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Inscription from the moat of the Jerusalem Citadel
(نقش من خندق قلعة القدس)

Title	Inscription from the moat of the Jerusalem Citadel
Title Original	نقش من خندق قلعة القدس
Publication Date:	587 / 1191.
Publication Place	- Islamic Museum, Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
Subject	Engraving on a white marble slab.
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	الطول: 190 سم؛ العرض: 100 سم؛ السمك: 6 سم.
Library:	Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID	object;ISL;pa;Mus01;2;ar
Library Location	Islamic Museum, Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
Date	587 / 1191.
Notes	The piece is a large, foundational marble inscription dating to the digging of a trench around the wall of the Old City of Jerusalem in the Ayyubid era, with the aim of protecting the city from possible new invasions by the Crusaders. The digging of the trench was supervised by Salar Ali bin Ahmad al-Hakari (died AH 588 / AD 1192). This inscription was written four years after the Battle of Hattin. It appears that the inscription was transferred to the Holy Mosque during the reconstruction of the city’s walls during the rule of The Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (reigned 926-974 / 1520-1566). The text of the inscription was written in six lines in prominent carved Ayyubid Naskh script. This text provides us with information about the era of Saladin, and about the defensive methods that were followed to protect the city, such as digging this trench outside the city walls after the city was liberated from the Crusaders. As for the text of the inscription, it is as follows: “In the name of God, the Most Gracious. The Most Merciful and His blessings be upon Muhammad the Prophet and his God. He ordered its rebuilding and the digging of the trench. Our Lord, King Al-Nasser, Salah of the world and religion, the Sultan of Islam and the Muslims, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and this Holy House, Abu Al-Muzaffar Yusuf bin Ayyub Muhyi, the state of the Commander of the Faithful, may God perpetuate his days and grant victory to his flags in the days of the unfortunate prince Salar Al-Kabir, Saif Al-Din Ali bin Ahmed, may God honor him in the honorable year five hundred and eighty-seven of the Hijra.”
Sample Text	Khader Salameh “Inscription from the moat of the Jerusalem Citadel” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;pa;Mus01;2;ar

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Inscription from the moat of the Jerusalem Citadel

(نقش من خندق قلعة القدس)

Publication Date 587 / 1191.

Publication Place - Islamic Museum, Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

Subject Engraving on a white marble slab.

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions الطول: 190 سم؛ العرض: 100 سم؛ السمك: 6 سم.

Library Museum With No Frontiers

Record ID object;ISL;pa;Mus01;2;ar

Library Location Islamic Museum, Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

Date 587 / 1191.

Notes The piece is a large, foundational marble inscription dating to the digging of a trench around the wall of the Old City of Jerusalem in the Ayyubid era, with the aim of protecting the city from possible new invasions by the Crusaders. The digging of the trench was supervised by Salar Ali bin Ahmad al-Hakari (died AH 588 / AD 1192). This inscription was written four years after the Battle of Hattin. It appears that the inscription was transferred to the Holy Mosque during the reconstruction of the city’s walls during the rule of The Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (reigned 926-974 / 1520-1566). The text of the inscription was written in six lines in prominent carved Ayyubid Naskh script. This text provides us with information about the era of Saladin, and about the defensive methods that were followed to protect the city, such as digging this trench outside the city walls after the city was liberated from the Crusaders. As for the text of the inscription, it is as follows: “In the name of God, the Most Gracious. The Most Merciful and His blessings be upon Muhammad the Prophet and his God. He ordered its rebuilding and the digging of the trench. Our Lord, King Al-Nasser, Salah of the world and religion, the Sultan of Islam and the Muslims, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and this Holy House, Abu Al-Muzaffar Yusuf bin Ayyub Muhyi, the state of the Commander of the Faithful, may God perpetuate his days and grant victory to his flags in the days of the unfortunate prince Salar Al-Kabir, Saif Al-Din Ali bin Ahmed, may God honor him in the honorable year five hundred and eighty-seven of the Hijra.”

Sample Text Khader Salameh “Inscription from the moat of the Jerusalem Citadel” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;pa;Mus01;2;ar