Al-Jaqmaqiah School in Damascus is a scientific center throughout history

Next to the Umayyad Mosque in the city of Damascus and as an ongoing charity on behalf of his mother’s soul, Prince Seif al-Din Jaqmaq built the Jaqmaqiah school in 823 AH, 1421 AD to be a center of disseminating the Arabic language and civilization, from which many pioneers of science and knowledge graduated.

Researcher Ilham Mahfoud, Secretary of the Arabic Calligraphy Museum in the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in Damascus, told SANA correspondent that Al-Jaqmaqiah School is distinguished by its magnificent architecture and decoration. The school was previously used for teaching, prayer, learning Arabic calligraphy and the Holy Qur’an. Former President Shukri al-Quwatli was among the school’s graduates.

The school preserved its old shape despite being destroyed more than once, according to what Mahfoud mentioned. When Tamburlain  invaded Damascus in the year 800 AH, many of its landmarks were destroyed. In the Second World War in 1943, the school building was exposed to a shell that destroyed its eastern wall until it was restored during the days of unity between Syria and Egypt according to the photos in the old archive.

Mahfoud indicated that in 1974, Late President Hafez al-Assad, ordered the school to be opened to visitors and lovers of Arabic calligraphy, which decorated the school with verses from the Holy Qura’n .

Mahfoud stated that for the relaxation of the teachers an upper room was added and built in harmony with the school building which is decorated with stained and ornamented glass, which still reflects its beautiful colors until now.

Researcher Mahfoud describes museums and archaeological sites by saying, “They are not static places, but they contain spirit and life and we have to introduce the new generation to our rich and diverse history from these places.

The General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums sought to carry out activities and events appropriate to the place, including one to support displaced children through holding courses in Arab calligraphy under the supervision of a number of its pioneers. A number of plastic artists who linked calligraphy with decorations also held their activities which shed light on the architectural importance of Damascus.

Among the contents that most draw the attention of the visitor to the school is the painting in which all types of Arabic calligraphy were collected, Researcher Mahfoud said, the collection of calligraphy indicates our identity and affiliation, as most of the manuscripts were written in Arabic scripts, and some of them are in international libraries.

It is noteworthy that the Jaqmaqiyah school includes also the schools of Al-Adiliyah, Al-Zahiriyah, Al-Aziziyah, Al-Ikhnaiah and Al-Shemistaniya, which indicates the extent of the historical interest in science and knowledge in Syria, which graduated scholars and innovators in all fields.

Inas Abdulkareem