The Madrasa of Mustafa Al-Nashār Pasha in Zabīd, Yemen: An Architectural and Archeological Study

Abstract

The Madrasa of Mustafa Al-Nashār Pasha, considered one of the most prominent buildings of Ottoman architecture in Yemen, was commissioned by the first Ottoman governor of Yemen, the eponymous Mustafa Al-Nashār Pasha, in 962–63 AH / 1554 AD. The madrasa was built on the south side of Zabīd with the intention of spreading Hanafī and Shafiʿī Sunnī doctrines, replacing and eliminating Zaydī Shīʿī doctrine. It contains a mausoleum dome for Mustafa Al-Nashār Pasha and his family. The madrasa’s evident Ottoman style is displayed through a main domed section and a multiple-domed portico. This article provides a short biography of Mustafa Al-Nashār Pasha, and a descriptive and analytical study of the madrasa and its distinctive architectural and artistic features. The paper sheds new light on the historical importance of the madrasa as a prime example of the Ottoman influence on architectural style in Yemen. The article also aims to raise concerns about its exposure to threats of demolition and ruin due to the current conflict in Yemen .‏