Tomb of Sidi Bel Kacem
| Tomb of Sidi Bel Kacem/Qubba Sidi Ibrahim al-Shakdani/Boabdil's Tomb | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Status | The musalla is still in use |
| Location | |
| Location | Fez, Morocco |
| Architecture | |
| Type | mausoleum |
| Completed | Unknown |
The Tomb of Sidi Bel Kacem (Arabic: قبر سيدي أبو القاسم) or Qubba Sidi Ibrahim al-Shakdani[1] (قبة سيدي إبراهيم الشكداني) or Boabdil's Tomb (قبر ابو عبد الله) is a historic memorial monument located in Fez, Morocco. It entombs the remains of a local mystic, Sidi Ibrahim al-Shakdani, as well as purportedly the last Nasrid ruler of Granada, Abu Abdallah Muhammad XII (also known as Boabdil).[1] The small domed tomb (qubba) is located next to a local musalla outside Bab Mahrouk, a historic gate of Fes el Bali.[1]
Etymology[edit]
The name of the building, Sidi Bel Kacem, is derived from a Spanish rendition of the name Sidi Abu al-Qasim. Abu al-Qasim was the kunya of the local patron saint, Sidi Ibrahim al-Shakdani, who was buried here two hundred years[1] after Abu Abdallah, also known as Boabdil (its Spanish rendition).
History[edit]
Abu Abdallah Muhammad XII died in 1533, and according to the historian Al-Maqqari, he was buried at the site.[1] At an unknown time, a domed tomb was constructed over his grave. About two hundred years later, an unrelated person, Abu al-Qasim Ibrahim al-Shakdani, was buried there as well.[1] He was buried above Boabdil, whose body had already decayed by that time.[1]
The mausoleum was reported to have been in a filthy condition in 2013.[2] According to a 2021 article, its floor and inner walls were covered in garbage and it was being used as a shelter by the homeless and the drunk.[1]
Archeological developments[edit]
In 2013, a Spanish-Emirati research team conducted a geo-radar scan on the floor of the shrine.[2] The results revealed two tombstones, and deeper down, two skeletons were revealed as well.[2] It was concluded that one of the uncovered bodies belonged to Sidi Abu al-Qasim Ibrahim al-Shakdani, while the other one was theorized to have been the body of Boabdil.[2] To prove the latter, the team proposed an excavation to extract the body, but they were denied permission to do so.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "آخر ملوك غرناطة الذي ظُلم حياً وميتاً.. أبو عبدالله الصغير دفين منسي في فاس المغربية". عربي بوست. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e القويطي, سناء. "آخر ملوك الأندلس المنبوذ من الجميع.. محاولة للبحث عن قبر أبي عبد الله الأحمر في فاس". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-11-28.