Sidi Abderrahmane Mosque

The Sidi Abderrahmane Mosque is a mosque in the Casbah of Algiers dating from the xvii century. Built around 1621, it is a small mosque and mausoleum (koubba) dedicated to the thinker and theologian Sidi Abderrahman et-Thaâlibi (1384-1471). The mosque itself dates from 1696; it is built around the theologian’s tomb within the enclosure of the Zaouïa of Sidi Abderrahmane.

We do not know much about the tomb built in 1471 (following the death of Sidi Abd er-Rahman), nor even if there was a construction. In 1621 (143 years after his death), the memory and reputation of the theologian still being vivid, it was decided to build a more dignified mausoleum in his memory. The burial chamber has 8 groups of three half-columns embedded in the four walls. Each half-column has a base and a capital carved from the same block of white marble. These pillars support the four arches (probably added later) included in the structure of the domed ceiling. This domed ceiling supports a straight roof with 4 slopes covered with tiles; in this sense, the koubba is of the Maghreb type like those found in Tlemcen or Fez, showing similarities with the Saadian tombs, whose plan was very popular at the time.

Plan of the koubba in 1611 and after its transformation into a mosque in 1696.

Detail of the calligraphies and bundles of half-columns that support an arch (c. 1900).

The government of the deys could not ignore the tomb of the theologian who had made the reputation of Algiers in both the West and the East. It was dey Hadj Ahmed el Atchi who decided to transform the tomb into a mosque in 1696, more precisely into a zaouïa. The Maghreb-type koubba was influenced by a new style, with a dome covering similar to that of Anatolia. The burial chamber was equipped with a mihrab with two small columns and tiles from Asia Minor and served as a prayer room, which may seem a suspicious peculiarity regarding Islam, which prohibits prayer on a tomb. A square minaret was added for the call to prayer.

Tomb of the last bey of Constantine, Ahmed Bey.

The mosque became a place of reflection, where the faithful left offerings: clocks, brotherhood banners, ostrich eggs, calligraphy… Soon there also appeared the desire for pious people to have their dead buried near the tomb. The mausoleum became the center of a small necropolis, in the prayer room itself are buried dey Moustapha Pacha (1798-1805), his son Brahim, and dey Omar Pacha (1815-1817).

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, during her visit to the Mosque

Outside the building, in an enclosure, are buried Hadj Ahmed Bey, the last bey of Constantine, and some of his dignitaries, but also later the illustrious writer Mohamed Ben Cheneb. Two burials in peripheral koubbas related to the relocation of tombs during the colonial period (c. 1845) added even more importance to the cemetery adjoining the mosque: those of the religious Sidi Mansour (originally buried near Baba Azzoun) and Ouali Dada. The theologian is considered the patron saint of Algiers, and his tomb has been visited by leading personalities. Thus, Queen Victoria visited the mosque during a stay in Algiers and presented chandeliers that adorn the tomb room. The tomb also received visits from Queen Amélie of Portugal, King Oscar of Sweden, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of England, and the President of the French Republic, Alexandre Millerand in 1922.

The Sidi Abderrahmane Mosque is a mosque in the Casbah of Algiers dating from the xvii century. Built around 1621, it is a small mosque and mausoleum (koubba) dedicated to the thinker and theologian Sidi Abderrahman et-Thaâlibi (1384-1471). The mosque itself dates from 1696; it is built around the theologian’s tomb within the enclosure of the Zaouïa of Sidi Abderrahmane.

We do not know much about the tomb built in 1471 (following the death of Sidi Abd er-Rahman), nor even if there was a construction. In 1621 (143 years after his death), the memory and reputation of the theologian still being vivid, it was decided to build a more dignified mausoleum in his memory. The burial chamber has 8 groups of three half-columns embedded in the four walls. Each half-column has a base and a capital carved from the same block of white marble. These pillars support the four arches (probably added later) included in the structure of the domed ceiling. This domed ceiling supports a straight roof with 4 slopes covered with tiles; in this sense, the koubba is of the Maghreb type like those found in Tlemcen or Fez, showing similarities with the Saadian tombs, whose plan was very popular at the time.

Plan of the koubba in 1611 and after its transformation into a mosque in 1696.

Detail of the calligraphies and bundles of half-columns that support an arch (c. 1900).

The government of the deys could not ignore the tomb of the theologian who had made the reputation of Algiers in both the West and the East. It was dey Hadj Ahmed el Atchi who decided to transform the tomb into a mosque in 1696, more precisely into a zaouïa. The Maghreb-type koubba was influenced by a new style, with a dome covering similar to that of Anatolia. The burial chamber was equipped with a mihrab with two small columns and tiles from Asia Minor and served as a prayer room, which may seem a suspicious peculiarity regarding Islam, which prohibits prayer on a tomb. A square minaret was added for the call to prayer.

Tomb of the last bey of Constantine, Ahmed Bey.

The mosque became a place of reflection, where the faithful left offerings: clocks, brotherhood banners, ostrich eggs, calligraphy… Soon there also appeared the desire for pious people to have their dead buried near the tomb. The mausoleum became the center of a small necropolis, in the prayer room itself are buried dey Moustapha Pacha (1798-1805), his son Brahim, and dey Omar Pacha (1815-1817).

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, during her visit to the Mosque

Outside the building, in an enclosure, are buried Hadj Ahmed Bey, the last bey of Constantine, and some of his dignitaries, but also later the illustrious writer Mohamed Ben Cheneb. Two burials in peripheral koubbas related to the relocation of tombs during the colonial period (c. 1845) added even more importance to the cemetery adjoining the mosque: those of the religious Sidi Mansour (originally buried near Baba Azzoun) and Ouali Dada. The theologian is considered the patron saint of Algiers, and his tomb has been visited by leading personalities. Thus, Queen Victoria visited the mosque during a stay in Algiers and presented chandeliers that adorn the tomb room. The tomb also received visits from Queen Amélie of Portugal, King Oscar of Sweden, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of England, and the President of the French Republic, Alexandre Millerand in 1922.