Tin Mal
Encyclopedia
Tin Mal (Amazigh: ⵜⵉⵏ ⵎⴰⵍ) is a small mountain village in the High Atlas
100 km from Marrakech
, Morocco
. It is considered the cradle of the Almohad
empire, from where the Almohads started their military campaign
s against the Almoravids
in the early 12th century.
in 1147, Tin Mal became the spiritual capital and the artistic centre of the Almohad
empire. The village is home to the tombs of the Almohad rulers. In Tin Mal the Almohad dirham, symbol of its economic prosperity, was struck.
mountains of North Africa. It was built in
1156 to commemorate the founder of the Almohad
dynasty, Mohamed Ibn Tumart
. It is one of the two mosques in Morocco
open to non-Muslims, the other being the Hassan II Mosque
in Casablanca. The prototype for the Tin Mal mosque was the Great Mosque of Taza
(near Fès), also built by Abd al-Mu'min
. The Koutoubia in Marrakech
was in its turn modelled on it.
World Heritage Tentative List on July 1, 1995 in the Cultural category.
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High Atlas
High Atlas, also called the Grand Atlas Mountains is a mountain range in central Morocco in Northern Africa.The High Atlas rises in the west at the Atlantic Ocean and stretches in an eastern direction to the Moroccan-Algerian border. At the Atlantic and to the southwest the range drops abruptly...
100 km from Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. It is considered the cradle of the Almohad
Almohad
The Almohad Dynasty , was a Moroccan Berber-Muslim dynasty founded in the 12th century that established a Berber state in Tinmel in the Atlas Mountains in roughly 1120.The movement was started by Ibn Tumart in the Masmuda tribe, followed by Abd al-Mu'min al-Gumi between 1130 and his...
empire, from where the Almohads started their military campaign
Military campaign
In the military sciences, the term military campaign applies to large scale, long duration, significant military strategy plan incorporating a series of inter-related military operations or battles forming a distinct part of a larger conflict often called a war...
s against the Almoravids
Almoravids
The Almoravids were a Berber dynasty of Morocco, who formed an empire in the 11th-century that stretched over the western Maghreb and Al-Andalus. Their capital was Marrakesh, a city which they founded in 1062 C.E...
in the early 12th century.
History
With the seizure of MarrakechMarrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
in 1147, Tin Mal became the spiritual capital and the artistic centre of the Almohad
Almohad
The Almohad Dynasty , was a Moroccan Berber-Muslim dynasty founded in the 12th century that established a Berber state in Tinmel in the Atlas Mountains in roughly 1120.The movement was started by Ibn Tumart in the Masmuda tribe, followed by Abd al-Mu'min al-Gumi between 1130 and his...
empire. The village is home to the tombs of the Almohad rulers. In Tin Mal the Almohad dirham, symbol of its economic prosperity, was struck.
Tin Mal mosque
The Tin Mal Mosque is a mosque located in the High AtlasHigh Atlas
High Atlas, also called the Grand Atlas Mountains is a mountain range in central Morocco in Northern Africa.The High Atlas rises in the west at the Atlantic Ocean and stretches in an eastern direction to the Moroccan-Algerian border. At the Atlantic and to the southwest the range drops abruptly...
mountains of North Africa. It was built in
1156 to commemorate the founder of the Almohad
Almohad
The Almohad Dynasty , was a Moroccan Berber-Muslim dynasty founded in the 12th century that established a Berber state in Tinmel in the Atlas Mountains in roughly 1120.The movement was started by Ibn Tumart in the Masmuda tribe, followed by Abd al-Mu'min al-Gumi between 1130 and his...
dynasty, Mohamed Ibn Tumart
Ibn Tumart
Abu Abd Allah Muhammad Ibn Tumart was a Berber religious Muslim scholar, teacher and later a political leader from the Masmuda tribe federation. He founded the Berber Almohad dynasty. He is also known as El-Mahdi in reference to his prophesied redeeming...
. It is one of the two mosques in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
open to non-Muslims, the other being the Hassan II Mosque
Hassan II Mosque
The Hassan II Mosque is a religious building in Casablanca, Morocco. It is the largest mosque in the country and the 7th largest mosque in the world. Its minaret is the world's tallest at .It stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic...
in Casablanca. The prototype for the Tin Mal mosque was the Great Mosque of Taza
Great Mosque of Taza
The Great Mosque of Taza is a religious building in the medina of Taza in Morocco. It is near the Bab er-Rih .-History:...
(near Fès), also built by Abd al-Mu'min
Abd al-Mu'min
Abd al-Mu'min also known as Abdelmoumen El Goumi was a Zenata Berber prominent member of the Almohad movement. He became the first Caliph of the Almohad Empire .- Early life :...
. The Koutoubia in Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
was in its turn modelled on it.
World Heritage Status
The Tin Mal mosque was added to the UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Tentative List on July 1, 1995 in the Cultural category.
External links
- MWNF http://www.discoverislamicart.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;ma;Mon01;9;en
- Photo by Georges a. Bertrand http://georgesabertrand.free.fr/galerie/oeuvre.php?id_img=236
- Front of the mosque (photo by Alamy) http://www.alamy.com/stock_photography/55BD2412-DD34-416E-BAC4-9FC94F29D90B/1/Photo+Provider+Network/A6A3RT.html