is the column at the head of which is something like a ball in the Barley Market near the arch of Umm Ḥakīm, and this place is known today as al-ʿAlabiyyīn. The elders of Damascus mentioned that it is from the Greeks' design for difficulty of urination in animals; if they circle the animal around this column three times, its urine flows. That is tried and tested among the Greeks. Sulaymān b. ʿAbd al-Malik continued to work on completing the Umayyad Mosque after his brother's death during his reign, and the maqṣūra was renewed for him in it. When ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz took power, he resolved to strip the gold in it, to remove the chains, marble, and mosaics, to return all that to the treasury, and to plaster it in place of all that. That was grievous to the people of the city, and their nobles gathered before him. Khālid b. ʿAbd Allāh al-Qasrī said: "I will speak to him for you." When they gathered, Khālid said: "O Commander of the Faithful, it has reached us that you intend to do such and such." He said: "Yes." Khālid said: "That is not yours, O Commander of the Faithful." ʿUmar said: "And why, O son of the disbelieving woman?"—his mother was a Christian Byzantine umm walad. He said: "O Commander of the Faithful, if she was a disbeliever, she gave birth to a believing man." He said: "You have spoken truly." And ʿUmar was ashamed, then he said to him: "Why did you say that?" He said: "O Commander of the Faithful, because most of the marble in it was carried by the Muslims from their own wealth from the various regions, and it is not for the treasury." So ʿUmar, may God have mercy on him, bowed his head. They said: And it happened in that time that a group came from the lands of the Romans as messengers from their king. When they entered from the Bāb al-Barīd gate and reached the great gate beneath the eagle, and saw what dazzled their minds of the beauty of that splendid mosque and the ornamentation the like of which had never been heard of, their elder was struck dumb and fell down in a swoon. They carried him to their lodging, and he remained ill for days. When he recovered, they asked him about what had befallen him. He said: 'I did not think that the Muslims would build a building like this, and I used to believe that their time would be shorter than this.' When that reached ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, he said: 'Is this indeed a vexation to the unbelievers? Leave it.' The Christians asked in the days of ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz that he hold a session for them concerning what al-Walīd had taken from them. ʿUmar was just, and he wanted to return to them what al-Walīd had taken from them and incorporated into the mosque. Then ʿUmar investigated the matter, and he looked, and found that the churches which are outside the city were not included in the treaty which the Companions had written for them; such as the church of Dayr Murrān, the church of the monk, and the church of Tūmā outside Bāb Tūmā, and the rest of the churches in the villages of the Ḥawājiz. So he gave them a choice between returning what they asked for and the demolition of all these churches, or that those churches remain and they willingly cede this plot to the Muslims. Their opinions agreed after three days to keep those churches, and that he write for them a document of security for them, and that they willingly cede this plot. So he wrote for them a document of security for them. The intended point is that the Umayyad Mosque, when its construction was completed, had no equal in the world in its beauty and splendor. Statements about the Umayyad Mosque: Al-Farazdaq said: 'The people of Damascus have in their city a palace from among the palaces of Paradise,' meaning thereby the Umayyad Mosque. Aḥmad b. Abī al-Ḥawārī said, from al-Walīd b. Muslim, from Ibn Thawbān: 'No one ought to have a greater longing for Paradise than the people of Damascus, because of the beauty of their mosque which they see.' They said: When al-Mahdī, the Commander of the Faithful of the Abbasids, entered Damascus intending to visit Jerusalem, he looked at the mosque of Damascus and said to his scribe Abū ʿUbayd Allāh al-Ashʿarī: 'The Umayyads have preceded us in three things: with this mosque, I do not know of its like on the face of the earth; with the nobility of their clients; and with ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, by God, the like of him will never exist among us.' Then when he came to Jerusalem and looked at the Rock, and it was ʿAbd al-Malik b. Marwān who built it, he said to his scribe: 'And this is a fourth.' When al-Maʾmūn entered Damascus and looked at its mosque, and with him was his brother al-Muʿtaṣim and his judge Yaḥyā b. Aktham, he said: 'What is the most wonderful thing in it?' His brother said: 'These golds in it.' Yaḥyā b. Aktham said: 'This marble and these arches.' Al-Maʾmūn said: 'The most wonderful thing is the excellence of its construction without any preceding model.' Then al-Maʾmūn said to Qāsim al-Tammār: 'Tell me a good name with which I may name this slave girl of mine.' He said: 'Name her Mosque of Damascus, for it is the most beautiful thing.' ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbd al-Ḥakam said, from al-Shāfiʿī, who said: 'The wonders of the world are five: one of them is this minaret of yours, meaning the minaret of Dhū al-Qarnayn which is in Alexandria; the second is the Companions of al-Raqīm, who are in the land of the Romans, twelve men or thirteen men; the third is a mirror at the gate of al-Andalus upon the gate of its city, a man sits beneath it and sees his companion from a distance of a hundred parasangs; the fourth is the mosque of Damascus and what is described of the expenditure upon it; and the fifth is marble and mosaic, for their place of origin is not known, and it is said that marble is kneaded, and the proof of that is that it melts over fire.' Ibn ʿAsākir said: Ibrāhīm b. Abī al-Layth al-Kātib mentioned, and he had come to Damascus in the year 432 in a mission of his, saying: 'Then we were commanded to move to the city, and I moved from it to a city whose beauties are complete, and whose outward matches its inward. Its alleys are fragrant, and its streets are spacious. Wherever you wish, you smell perfume, and wherever you walk, you see a wondrous sight. And I came to its mosque, and I witnessed in it what no describer is able to describe, nor any beholder to make known. In sum, it is the firstborn of the age, the rarity of the time, the wonder of the epoch, and the marvel of all times. God, mighty and majestic, has established thereby a remembrance that is studied, and left thereby a matter that is not hidden and does not perish.' Ibn ʿAsākir said: One of the people of literature recited to me, for one of the traditionists, concerning the mosque of Damascus, may God keep it flourishing with His remembrance: Damascus, the beauty of its mosque has spread abroad / and what the hills of its quarters contain. A wonder of beauty in perfection, for what / the eye perceives of its marvels. Its land is good, blessed / with felicity and good fortune in its rising. Its mosque is the gatherer of all beauties; it has / surpassed the cities in their mosques. A structure laid with precision; may God not / waste the effort of its founder. In its virtue and elevation are mentioned / true reports that delight the hearer. Before the fire it was a wonder; / then a fire changed it with its burning. So the fire took away its splendor; / and the return of what has departed is not hoped for. When you reflect upon the mosaic cubes and what / is in them, you become certain of the skill of their setter. Its trees are ever fruitful; / the wind does not strip them from their sheltered places. It is as if they were planted of emerald / in a ground of pure gold covered with its brilliance. In them are fruits that you imagine have ripened; / and the corruption of their ripe fruit is not feared. They are plucked by the glance, not by the organ of / hands, nor are they gathered for a seller. And beneath them are pieces of its marble; / may God not sever the hand of its cutter. The marble-layer has perfected its marbling; / the mastery of its maker is evident upon it. And if you reflect upon its arches / and its roof, the skill of its builder is clear. And if you examine the beauty of its dome, / the mind is bewildered in its ribs. The wind passes through its openings / as a gale, and it withstands its storms. And its floor is spread with marble; / the eye roams freely in its open spaces. The assemblies of learning in it are perfected; / the breast expands in its gatherings. And every gate has a place of ablution; / people are safe from the hindrance of any preventer. People benefit from its facilities; / and they are not turned away from its advantages. And the waters continue to flow / in it through the channels that have been cut. And its market is ever thronged; / people crowd in its streets. For what they wish of its fruits / and what they desire of its goods. It is as if it were a paradise brought near / on earth, were it not for the occurrence of its calamities. May it endure, despite the enemies, safe / and may God surround it against its disasters. What has been related about the Umayyad Mosque of traditions and what has come concerning its virtue of reports, from a group of the noble chosen ones: It is related from Qatāda that he said concerning His saying, exalted be He: 'By the fig,' he said: 'It is the mosque of Damascus. And the olive,' he said: 'It is the mosque of Jerusalem. And Mount Sinai,' where God spoke to Moses, 'and this secure land,' which is Makkah. ʿUthmān b. Abī al-ʿĀtikah transmitted from the people of knowledge that they said concerning His saying, exalted be He: 'By the fig,' it is the mosque of Damascus. Ibn ʿAsākir related it. Ṣafwān b. Ṣāliḥ said, with his chain of transmission, from ʿAṭiyyah b. Qays al-Kilābī, who said: Kaʿb al-Aḥbār said: 'A mosque will surely be built in Damascus that will remain after the ruin of the world for forty years.' Al-Walīd b. Muslim said, from ʿUthmān b. Abī al-ʿĀtikah, from ʿAlī b. Yazīd, from al-Qāsim Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, who said: 'God, exalted be He, revealed to Mount Qāsiyūn: "Give your shade and your blessing to the mountain of Jerusalem." He said: So it did. Then God revealed to it: "Since you have done so, I shall build for Myself in your lap a house in which I am worshipped after the ruin of the world for forty years, and the days and nights will not pass until I return to you your shade and your blessing." He said: So it is with God in the station of a weak, humble man.' Duḥaym said: 'The four walls of the mosque are from the building of Hūd ﷺ, and what is from the mosaic upward is from the building of al-Walīd b. ʿAbd al-Malik,' meaning that he raised the wall and heightened it from the line of the marble and the vine ornament upward. Others said: Hūd built only the qiblah wall. Abū Bakr Aḥmad b. ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Faraj, known as Ibn al-Barāmī, the Damascene, said, with his chain of transmission, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Yaḥyā b. Ismāʿīl b. ʿUbayd Allāh b. Abī al-Muhājir, who said: 'Outside the Bāb al-Sāʿāt there was a rock upon which offerings were placed. Whatever was accepted from it, fire came and consumed it, and whatever was not accepted remained as it was.' I say: This rock was moved to inside the Bāb al-Sāʿāt, and it exists to this day. Some of the common people claim that it is the rock upon which the two sons of Adam placed their offerings, and it was accepted from one of them and not accepted from the other. But God knows best. Hishām b. ʿAmmār said: Al-Ḥasan b. Yaḥyā al-Khushanī narrated to us that the Messenger of God ﷺ, on the night of his Night Journey, prayed in the place of the mosque of Damascus. Ibn ʿAsākir said: 'This is disconnected.' I say: And it is very objectionable, and it is not established either from this chain or from any other. Abū Bakr al-Barāmī said, with his chain of transmission, that al-Walīd b. ʿAbd al-Malik went forward to the keepers one night and said: 'I wish to pray tonight in the mosque, so do not leave anyone in it until I pray tonight.' Then he came to Bāb al-Sāʿāt and asked to open the gate, and it was opened for him. And behold, a man was standing between Bāb al-Sāʿāt and Bāb al-Khaḍrāʾ which is next to the maqṣūrah, praying, and he was closer to Bāb al-Khaḍrāʾ than to Bāb al-Sāʿāt. So he said to the keepers: 'Did I not command you not to leave anyone tonight praying in the mosque?' One of them said to him: 'O Commander of the Faithful, this is al-Khiḍr ﷺ, he prays every night in the mosque.' In the chain of this story and its authenticity there is doubt, and the existence of al-Khiḍr at all is not established by the like of it, nor his praying in this mentioned place. And God knows best. It has become famous in later ages that the qiblah-side corner near the gate of the western minaret is called the Corner of al-Khiḍr, and I do not know the reason for that. What is established by uninterrupted transmission is the prayer of the Companions in it. The first to pray in it as imam was Abū ʿUbaydah b. al-Jarrāḥ, the commander of commanders in Syria, one of the ten to whom Paradise was promised, and the trustee of this nation. And a multitude of the Companions prayed in it, but before al-Walīd changed it to this form. As for after it was changed to this shape, none of the Companions saw it thus except Anas b. Mālik, for he came to Damascus in the year 92 while it was being built in this mosque, and Anas prayed in it behind al-Walīd, and Anas disapproved of al-Walīd's delaying the prayer to the end of its time. And ʿĪsā b. Maryam will pray in it when he descends at the end of time, when the Dajjāl emerges and trial becomes widespread because of him, and people are hemmed in by him in Damascus. Then the Messiah of guidance will descend and kill the Messiah of misguidance. His descent will be upon the eastern minaret in Damascus at the time of the dawn prayer. He will come when the prayer has been established, and the imam of the people will say to him: 'Come forward, O Spirit of God.' He will say: 'It was established only for you.' So ʿĪsā will pray that prayer behind a man of this community. It is said that he is the Mahdī. But God knows best. Then ʿĪsā will go out with the people and overtake the Dajjāl at the pass of Afīq, and it is said: at the gate of Ludd. He will kill him with his own hand there. We have mentioned that in detail at His saying, exalted be He: 'And there is none of the People of the Book but will surely believe in him before his death' (Q 4:159). And in the authentic collection from the Prophet ﷺ: 'By Him in Whose hand is my soul, the son of Mary will surely descend among you as a just judge and a fair imam. He will break the cross, kill the pig, and abolish the jizyah, and he will accept nothing but Islam.' The intended point is that ʿĪsā ﷺ will descend while the city is fortified against the Dajjāl, and his descent will be upon the eastern minaret in Damascus, which is this minaret built in our time from the wealth of the Christians, when they burned it and it was renewed from their wealth. Then the descent of ʿĪsā will be a death for them, and destruction and ruin upon them. He will descend between two angels, placing his hands upon their shoulders, wearing two garments dyed with wars, and in another narration: two garments dyed with saffron, his head dripping with water, as if he had just come out of a bath. That will be at the time of dawn. He will descend from the minaret when the prayer has been established. This will only be in the great mosque of Damascus, which is this mosque. What occurs in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim from the narration of al-Nawwās b. Samʿān al-Kilābī: 'He will descend upon the white minaret east of Damascus,' is, as it seems, and God knows best, reported by meaning according to what the narrator understood. It is only that he descends upon the eastern minaret in Damascus. And I have been informed, though I have not come across it until now, that it is thus in some of the wordings of this hadith in some of the compilations. And God is the One asked and hoped for to grant me success and show me this wording. And there is no minaret in the city known as the eastern one other than this one, and it is itself white. And no minaret is known in the lands of Syria more beautiful than it, nor more splendid, nor taller. And praise and grace belong to God.
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