Jamea al-Mahdiya – A Fatemi Center of Ilm and Architecture

The Great Mosque of Mahdiya – A Fatemi Masterpiece of Faith and Architecture

Introduction

Jamea al Mahdiya, Tunisia na Mahadiya shehar ma aavi che. Aa Shehar ni tameer 11th Imam, Maulana Abdullah al-Mahdi Billah (AS) ye kidi hati. Aapiye 916CE ma aa masjid ni Tameer nu amal farmayu. Aa Magrib na bilad ma Pehli Fatemi Imam ni Jamea hati je Imam as ye khud ye ehne tameer kidi hoi.

Jamea al Mahdiya

Historical Background

912CE ma 11th Imam, Maulana Abdullah al-Mahdi Billah (AS) aapna Khilafat na vaste new Capital ni talaash ma tha, te vaqt aapiye dariya na Kinara par ek shehar ni vasayu. Aa shehar ni khasiyat em hati ke Aa Shehar 3 side si dariya si gheru hovu hatu ane ek side si Qillao si mazbut karva ma aayu hatu. Imam as ye aa Shehar nu naam Al Mahdiya aapu, je Fatemi Imam as ni pehli Planned City bhi che.

916CE ma Imam As na Qasar ane Jamea (Masjid) ni tameer nu kaam bhi shuru thayu. Aa Shehar nu iftetah 921CE ma thayu ane aa Shehar pehlu Fatemi Capital banu.

Masjid location

Imam Mahdi As, Al Mahdiya Padhara te vaqt aa Jamea ni tameer Shehar na Southern Side par karva ma aavi hati. Masjid ni jagah ma pehla Dariya hatu jene Metti (Sand) nakhi ne fill karva ma aayu hatu ane waha Masjid ni tameer karva ma aavi.

Jamea al Mahdiy.a, Al Mahdiya shehar na darwaza Bab uz Zuwelat si 275 metre na distance par che.

Architecture

Aa Jamea ne 1960Ad (1379-1380H) ma puri tarah si renovate karva ma aavi. Aa Jamea nu Shape Rectangular che jeni ni size 150x200 Metres che. Aa jamea nu Mihrab, Samandar (Sea) side bhar nikle che. Aa Jamea ma Defense and Safety ni detailing ghani khubi si krva ma aavi che.

Front View of Jamea al Mahdiya

1. The Exterior and Entrance Façade

Aa Masjid na Northern Entrance ma Shaandar Arch che je agal pachal sagla na Hissa ma sabsi higher che, Aa arch ni style Roman Triumphal ni misal che. Aa Arch Roman Engineering and Fatemi Art ni ek nayab nishani che.

Humna darwaza par koi ayat ke kai nathi plain che lekin em zikr aave che ke Yaha Pehla Quran ni ayat ya Imam Al Mahdi As nu naam nakhsh krva ma aayu hatu.

Entrance of Jamea al Mahdiya

2. No Minaret – A Statement of Faith

Aa Jamea ne biji jamea si alag haji ek cheez kare che ye su che? ke Aa Masjid ma koi Minara nathi. Aa Masjid ma Azaan ya to Darwaza par si ya to Rooftop (Terrace) par si aapvama aavti hati je Misal Maulana Ali as na zamana ma thatu hatu.

Stone Arches of Jamea al Mahdiya 

3. Courtyard (Sehen)

Aa Jamea nu Sehen ghanu mohtu che and ehni 4 sides ma Arcades (Riwaqs) che and Sagla Arcades Stone Pillars si supported che je early Islamic & Medieval Europe ni Architectural ni nishani che. Em Zikr aave che ke Aa Sehen ma Imam as na Zaman ma Sabq ane Aale Mohammed As nu Ilm parhvama aaavtu hatu.

Sehen of Jamea al Mahdiya Northen Side View

4. The Prayer Hall

Aa Masjid ni ibadat ni jagah "T-Plan" patter ma design karva ma aayu che je ek Fatemi Innovation che je pachi biji Jamea like Jamea Al Azhar ane Jamea Al Anwar Misr ma dekhva mile che. Main area ma 9 Aisles che je sagla Qibal ni wall si perpendicular che.

Namaz hall of Jamea al Mahdiya 

5. Dome & Mihrab

Main area ma Dome che jenu shape octagonal base che ane ehma 24 Windows che. 

Dome of Jamea al Mahdiya 

Mihrab White stone ane Green Marble si banava ma aavi che. Mihrab ma Kufi Khatt si Quran ni Ayat naksh karva ma aavi che. Aa Mihrab Fatemi Calligraphy and geometry ni ek nayab nishani che.

Mihrab of Jamea al Mahdiya 

Masjid through Time

Imam Moiz as ye jiware Al Moeaztul Qahera vasayu ane Fatemi Capital Misr shift thayu te baad aa Masjid par ghana halat aavu shuru thayu,

480H ma Norman ane 905H ma Spanish na Al Mahdiya par hamlao na sabab aa Masjid na ghana hissao ma Nukhsan thayu. Masjid ane Dariya na vacche ek wall hati je aaje Baqi nathi. 

Jivare Al Mahdiya shehar ma Khudaai (Digging) kaam shuru thayu tivare aa masjid ni original flooring and Floor levevl 13ft down milu. Aa Jamea na faqt Mihrab ehni asal jagah ma Mojud che.

1960Ad ma aa Masjid ne vapas si Renovate ane ghana Hissa ne banava ma aaya. Aa Kaam ma Hukumat na ghana loko Shamil thaya.

Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin r.a ni Safar

Al Dai il Fatemi Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin r.a 15th Safar ul Muzaffar 1389H ma Jummao na din Qasar Mubarak si Jamea al Mahdiya ma namaz vaste tashrif laaya,bija loko ne namaz derri si thai ye vaste Jamea ma faqat Mumeneen hazir tha. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin r.a ye Mihrab ma Zohar ane Asar ni namaz parhavi ane Azaab Shaani si Wasila Mubaraka lidu. Aap Maula r.a ye Wasila ma Imam as na Zuhoor ni Dua ane Mumeneen vaste ghani Dua mubarak farmavi. Aap Maula R.a ye yaha Magrib ane Isha ni namaz bhi parhvai.

Te baad aap Maula R.a 22 Safar ul Muzaffar 1389H ma Dobara Jummao ni Namaz vaste padhara ane Azaab shaan si wasila Mubarak farmayu.

Aap Maula r.a ye bayan Mubarak ma em farmayu ke "Aa Jamea ane Jamea Al Azhar na vachhe ghani Similarities che".

Em zikr che ke "Syedna Taher Saifuddin r,a Misr Tashreef laya ane waha aapiye Jamea Al Azhar ma Imam as na Asal (Real) Mihrab ma Namaz aada farmavi yej Shakelat si aapna Mansoos Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin r.a, Al Mahdiya tashrif laaya ane Imam al Mahdi as ni Jamea na Asal (Original) Mihrab ma aapiye Jummao ni namaz aada farmavi.

Imami Dai Sadiyo baad Imam as ni Masjid ma tashrif laaya ane waha Namaz aada kidi je Misal Syedna Taher Saifuddin ni Shaan Al Jamea Azhar ma Aam thai,

Jamea ni Timeline

• After the Fatemids shifted their capital to al-Mansuriyya in 948 CE, the city of Mahdiya declined.

• In the 11th century, the Zirid dynasty repaired sea erosion damage and rebuilt the qibla wall nearly 6 meters north of the original position.

• The 1087 CE raid by a Pisan-Genoese fleet damaged the mosque further, leading to later expansions and reconstructions.

• When Charles V of Spain captured Mahdia in 1550 CE, the city walls shared with the mosque were demolished. The mosque’s prayer hall collapsed, and only a small structure was rebuilt within the courtyard.

• In 1798 CE, Tunisian Prime Minister Yusuf Sahib at-Taba‘restored parts of the mosque.

• Finally, between 1961–1965 CE, French archaeologist Alexandre Lézine led a comprehensive restoration that returned the mosque to its original Fatemi form, based on archaeological studies.

• 912 CE: Imam Abdallah al-Mahdi plans a new Fatemi capital.

• 916 CE: Construction of the mosque begins.

• 921 CE: Inauguration of the city of Al-Mahdiyya.

• 948 CE: Fatemids move to al-Mansuriyya; Mahdia declines.

• 11th Century: Qibla wall rebuilt after sea erosion.

• 1087 CE: City raided by Pisan-Genoese fleet.

• 1550 CE: City destroyed under Charles V; mosque damaged.

• 1798 CE: Partial restoration by Yusuf Sahib at-Taba‘.

• 1961–1965 CE: Full restoration by Alexandre Lézine.

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Disclaimer

This blog has been written based on the author’s thorough research and verified quotes available from reliable online sources. It is intended solely for educational and informative purposes. The content is respectful, harmless, and not meant to offend, harm, or mislead anyone.