Ben Youssef Madrasa

De **Ben Youssef Madrasa** (Arabic: مدرسة ابن يوسف; dem sanso transliterate am as **Bin Yusuf** anaa **Ibn Yusuf Madrasa**) be Islamic madrasa (college) insyd Marrakesh, Morocco. Dem name de madrasa after de adjacent Ben Youssef Mosque, wey na dem commission am insyd 1564–65 CE by de Saadian sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib. Edey function today as a historical site, na de Ben Youssef Madrasa be de largest Islamic college insyd de Maghreb for ein height, wey ebe widely recognized as a pinnacle of Saadian den Moroccan architecture.

## History

Na dem name de madrasa after de adjacent Ben Youssef Mosque, wich na ebe originally de main mosque of de city, de Almoravid Sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (r. 1106–1142 CE) found am.

According to historical sources, for particular al-Ifrani, na dem found de first madrasa for dis site top during de Marinid dynasty by Sultan Abu al-Hasan (r. 1331–1348). Dis dynasty, dem know for ein perpetuation of de arts den literature, dem rule from Fez during de 13th to 15th centuries wey na dem be responsible for constructing chaw madrasas across Morocco. Historically, na dem serve madrasas insyd de Maghreb make dem train *ulama* (Islamic scholars) insyd Maliki Islamic law, jurisprudence (*fiqh*), den variant readings (*Qira'at*) of de Qur'an.

De Saadian dynasty, wich na dem enjoy de status of sharifs (descendants of Muhammad), na dem be less dependent for de construction of madrasas make dem sustain dema legitimacy den de support of de *ulama* dan dema Marinid predecessors. Nonetheless, dem build chaw new monuments, wey dey include madrasas, insyd dema capital of Marrakesh.

Na de Saadian sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib (r. 1557–1574 CE), a major builder of ein period construct de Ben Youssef Madrasa.  Na ein construction probably begin soon after he assume power. Na dem plete am insyd 1564–1565 CE (972 AH), as dem record by an inscription, dey follow a style dem establish during de earlier Marinid period. Once dem fini, na ebe de largest madrasa insyd de Maghreb. Na dem reportedly claim ebe able make e accommodate upwards of 800 students.

Na dem close am down insyd 1960, na dem refurbish de building wey na dem reopen am to de public as a historical site insyd 1982. De Ben Youssef Madrasa currently dey attract thousands of tourists every year wey e remain one of de most important historical buildings insyd Marrakesh. Na dem san close am for restoration insyd November 2018 wey na dem reopen am to de public insyd April 2022.

## Architecture

### Layout

De madrasa ein floor plan dey occupy a nearly square space wey dey measure approximately 40 by 43 meters. Na dem enter de building from a single street entrance, in front of wich be a square vault dem sculpt plus *muqarnas*. From de doorway, a narrow corridor dey lead to a vestibule chamber wey dey give access for one side to de central courtyard. Fis process of entry, like insyd chaw Islamic buildings, dem carefully design am make e inspire revelation den astonishment insyd an unexpected opening of space into de main courtyard. De layout of de building dey center around de main courtyard, wich be surrounded by east den west galleries den student dormitories for de upper den lower levels. Like chaw Islamic buildings, de courtyard einself dey center around a large shallow reflective pool, wey dey measure approximately 3 by 7 meters. For de southeastern end of de courtyard be anoda large chamber wich serve as a prayer hall, dem equip plus a *mihrab* (niche wey dey symbolize de direction of prayer) wey dey feature especially rich stucco decoration.

As insyd classic Marinid madrasas dem construct during de century, de layout of de Ben Youssef madrasa dey contain student dormitory cells dem cluster around de first den second levels of de central courtyard. De madrasa ein vestibule chamber dey give access to two secondary corridors wey dey circulate around de courtyard make e give access to de dormitories for de ground floor, while two stairways from de vestibule give access to similar corridors for de second level. Dem additionally arrange de dorm rooms around a series of six small courtyards (three insyd de northeast wing, three insyd de southwest wing) wich open for both levels from dese corridors. Together, de madrasa consist of 130 student rooms wey dem house up to 800 students; wey dey make am de largest madrasa insyd Morocco.
File:Ben_youssef_madrasa_entrance_DSCF9368.jpg|Street entrance of de madrasa today
File:Madraza_Ben_Youssef,_Marrakech_04.JPG|Entrance corridor of de madrasa
File:Ben_Youseff_Madressa.jpg|View of de main courtyard den ein central water basin
File:Medersa_Ben_Youssef_(17615381906).jpg|One of de galleries along de side of de courtyard; de upper floor windows dey belong to de dormitory rooms
File:Medina_of_Marrakesh_Medersa_Ben_Youssef_interior_detail.jpg|*Mihrab* of de prayer hall plus carved stucco decoration, wey dey include *darj wa ktaf* motifs den an Arabic inscription insyd kufic script
File:Medersa_Ben_Youssef_Madrasa_Marrakesh_5.jpg|One of de small courtyards wey dey serve de student dormitories
File:Marrakech_Médersa_Ben_Youssef_interior.JPG|One of de upstairs student rooms
File:Ben_Youssef_Madrasa_ablutions_room_(washroom)_DSCF6039.jpg|De ablutions chamber of de madrasa


## Andalusi marble basin

For display insyd de madrasa today be an elaborately carved marble basin from de Caliphate era of Cordoba (insyd present-day Spain). Na dem craft am for Madinat al-Zahra between 1002 den 1007 make e serve as ablutions basin wey na dem dedicate am to 'Abd al-Malik, de son of al-Mansur, wey na ebe one of a series. Na dem previously keep am for de Ben Youssef Madrasa for centuries wey na dem first note am by experts insyd 1923. Na scholar Mariam Rosser-Owen suggest dat na dem originally import de basin to Marrakesh by Ali Ibn Yusuf, wey dem incorporate a number of marble spolia from de ruined palaces of Cordoba insyd de Ben Youssef Mosque wey he build insyd de 12th century. Na dem san go fi reuse de basin for de Ben Youssef Madrasa, wich na dem build insyd de same area much later, after de mosque fall into neglect. Insyd de 20th century, na dem komot de basin for study wey na dem house am til recently for de Dar Si Said Museum.After de recent restoration of de madrasa den de reorganization of de Dar Si Said Museum, na dem san komot de basin wey now edey on display insyd de prayer hall of de madrasa.

## References


## External links

* Photos inside the madrasa (English)
* National Geographic 2016 Photo of the year, category "Cities"
* Photos of Ben Youssef Madrasa at the Manar al-Athar photo archive