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Al-Muallaq Mosque

Published

01In brief

Al-Muallaq Mosque (also referred to as Al-Ma'lek Mosque) is a historic mosque located in the Old City of Acre (Akko), Israel. It stands on the southern side of Acre's market and is notable for its reported origins: in 1758, the Bedouin ruler Dahar al-Omar is said to have seized the Ramchal Synagogue — described as one of the city's most beautiful buildings — and constructed the mosque over it. The mosque stands within Acre's UNESCO-listed Old City, whose Ottoman-era urban fabric includes old mosques, khans, baths, and a town wall.

02Overview

Al-Muallaq Mosque is situated on the southern side of the market in Acre's Old City, alongside two important Jewish heritage sites.[1] The Old City closely resembles its 18th- and 19th-century Ottoman-era form, retaining mosques, khans, baths, and a town wall.[2] It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.[3]

03History

Acre rose to particular prominence under its mid-18th-century Bedouin ruler Dahar al-Omar, who made the city his capital.[3] It was during this period, in 1758, that Dahar al-Omar is reported to have taken control of the Ramchal Synagogue and built the mosque over it.[1] The synagogue had been described as one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. As a substitute place of worship, the Jewish community received a small building to the north of the mosque, which was later restored and opened to the public.[1]

Ottoman construction in Acre continued after Dahar al-Omar's time: the Turkish governor Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzar, who ruled from 1775 to 1804, further fortified the city and built a mosque of his own. The cited account does not identify that mosque as Al-Muallaq, so the two construction histories should not be conflated.[3]

04Controversies

The account that Al-Muallaq Mosque was built over the Ramchal Synagogue is not accompanied by archaeological documentation in the cited record.[1] The same account presents the possible survival of synagogue remnants beneath the mosque only as an unverified claim.[1]

Sources

  1. 1Israeli Government, Kids.gov.il, accessed on September 27, 2026.
  2. 2Jewish Virtual Library, Acre: Old City Recognized As UNESCO World Heritage Site, accessed on September 27, 2026.
  3. 3Jewish Virtual Library, Acre (Akko), accessed on September 27, 2026.

IsraelPedia Question & Answers

  • What is Al-Muallaq Mosque?

    Al-Muallaq Mosque, also referred to as Al-Ma'lek Mosque, is a historic mosque located in the Old City of Acre (Akko), Israel. It stands on the southern side of Acre's market and is notable for its reported origins: in 1758, the Bedouin ruler Dahar al-Omar is said to have seized the Ramchal Synagogue — described as one of the city's most beautiful buildings — and constructed the mosque over it.

  • What happened to the Ramchal Synagogue when Al-Muallaq Mosque was built?

    In 1758, Dahar al-Omar is reported to have taken control of the Ramchal Synagogue, which had been described as one of the most beautiful buildings in Acre, and built Al-Muallaq Mosque over it. As a substitute place of worship, the Jewish community received a small building to the north of the mosque, which was later restored and opened to the public.

  • Is there archaeological evidence that Al-Muallaq Mosque was built over the Ramchal Synagogue?

    The account that Al-Muallaq Mosque was built over the Ramchal Synagogue is not accompanied by archaeological documentation in the cited record. The possible survival of synagogue remnants beneath the mosque is presented only as an unverified claim.

  • What is the significance of Acre's Old City, where Al-Muallaq Mosque is located?

    Acre's Old City closely resembles its 18th- and 19th-century Ottoman-era form, retaining mosques, khans, baths, and a town wall. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.