Al-Jami al-Kabir restored

With over 3000 square meter of ancient and old wooden ceiling, the al-Jami al-Kabir is fully restored for the first time. An Italian and Yemeni working team conducted a complete restoration in al-Jami al-Kabir in capital Sana’a, Yemen.

Al-Jami al-Kabir is considered to be one the oldest mosques in the Islamic World and was built after an order from Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) to al-Sahabi Wabr Bin Yahnus al-Ansari. Some related narrations say it is Farwa Bin Musaik that built it in the sixth year of al-Hijra. This masterpiece is esteemed to be one of the most important historical and architectural monuments in Yemen and a live record for the history of Yemen.

Reforms and additions have been conducted to the mosque early in history. “Personally, I think in the past some people tried to put and restore some thing but that is not a real restoration and this is a complete and sound restoration that we work on,” said Thomas, Italian Teacher of Carpenters. “In addition to al-Jami project there are rehabilitation for the surrounding buildings and remove novelties some of which exist in western side. The western library represents distortion and overload on the western wall. Also, we will rehabilitate some eastern buildings and remove western library building. We are restoring the two southern libraries and they will be ready to receive books which exist in western library,” said Mohammed Musleh al-Qaisi, Resident Engineer in the project. “Green lands represent one fifth of the old city area in other words 20%,” he added.

“This is not the first time to discover manuscripts but that happened a long time ago. This project will comprise almost every part in the mosque besides the surrounding area. We are almost done with the new ablution places. When we are talking about 3000 square meter of ancient and old wooden ceiling, meaning we are facing so many difficulties. Fortunately, Sana’a weather helps a lot. Because the non-wet weather assists in cohesion of the building through ages,” said Essam Oudah, head of working team.

The Yemeni components intensively share in this collective action. “We make it official that Yemeni should participate in this project side by side with Italians. We signed contracts with Italians earlier in this project that Yemeni have to contribute in this work as basic elements,” Oudah added.

“I’m graduated of faculty of relics. What we studied in the faculty was theoretical but now practically do the work and it is beneficial,” said Alia’a Dabwan, restoration worker.

“First we photograph wood that we are going to work on.  Then we mechanically and chemically- by putting some chemical substances- clean them. We took courses from Italians last for six months,” said Hezab Abdulwadood al-Absi, restoration worker.

“There was plaster on the arch and between the plaster and the walls were found many manuscripts. Now all the manuscripts are in Manuscripts House even the ones which were discovered in 1973,” said Dr. Christopher, Director of Archaeological Team.   

“We have here in Manuscripts House project of restricting, documenting and cataloging manuscripts. There are applications each one regarding manuscript piece. Written in the application every detail which are the title of the manuscript, the author’s name, the name of the copyist and the copy date. For the discoveries, as far as I know when it was rained heavily in 1972 on the roof of the mosque then consequently they should repair it. When doing so they found 20 bags contain old Quranic papers aged from first to fourth year of Hijra. They represent scientific fortune not just locally but regionally and internationally. Those old Quranic papers reached 10 thousand pieces. The Yemeni and German side agreed to document, restrict and catalog them and that continue around 7 years. The Italian and Yemeni team found in March 2007 approximately 4000 leather piece and they are similar to the ones found earlier,” said Abdulmalik Mohammed al-Maqhafi, General Director of Manuscripts House.

“I’m specialized in carpenter for ancient wood. I have finished studying ancient wood in school in Italy. We came to teach Yemeni guys how to restore ancient and old wood, how to put some products on wood and how to make sick pieces repaired not just these things but also to make those guys independent for the future. The ceiling is in a very bad condition and so we manage to make them better and to guarantee the safety of people,” said Thomas.

“We are very happy to have the chance to work in this ancient important mosque. It is important for us to teach those Yemeni guys and we are happy that they become skillful. We have satisfaction every day because every piece needs different attention from us. 3000 square meter of ancient wood is really hard work and entails intensive attention. At least the results are fine. We have mixed our experience to end up producing a masterpiece,” Sonia, Team Leader of Italian and Yemeni Team.

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