This anepigraphic madrasā is located beyond al-Ǧisr al-ʾAbīaḍ on the Ṯōrā canal, where three roads branch off, leading to the northern suburbs of al-Muhāǧirīn (west), aṣ-Ṣāliḥīyyā, and Hārat al-Akrād (east) on the slope of Qāsīūn.
Al-Madrasā al-Māridānīyyā was built, according to the qāḍī ʿIzz ad-Dīn al-Ḥalabī, in 610 (1213-1214 CE) and founded as waqf in 624 H. (1226-1227 CE) by ʿAzizat ad-Dīn Iẖšāwirā H̱ātūn, daughter of Quṭb ad-Dīn, lord of Mārdīn, and wife of al-malik al-Muʿaẓẓam (1); I believe her father was Quṭb ad-Dīn Mawdūd son of Zengi, brother of Nūr ad-Dīn (2). Allah almighty knows best!The foundress was not buried there, for, after the death of al-Muʿaẓẓam (3), she went back to Mārdīn, according to ibn Šuhbā. But another author says she made the pilgrimage and stayed in Mecca. There she fell into dire poverty, without any means, and became a water carrier. Someone who had known her at Damascus saw her in this condition and told her waqf's administrator about it, and he took a certain sum and sent it to her. She asked, “What money is that?” They said, “It comes from your waqfs!” She answered, “What I have handed over to Allah I shall not take back!” she remitted the money, adding, “Give this part to everyone who has a claim!” May Allah reward her amply in His mercy! (4).
H̱adīǧā H̱ātūn (5), daughter of al-malik al-Muʿaẓẓam ʿīsā (first wedded by proxy to the H̱awārizmšāh), died in Ǧumādā II 650 (6) in the garden of al-Māridānīyyā and was buried in her turbā on the Qāsīūn according to ibn ʿAsākir: (7).
Māridānīyyā means “princess of the house of the lords of Mārdīn.”
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1. Al-Muʿaẓẓam ʿīsā.
2. Sauvaire, Description de Damas p. 282.
3. 1227 CE.
5. Probably the daughter of ʿAzizat ad-Dīn.
6. August-Sept 1252 CE. The accurate date is 654 AH (1256 CE).
7. Sauvaire (p. 279). Tāǧ ad-Dīn ibn ʿAsākir (died December 1261 - January 1262). Not to be confused with the author of "History of Damascus".
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Photo credit: Jean Sauvaget.
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