Zeynel Abidin Mosque Complex - Mardin
In the examination of the museum archive about the mosque complex of the central Zeynelabidin Nusaybin district, it was understood that the mosque was registered as a cultural asset in 1991 and taken under protection. Zeynelabidin Mosque Complex: Mosque, minaret, two tombs: Zeynelabidin and his sister Sitti Zeynep Tombs, fountain, madrasah rooms, cemetery area and new ablution facilities. According to the inscription on the tomb, the building was built in the 6th century AH and the 12th century AD. The complex was shaped in an open courtyard with a garden; it was generally built with cut stone material in L plan scheme. The minaret in the eastern part of the courtyard was built in 1956. The mosque's sanctuary, which is entered from the north, has a square plan and is covered with a cross vault supported by thick pillars. The marble mihrab and pulpit of the mosque are new structures. The building was repaired in the following periods and with these repairs, a women's prayer hall was added above the portico narthex. In the square planned place, which is covered with a dome and descended with a stone step, in the south-west corner of the mosque's worship area: There is the Tomb of Molla Zeynelabidin, the 13th generation grandchild of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.v) from the ahl al-bayt to his Prophet Hussein; To the west side of the tomb is Zeynalabidin's sister: Seyyidete Sitti Zeynep Tomb. The graves in question are of the type of cist covered with a dome; They are covered with a green cover with Arabic verses. It is written in the Arabic inscription on the door of the tomb that the building was built in 553 A.H. This corresponds to the year 1159 Gregorian; thus, the kulliye structure is dated to the 12th century AD. Also, another repair inscription on the facade of the Sitti Zeynep tomb reads the Gregorian date: 1821.
While the western part of the kulliye used to be a madrasah, today it consists of a girl's Qur'an course and mausoleum visiting places, while there are new ablution places to the west of these sections. The northern part of the courtyard is surrounded by a garden. There is an ablution fountain in the western corner of the courtyard. There is a large cemetery on the east and south facades of the mosque; The stone cist graves with ornaments (with turbans) adjacent to the east belong to the Tayyi tribe sheikhs; It is dated to the late Ottoman period of the 19th century.Other graves belong to the present day. In addition, there is no registration record for this cemetery in the museum archive. Adjacent to the eastern courtyard of the Zeynel Abidin Mosque Complex is the Mor Yakup Church (Monastery) dating back to the 4th century AD. Today, the two buildings were combined as a single courtyard between the mosque and the church, and the church side excavation was completed. The said areas and structures are planned to be opened to tourism as a culture and belief park by our Ministry.