“That is probably one of the most glorious regarding structures, really best for the architecture and you can strangest in form . this has a plentiful express out-of loveliness . and you may uncommon charm. Great majority regarding the decorations was surfaced with gold, so that it glows particularly a mass of white and you can flashes on the gleam out-of super. with the Prophet (God bless your and present your peace) ascended of it to heaven. It’s a strong little bit of material, projecting on the good mans level, and you will underneath it there can be a cavern. that have actions leading right down to it. ” [Gibb, vol. We, p. 79.]
Damascus had once been the main city of your Umayyad Empire created of the Muawiya, brand new last caliph and you may a replacement of Muhammad.
“For Damascus, she’s this new Eden of one’s Orient. She hath decorated by herself with herbs off nice-fragrant herbs, and you can displayed herself from inside the brocaded vestures from the woman landscapes. and you may metropolises cry so you’re able to thee ‘Stamp thy legs; listed here is a cool spring season for thee to completely clean thyself and you may so you can drink’. ” [Gibb, p. 118, estimating Abu’l-Hasan Ibn Jubair]
During the time Ibn Battuta visited Damascus, it had been a worldwide superascus are a center off trade routes and that connected Egypt and you may Persia, and you can China Slight in addition to Black Ocean area. And it is a heart of discovering.New Uascus, are produced in this new eighth century. It had been famous since a heart out of reading throughout the Muslim business. the perfect into the frameworks, in addition to extremely superb from inside the beauty. “[Gibb, p. 124]. Throughout their remain in the metropolis, Ibn Battuta possess stayed in this mosque’s dormitory, resting according to the marble articles and you may enjoying lecturers and you can Koranic subscribers.
“Contained in 
this mosque and additionally you’ll find a great number of children who never leave it, consuming themselves unremittingly for the prayer and recitation of Koran . . . The newest townsfolk also have their needs off as well as clothes, regardless of if people never ask to possess anything of one’s kind from them.”[Gibb, vol. I, p. 129]
Her ground is sated that have numerous liquids
Ibn Battuta would have learnt for instance the students in the painting below. (It is a decorating from good Muslim university manufactured in Jerusalem for the 1329 nearby the lifetime of Ibn Battuta’s sit.) Observe that the young wait a smart otherwise holy man and you can study from your and study throughout the Koran held when you look at the a bookstand. At the conclusion of its training they can earn a certification otherwise credential so they, too, get instruct or score a good judgeship sooner or later.
Websites are revealed inside the journey near Damascus, that being “the newest Cave regarding Bloodstream, above and this [is visible] brand new bloodstream out-of Abel, this new child regarding Adam (to your him end up being serenity), God that have brought about a purple trace from it to keep to the the brand new stones. This is actually the added and therefore their brother [Cain] slain your and you can dragged his body towards the cavern.” [Gibb, vol. We, p. 145.]
Ibn Battuta makes reference to it “the very best mosque on the planet
Ibn Battuta lived in Damascus for 24 weeks, and then he invested the majority of their date understanding and you will meeting greatest educators and you may evaluator. However, “he could n’t have loyal their all the awakening minute to help you their education since the he was never without far more fantastically dull concerns. For starters, their whole stay in Damascus taken place within the day out of Ramadan, whenever Muslims have to punctual throughout hours of sunlight, a demanding duty you to disturb the typical behavior out-of lifestyle. He and additionally admits from inside the [their publication] which he try down with fever through the a section of his stay and you can traditions just like the a house invitees of 1 from . [his] professors, just who lay your significantly less than a great doctor’s proper care. In addition, the guy discovered go out . to acquire partnered again.”[Dunn, pp. 61 – 62.]Ibn Battuta said having earned extra background getting their knowledge in the Damascus to aid rating your a job immediately after the guy in the end attained Asia.
