Posted on: 1999
By Khaled Nusseibeh
When history meshes with multi ethnic venture Jerusalem’s legacy tells an amazing story; and when compassion rests in a crucible of philanthropy with enduring benefit the story of Suleiman The Magnificent’s Russian spouse’s endowment is evoked.
It is a well known fact that the Ottoman Caliphate governed wide expanses of territory spanning Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Parts of Eastern Europe, the Arabian Peninsula as well as parts of North Africa. The magnificent world and venture of the Ottomans endured for about seven centuries. From the sixteenth century until the First World War the city of Jerusalem was within the political patrimony of the Ottoman Islamic Caliphate.
Suleiman The Magnificent’s Russian wife, “Roxilana” made a charitable endowment in the year 1551 which would feed the needy and the seekers of knowledge in Jerusalem for several centuries. The mentioned endowment’s name is “Takiyat Khaski Sultan”. Various properties in various parts of Palestine became a Waqf (Inalienable Endowment) in order to provide continual financing for the Takiyat Khaski Sultan.
In practical terms, the income from these endowments would be used to maintain the “Takiyat Khaski Sultan”. But what did this “Takiya” actually entail? Or, rather, how can we go about describing it?
This Takiya has two ovens, a place for ritual ablution (mutawada’) made of stone, a kitchen, over and above a room housing a tomb. The tomb is said to be that of a Sheikh Sa’d Eddin Rasafi.
The father of the present writer related that the Takiyat Khaski Sultan continued to distribute food to the poor in Jerusalem up until the 20th century. He further relates that some of the food distributed was a form of cooked wheat.
But why would the Russian wife of Suleiman The Magnificent (or Suleiman al-Qanuni as the Ottoman Caliph is known to Arabs and Muslims) make such an endowment? Probably out of a piously motivated action of charity. Moreover, many persons of wealth and influence are keen on communicating an image of benevolence and social compassion. That Roxilana’s charitable action was in Jerusalem is indicative of her piety as well as the stature of Jerusalem in the hearts of the elite of the Ottoman Caliphate.
Al-sadaqa al-jariya is one of three things that benefit a Muslim after he parts with life. This is what the Prophet Muhammad taught. What is al-sadaqa al-jariya? It is an act of charity whose benefits continue after a person passes away. Many, many Muslims have made vast amounts of charitable contributions over 14 centuries out of a belief in the divine reward of al-Sadaqa al-jariya: e.g. water fountains for pedestrians, contributing to educational projects and places of heath care…etc.
In an age when ethnic warfare and racial discrimination continues to menace the stability of world civilization the story of Roxilana’s endowment is a memory of hope and endearment.
References:
Nijm, Raif. 1st ed. 1983. Kunuz Al-Quds. A Publication of Al-Al-bait Foundation.
Mr. Khaled Nusseibeh is a translator and writer. He currently manages the Ubada Center for Writing and Translation Services in Amman. Born in Amman in 1961, he obtained his BA and MA from Columbia and Princeton Universities, respectively. Mr. Nusseibeh, who originates from Jerusalem, specialized in Near Eastern Studies with a focus on Islamic thought and studies.
