The construction of the Minbar of Nooruddeen Zinky (RA)
The original Minbar was constructed in 1168 by Nooruddeen Zinky (RA) from cedar wood, Ivory and mother of pearl 20 years before the liberation of Masjid Al Aqsa.
The Minbar was created from 16,500 pieces and the amazing thing was that no nails or glue were used in the construction of the Minbar!
After the liberation of Masjid Al Aqsa from the Crusaders Sultan Salahudden Ayyubi (RA) requested for the Minbar to be bought from Aleppo in Syria and placed in Masjid Al Aqsa for which it was built by his mentor. It was installed in Masjid Al Aqsa in 1187.
The journey of the Minbar from Aleppo took two months. The journey would normally have taken two weeks but along the route the Muslims celebrated the liberation of Masjid Al Aqsa.
The reconstruction of the Minbar of Nooruddeen Zinky (RA)
The Minbar stood in Jamia Al Qibali for approximately 800 hundred years and approximately 40,000 Jumma sermons were delivered from it.
It was set fire to by Denis Micheal Rohan on 21st August 1969 at approximately 7.30 am in the morning. Not only was the Minbar burnt but there was also extensive damage to Jamia Al Qibali. The remains of this Minbar can be seen at The Islamic Museum next door to Jamia Al Qibali.
The reconstruction of the new Minbar
Thirty years after the Minbar was burnt the Royal family of Jordan, as the traditional guardians of the Al-Aqsa mosque, decided to reconstruct the minbar.
A documentary called Stairway To Heaven - Rebuilding The Minbar Of Saladin shows the remarkable journey of new Minbar into existence.
Narrated by Kenneth Branagh, Stairway to Heaven chronicles the journey to recreate the Saladin minbar and its final restoration in the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, as well as how the consequences of a tragic event have come to symbolise the renaissance of Islamic art around the world.
Stairway to Heaven is available to watch on YouTube. The link has been included below for the ease of the reader:
