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The shrine of the Prophet David
(مقام النبي داود)

Title	The shrine of the Prophet David
Title Original	مقام النبي داود
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Library:	Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID	monument;ISL;pa;Mon01;35;ar
Library Location	It is located outside the city walls and about 50 meters from them, to the south of the Prophet David's Gate, one of the gates of the wall of the Old City of Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Notes	This complex is known in Arabic sources as the Shrine of the Prophet David, and not the Tomb of David, because it is not known specifically where the Prophet David was buried, although it is assumed that he was buried at the eastern foot of what is known today as the City of David, which formed the nucleus of the original Jebusite Jerusalem. According to Western Christian sources, the upper hall of the complex, known as the “Cenacle of Zion,” is the location of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, while the lower hall is the place where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. The complex is an important site sacred to Muslims, Christians and Jews. The history of the site and the exchange of control over it by the followers of the three monotheistic religions reflects an aspect of the deep dispute surrounding it. The development of the site began with a church known as the “Small Church of God,” but soon another church was established in its place in the fourth or fifth century AD, another church known as the Church of the Apostles “the Apostles” to commemorate the Last Supper. After that, this church was expanded and its name was changed to become “The Church of Zion, the Mother of All Churches.” Following the Persian invasion of Jerusalem in 614, this church was burned and severely damaged. In the 6th / 12th century, the Frankish Franciscans built a monastery on Mount Prophet David. They also built a two-story building on the site: the ground floor to commemorate the washing of the feet, and the upper floor to commemorate the Last Supper. The Muslims took an interest in the site, so during the Ayyubid era in the year 615-616 / 1219, they added a mihrab to the lower hall where the vault of the Prophet David was located. Muslims also allowed Christians to continue visiting the upper hall, where the Last Supper took place. The Franciscans were later able to gain a foothold in Mount Prophet David, and they erected some buildings under the patronage of the Mamluk authority. After the Jews began to be interested in the tomb of David and the attribution of the unknown tomb in the lower hall to the Prophet David, a major dispute arose in the Mamluk era over the site between a sect of Jews and local Christians, and this dispute was submitted to a number of Mamluk sultans to decide on it. The dispute was not limited to the residents of Jerusalem from both groups, but rather external forces intervened in it, which made the Mamluk authority hesitate in making a decisive decision regarding the two groups. The continuation of the conflict in the Ottoman era and the failure to find a solution to it exacerbated the problem. As a result, in 930 / 1524 Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent expelled the Franciscan monks from the site and turned it into a mosque and Islamic site. From that time until 1948, when it was seized by the Israeli Ministry of Religions, the site remained in Muslim hands and under constant care by the Dajani family in Jerusalem. Many changes have been made to the site, although it is subject to the current status quo. The location is still a matter of dispute, although it is under the complete control of religious Jews, but the hall of the Last Supper is currently open to visitors. The shrine is a large architectural complex consisting of several buildings and halls, and a large part of it is currently used as a Jewish religious school. The complex has three entrances, and contains three open courtyards and three mosques. The mosque in the basement has been converted into a synagogue, the second mosque is the location of the Last Supper hall, and the third mosque is closed. On the site there is a magnificent minaret built in the Ottoman style dating back to the 10th/16th century. The site also contains a historical cemetery for the descendants of the Dajani family, and several Islamic corners dating back to the Ottoman era. Throughout the Ottoman era, the site enjoyed a rich list of endowments that allowed it to host a large number of visitors, and it was the subject of patronage by most of the Ottoman sultans.
Sample Text	Yusuf al-Natsheh “The Shrine of the Prophet David” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;pa;Mon01;35;ar

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Museum With No Frontiers

The shrine of the Prophet David

(مقام النبي داود)

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Library Museum With No Frontiers

Record ID monument;ISL;pa;Mon01;35;ar

Library Location It is located outside the city walls and about 50 meters from them, to the south of the Prophet David's Gate, one of the gates of the wall of the Old City of Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Notes This complex is known in Arabic sources as the Shrine of the Prophet David, and not the Tomb of David, because it is not known specifically where the Prophet David was buried, although it is assumed that he was buried at the eastern foot of what is known today as the City of David, which formed the nucleus of the original Jebusite Jerusalem. According to Western Christian sources, the upper hall of the complex, known as the “Cenacle of Zion,” is the location of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, while the lower hall is the place where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. The complex is an important site sacred to Muslims, Christians and Jews. The history of the site and the exchange of control over it by the followers of the three monotheistic religions reflects an aspect of the deep dispute surrounding it. The development of the site began with a church known as the “Small Church of God,” but soon another church was established in its place in the fourth or fifth century AD, another church known as the Church of the Apostles “the Apostles” to commemorate the Last Supper. After that, this church was expanded and its name was changed to become “The Church of Zion, the Mother of All Churches.” Following the Persian invasion of Jerusalem in 614, this church was burned and severely damaged. In the 6th / 12th century, the Frankish Franciscans built a monastery on Mount Prophet David. They also built a two-story building on the site: the ground floor to commemorate the washing of the feet, and the upper floor to commemorate the Last Supper. The Muslims took an interest in the site, so during the Ayyubid era in the year 615-616 / 1219, they added a mihrab to the lower hall where the vault of the Prophet David was located. Muslims also allowed Christians to continue visiting the upper hall, where the Last Supper took place. The Franciscans were later able to gain a foothold in Mount Prophet David, and they erected some buildings under the patronage of the Mamluk authority. After the Jews began to be interested in the tomb of David and the attribution of the unknown tomb in the lower hall to the Prophet David, a major dispute arose in the Mamluk era over the site between a sect of Jews and local Christians, and this dispute was submitted to a number of Mamluk sultans to decide on it. The dispute was not limited to the residents of Jerusalem from both groups, but rather external forces intervened in it, which made the Mamluk authority hesitate in making a decisive decision regarding the two groups. The continuation of the conflict in the Ottoman era and the failure to find a solution to it exacerbated the problem. As a result, in 930 / 1524 Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent expelled the Franciscan monks from the site and turned it into a mosque and Islamic site. From that time until 1948, when it was seized by the Israeli Ministry of Religions, the site remained in Muslim hands and under constant care by the Dajani family in Jerusalem. Many changes have been made to the site, although it is subject to the current status quo. The location is still a matter of dispute, although it is under the complete control of religious Jews, but the hall of the Last Supper is currently open to visitors. The shrine is a large architectural complex consisting of several buildings and halls, and a large part of it is currently used as a Jewish religious school. The complex has three entrances, and contains three open courtyards and three mosques. The mosque in the basement has been converted into a synagogue, the second mosque is the location of the Last Supper hall, and the third mosque is closed. On the site there is a magnificent minaret built in the Ottoman style dating back to the 10th/16th century. The site also contains a historical cemetery for the descendants of the Dajani family, and several Islamic corners dating back to the Ottoman era. Throughout the Ottoman era, the site enjoyed a rich list of endowments that allowed it to host a large number of visitors, and it was the subject of patronage by most of the Ottoman sultans.

Sample Text Yusuf al-Natsheh “The Shrine of the Prophet David” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;pa;Mon01;35;ar