North Africa Morocco Tunisia Tour (19) The Fourth Holy City of Islam - Kairouan

North Africa Morocco Tunisia Tour (19) The Fourth Holy City of Islam - Kairouan Kairouan - Sbeitla December 23, 2024 Cloudy, 10-15°C. Kairouan is the fourth holy city of Islam (the other three are Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem), built in 761 AD, and it is also the first capital established by Arab Muslims in North Africa. Tunisians regard it as a holy city, and if they cannot make a pilgrimage to Mecca in their lifetime, they must make a pilgrimage here seven times. In Kairouan, there are several relics that together form a World Cultural Heritage Site. The Great Mosque of Uqba (Figure 1), compared to the Hassan II Mosque, it appears very simple and low-key, but it is the first mosque in North Africa and the earliest Islamic educational and cultural center in North Africa. It has trained a large number of Islamic teachers and jurists and enjoys a high status among Muslims (Figures 2-4). The Mausoleum of Sidi Sahab (Figure 5) is the tomb of the saint Sidi Sahab. He was a close friend and barber of the Prophet Muhammad and kept three of Muhammad's beard hairs. In the 7th century, when Sidi Sahab returned to Tunisia from Mecca, he brought back a large number of scriptures and these three beard hairs. In the 17th century, the locals built this mausoleum in his memory. The mausoleum is not only a memorial site but also has a strong Andalusian architectural style, with its colorful wall tiles, hollowed-out walls, and ceilings showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient artisans (Figures 6-7). The Aghlabid Basins (Figure 8) are a masterpiece of Arab wisdom in arid regions, built in the 9th century AD. Originally there were fifteen groups, but now only two groups remain, each with a large and a small pool. Water is brought from afar or rainwater is collected into the small pool through aqueducts, and after sedimentation and filtration, it flows into the large pool for storage, for daily use (Figure 9). After the visit, continue to the next stop.