Ǧāmiʿ Yalbuġā: Inscription 56

 

This inscription occupies a large frieze in plaster over the whole length of both south and north walls of the prayer hall; its entire length is about 150 m. It is badly painted over, ending in the southeastern corner of the room without extending into the recess in the side wall. The end is:

جُدِّدَ هذا المسجد المبارك في أيّامِ مولانا ملك الأمراء كافل الممالك الشاميّة نوروز أعزّه الله بنظارة المقرّ السيفي إينال دوادار المُشار إليه أعزّه الله ونصره بمبا

١. شرة المجلس ؟ الشامي؟ 

٢. العلاي الدين 

٣. أثابَهُ ؟ الله

٤. في الدنيا والآخرة

٥. عمل الفقير إلى الله

“This blessed mosque (masǧid) was renovated in the days of our lord malik al-ʾumarāʾ, viceroy of the Syrian kingdoms, Nawrūz may Allah elevate his status, under the inspection of His Excellency Sayf ad-Dīn ʾInāl, dawādār (ink-bearer) of the above-mentioned, may Allah grant him glory and victory by the ac(tion)”

After "bimubā", the inscription continues with tiny, awkwardly painted crowded letters and is distributed in five short lines above each other.

1. (ac)tion of the Syrian Council (?)
2. al-ʿalāy ad-Dīn
3. may Allah reward him
4. in this life and the life after
5. made by the poor servant in need of Allah's mercy 

Above al-mamālik-dawādār on the upper border of the frieze, whitewashed and almost illegible, is the signature of the master: 

عمل العبد الفقير عمران بن مهدي ... ال

“work of the humble servant ʿImrān son of Mahdī . . . al- . . .”

Ernst Herzfeld. Damascus, Studies in Architecture IV. Ars Islamica XIII-XIV 1948 (p. 118-138).