Sidna Omar mosque, Mamluk mosque in Jewish Quarter, Jerusalem.
Sidna Omar Mosque is a house of worship in Jerusalem's Old City featuring a two-story minaret with a balcony for the muezzin call. The structure displays Mamluk-period architectural elements, with stonework and carved details reflecting medieval construction methods.
The building's earliest documented record appears in 1397 when historian Mujir al-Din noted renovations funded by community donations. The structure underwent changes across subsequent centuries, with renovations recorded again in the mid-20th century.
The building sits at a meeting point between three distinct neighborhoods, with its walls standing witness to the daily movement of people from different communities through the Old City's narrow streets.
Access to the interior is restricted as it has been closed to the public for many decades. Visitors can view the exterior facade and distinctive minaret from the narrow streets of the Old City nearby.
Historical records by scholar Obadiah Bartenura indicate the building originated from a Jewish individual who converted to Islam and initiated its construction. This unusual connection between Jewish and Islamic origins stands as a rare example of the Old City's complicated past.
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