The Ben Youssef medersa is a true symbol of the Arab-Andalusian era. It was a high place of study and prayer for a certain number of students who walked there.
The Ben Youssef medersa is a must in the tourist circuit in Marrakech. This place is essential and takes us back to centuries ago, in the student life of the time and the living conditions of these children who were studying in the Koranic school.
As soon as we walk through the corridors and on the patio, an explosion of colors invades us. A patio in the center of the inner courtyard features a rectangular pool that casts soothing bluish reflections on visitors. The decor is made of stucco, carved cedar wood imported from the Atlas and zellige. Opposite the entrance door is a prayer room characterized by 3 naves delimited by marble pillars. The central nave is a small semi-circular room with an opening decorated with floral and geometric motifs.
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A glimpse of the impressive architecture of the Ben Youssef medersa. / Ph. DR
Historians do not agree on the origin of the historical monument. Some argue that the place dates from the time of the Merinids, that Sultan Abou El Hassan began to build the place in 1346. Other researchers are convinced that the medersa dates from the time of the Saadians, since there had the discovery of six calligraphic writings on the heights of the monument mentioning Abdellah Al Ghallib, Saadian sultan. “I was built for science and prayer by the prince of believers, the descendant of the seal of the prophets Abdellah (…) Pray for him, O you who cross my door, so that his highest hopes may be realized”. The Saadian sultan finished restoring and building the medersa between 1564 and 1565. The place was ravaged by the vagaries of war.
On 1600 square meters are 132 rooms where 900 students aged 8 to 12 might live, “four per room”, indicates to Yabiladi a specialist who requested anonymity. “The courses are done at the mosque of the medersa, sitting on the floor, on a mat”.
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The mosaics and zellijes that adorn the walls of the Medersa. / Ph. Screenshot
Know the Quran by heart
The privilege of living in the “university city” of the time fell to students who did not live in Marrakech. But they were required to recite the 60 chapters of the Koran by heart.
The professors were scholars from all regions of Morocco, such as Fez, Meknes or neighboring countries. Each of them had 40 students under his responsibility.
“There was no water or electricity in the rooms. The light was made with a kandil (candle, editor’s note) and the children brought back a bucket of water from a water point called ‘chouf tchouf’”, confides the same source.
According to this person, the medresa remained active until 1962. “Europeans came and told us ‘why you study on mats. Everyone must have a chair“, she says. Since then, the Ben Youssef medresa has become a reference tourist monument in Marrakech. Within the monument of the ocher city, a register is available with the names of former students of the medersa. “When members of the family of a former member come to visit us, we show them the room occupied by their loved one”, we are told.
“We are open every day, without exception. Even during religious holidays and days, we make sure to make rotations so that tourists can visit, ”says a person working in the merdersa. And to add with a hint of pride:
“King Mohammed VI visited us last January and decided to renovate the place. He really liked the place.”