Namazgjah (Elbasan)
The Namazgjah ( Albanian also Namazgjahu or Namazgjaja ) was an open-air prayer place ( Namazgâh or Musallā ) in the central Albanian city of Elbasan . The place, which is important for the local Muslims , was used for prayers in large groups, but no longer exists today. It was in the south of the inner city outside the fortress walls.
In the direction of Mecca there were several stone objects, such as a mihrab and minbar with stairs. The whole area was surrounded by a stone and wood fence. A well was also included.
The Namazgjah of Elbasan is considered the first such prayer place in the country. The name is derived from the Turkish word namaz for ritual Islamic prayer . Evliya Çelebi reported from his visit to Elbasan in 1662 that 57 cypress trees had surrounded the square. He described the Namazgâh as "a rare beauty where the meadow, which is green like velvet, is surrounded by the [...] largest and most beautiful cypress trees" ( Evliya Çelebi ).
The Namazgjah was also described later by travelers passing through;
"L'endroit le plus révéré de la ville est une grande place carrée, bordée sur toutes ses faces d'un rang de cyprès. Ces vieux arbres énormes lui font quatre murs épais et hauts, avec une seule entrée; dans l'angle vers la Mecque, des tapis et une arcade de bois doré abritent le member et le mihrab. Ce doit être la plus vieille mosquée d'Elbassan, le lieu où le premier iman, au soir de la conquête, lança le premier appel vers Allah. C'est encore ici que tout l'été, pour leur Ramazan et leur Bairam, les Musulmans se réunissent. »
“The most revered place in the city is a large square, surrounded on all sides by a row of cypress trees. These mighty old trees give him four thick and high walls with a single entrance; in the corner facing Mecca, carpets and a golden wooden arcade decorate the minbar and mihrab. This must be the oldest mosque in Elbasan, the place where the first imam, on the evening of the conquest, uttered the first call to prayer to Allah. Muslims still gather here all summer, on Ramadan and Bayram. "
The - remaining - cypress trees of Namazgjah were repeatedly painted and sketched by Western visitors. The oil painting by Ludwig Hesshaimer that he created during the First World War is well known. A picture by Leopold Forstner comes from the same time . Already Edward Lear had sketched the cypresses on his journey in the 1840s. The cypress trees were felled in the late 1970s.
The place was declared a cultural monument in 1980 , but this could not prevent the destruction. Today the residents of Elbasan still refer to a district in the center as Namazgjaja . The actual square is only hinted at; there is currently a bus station at the location.
Remnants of an Ottoman castle complex that is older than the preserved fortress were recently found nearby.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Elton Hatibi: Fundi i Namazgjasë. In: e-zani i naltë. August 1, 2013, archived from the original on December 15, 2014 ; Retrieved on August 5, 2014 (Albanian): "Namazgjaja tashmë e shkatërruar e Elbasanit ka pasur fatin të ketë një historik të sajin në artet figurative, disi të rrallë për një monument natyror në Shqipëri."
- ↑ a b c d Ferid Hudhri: Selvitë e Elbasanit . In: Mapo . No. 793 , December 29, 2012, p. 12–13 ( article from issuu [accessed August 5, 2014]).
- ↑ a b Kujtim Bevapi, Ali Lazareni, Reshit Koburja, Tomorr Jolldashi, Zeqir Sarja: Elbasani Enciklopedi . Ed .: Xhevat Lloshi. Sejko, Elbasan 2003, ISBN 978-99927-962-1-4 ( text online (PDF) [accessed on February 14, 2016]).
- ↑ digitized version (p. 62)
- ↑ Objects fetare monumente kulture. In: Komiteti shtetëror për Kultet. Retrieved July 17, 2016 (Albanian).
- ↑ Admirina Peçi: Rrënojat te Namazgjaja Studiuesit: mbase Jane shtëpi fisnikësh. In: Shqiptarja.com. September 6, 2013, archived from the original on August 10, 2014 ; Retrieved August 6, 2014 (Albanian).
Coordinates: 41 ° 6 ′ 32 ″ N , 20 ° 4 ′ 57 ″ E