Thanks to a post over at Metafilter, I came across this : Discover Islamic Art in the Mediterranean, presented by ‘The Museum With No Frontiers.’ I could probably spend at least half a day clicking around in there, but this is one of the first things I came across:
Influential Muslim women engaged in charity work and patronised good causes. As Islamic law clearly stipulated their rights in terms of income and inheritance, many could do so on the basis of generous funds allocated for their personal use. They played a vital role in consolidating Islamic society by promoting support and solidarity between the various social classes. Many commissioned mosques and other public buildings for posterity. Thus, in Morocco, the Fihri sisters built both the Qarawiyin Mosque and the Andalusian Mosque in Fez during the 3rd / 9th century. In Turkey, Nilüfer Hatun, the mother of Murad I, had a religious structure built in Iznik in 789 / 1388, while Sultan Abdülaziz’s mother built the Pertevniyal Mosque Complex in Istanbul in 1288 / 1871, including a shrine, fountain, school and library.”
I didn’t know that! (I’ll bet Samir over at View from Fes is shaking his head in dismay…)
Also, don’t miss:
Glass from the Fatamids
Sahrij Swani (Basin of the Norias) – Another reason to visit Meknes!
Jewelry from ‘Royal Women: Granddaughters of Fatima al-Zahra?
Jill
April 26, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I remember learning that in university, oddly enough!
Hamza has always said that Sahrij Swani was built because one of Moulay Ismail’s wives wanted to live near the ocean – but I think it’s just local legend.
What does crack me up about that site though, is that it says “locals come to Sahrij Swani on the summer weekends to cool off.” I like how it doesn’t mention that little kids swim in its filthy waters, guys do drugs there at night, and that a few years ago, they found several sets of remains of dead humans.