Ben Youssef Madrasa: An Oasis of Ancient Learning in the Desert
The largest madrasa (college) in Morocco is the Ben Youssef Madrasa. Founded in Marrakesh in the 16th century, Ben Youssef is one of the largest and most significant madrasas in all of North Africa.
Origin of Ben Youssef Madrasa
The institution, which took its name from the nearby Ben Youssef Mosque, was established in the 14th century under the rule of the Marinid monarch Abu al-Hassan. Originally a simple madrasa, it was later rebuilt by Abdallah al-Ghalib, the second Saadian sultan of Morocco, during the Saadian Dynasty.
The courtyard is an oasis from the desert sun, and if you look closely, you’ll find architectural resonances in historical Italian and Spanish buildings and designs. Originally a simple madrasa, it was later rebuilt by Abdallah al-Ghalib.
The Ben Youssef Madrasa was one of North Africa’s largest and most opulent theological universities when the construction project was finished in 1565: a remarkable achievement considering that the building was also a dorm for 130 students.
Architecture of Ben Youssef Madrasa
When the college closed in 1960, the madrasa was refurbished and opened to the public in 1982. Apart from its historical significance, the madrasa draws tourists to see its exquisite decorations, which have garnered comparisons to the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.
Many conclude that artists from Andalusia were brought in to decorate the madrasa. To Italians, this kind of cross-cultural pollination makes sense. Throughout history and even today, artistic influences are a river that flows freely across the breadth and width of the Mediterranean.
Entrance of Ben Youssef Madrasa
The entrance to this architectural and cultural masterpiece is nondescript and many tourists have difficulty locating the entrance. It’s a plain wooden door with a small inscription that read: “You who enter my door, may your wildest wishes be exceeded.”
As you enter the madrasa, the bustle of the city disappears and a narrow archway reveals a tranquil courtyard with an ornate tile floor surrounding a shallow reflective pool. The walls and columns are embellished with sculptures, stuccoes, cedar windows with carved vines, and mosaics made of Moorish zellige tiles in geometric patterns.
Inside Ben Youssef Madrasa Today
Off the central courtyard, we found a prayer hall adorned with stunningly intricate ornamentation. The walls of these three naves are embellished with Islamic calligraphy and further zellige tile work. Marble pillars support an arch decorated with an ornate pine cone and palm leaf motif. If you follow the arch to the cedar wood dome above, you’ll see 24 tiny windows where some students could peek down at the daily worship activities from their equally tiny dorm rooms.
Even today, the madrasa feels like a place of learning. Imagining all the young lives who begin their journeys in these walls through discipline, education, and tradition was indeed a recipe for their wildest wishes to be exceeded.
