# Daraj Quarter

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Daraj_Quarter
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Daraj_Quarter.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daraj_Quarter
> Source revision: 1346988216
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Area of the Old City of Gaza in Palestine

[31°30′59″N 34°27′56″E / 31.516471°N 34.465504°E / 31.516471; 34.465504](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Daraj_Quarter&params=31.516471_N_34.465504_E_type:city)

Neighborhood in Gaza, Palestine

Neighborhood in Gaza City, Gaza Governorate, Palestine

Daraj Quarter الدرج Neighborhood The Great Mosque of Gaza in Daraj Quarter Interactive map of Daraj Quarter Country Palestine Governorate Gaza Governorate City Gaza City Government • Control Hamas Time zone UTC+2 (EET) • Summer (DST) +3

**Al-Daraj** or **Haraat al-Daraj** ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): حارة الدرج) is the densely populated northwestern quarter of the [Old City of Gaza](/source/Old_City_of_Gaza).[1][2] Its name translates as "Quarter of the Steps."[3] Situated on an oblong hill about 20 meters (66 ft) above sea level and higher than any other area in the city, al-Daraj likely received its name either from stairs that once led to it or from the feeling of climbing steps when attempting to reach the neighborhood. It is also referred to as the "Muslim Quarter" and contains several mosques and other Muslim edifices.

Among them are the city's largest mosque, the [Great Omari Mosque](/source/Great_Mosque_of_Gaza), as well as the [al-Sayed Hashem Mosque](/source/Al-Sayed_Hashem_Mosque), the [Sheikh Zakariya Mosque](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheikh_Zakariya_Mosque&action=edit&redlink=1), the [Sheikh Faraj Mosque](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheikh_Faraj_Mosque&action=edit&redlink=1) and Madrasa al-Zahrah.[4] Al-Daraj is separated from the southern [Zaytun Quarter](/source/Zaytun_Quarter) by [Omar Mukhtar Street](/source/Omar_Mukhtar_Street).[5]

## History

Daraj Quarter is the oldest populated area of Gaza city, being built over the site of ancient Gaza.[6] The remnants of the city's ancient past are visible in many of the neighborhood's stone houses where marble columns and slabs have been reused as building materials. According to [Ottoman](/source/Ottoman_Empire) tax records, al-Daraj was a relatively large neighborhood in 1525, with 141 households. Containing [Qasr al-Basha](/source/Qasr_al-Basha), it was the seat of power for the provincial governors of Gaza and much of [Palestine](/source/Palestine_(region)) during Mamluk and Ottoman rule over the city by at least the 17th century.[4] At the end of the 19th century, it was called *Haret ed-Deredj*.[7]

### Significance in Islamic History

[Sayed al-Hashim Mosque](/source/Sayed_al-Hashim_Mosque) in 2017

Al-Daraj is the burial place of [Hashim ibn Abd Manaf](/source/Hashim_ibn_Abd_Manaf), the great-grandfather of [Muhammad](/source/Muhammad). Hashim, the third Major Chief Leader of the Quraysh tribe of Mecca,[8] died in Gaza in 497 CE while traveling on a trade journey. The [Sayed al-Hashim Mosque](/source/Sayed_al-Hashim_Mosque), built around the 12th century, marks his gravesite.[9] It is named in honor of Hashim and his descendant, Muhammad.

The burial site in Al-Daraj is the source of one of Gaza's names, "غزة هاشم" (Ghazzat Hashim), literally translating to "Hashim's Gaza.".[10]

The mosque faced partial destruction in 2023 by Israeli forces at the start of the [Gaza war](/source/Gaza_war).[11]

## See also

- [Palestine](/source/Palestine)

- [Gaza](/source/Gaza_Strip)

- [Islam](/source/Islam)

- [Al-Daraji](/source/Al-Duraji)

- [Israeli–Palestinian conflict](/source/Israeli%E2%80%93Palestinian_conflict) - [Al-Tabin school attack](/source/Al-Tabin_school_attack)

- [Great Mosque of Gaza](/source/Great_Mosque_of_Gaza)

- [Daraj Tuffah](/source/Daraj_Tuffah)

- [Daraj Media](/source/Daraj_Media)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sharon_1-0)** [Sharon, Moshe](/source/Moshe_Sharon) (2009). "Gaza". [*Corpus Inscriptionum Arabicarum Palaestinae*](https://books.google.com/books?id=P2LtyFVNJmcC). Vol. 4. BRILL. pp. 28–30. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-04-17085-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-17085-8). The old city of Gaza, where all the remnants of the ancient, medieval and early Ottoman city are found, is divided into four quarters, a few of which are subdivided. Three of these quarters (at-Tuffäh, ad-Daraj, and az-Zaytun) were within the walls of the ancient city. The southeastern quarter, as-Saja'iyyah, developed later than the others, mainly outside these walls… The four quarters of the city are as follows… In the northwest (generally, west): Hãrat (or Hayy) ad-Daraj ("the Stairs Quarter"). This is the oldest part of the city, or the city of Gaza proper, situated on an oblong hill, some 20m. higher than the surrounding plain and the other parts of the city. It probably received its name from stairs that led to it, or from the feeling of whoever went up to it that he was climbing stairs…

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Roy, 2011, p. [40](https://books.google.com/books?id=psGpkALC-W8C&pg=PA40)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Meyer, 1907, p. [108](https://archive.org/stream/historyofcityofg00meyeuoft#page/108/mode/1up)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sharon29_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sharon29_4-1) Sharon, 2009, p. [29](https://books.google.com/books?id=P2LtyFVNJmcC&pg=PA29)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Sharon, 2009, p. [30](https://books.google.com/books?id=P2LtyFVNJmcC&pg=PA30)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Cohen and Lewis, 1978, pp. 117-119; cited in Sharon, 2009, p. [62](https://books.google.com/books?id=P2LtyFVNJmcC&pg=PA62)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Guérin, 1884, p. [251](http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k36685w/f264.image.r=Guérin,%20Victor.langEN); cited in Cohen and Lewis, 1978, pp. 119

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Family Tree of the Early Muslim Leaders from the tribe of Quraysh"](https://www.al-islam.org/file/family-tree-early-muslim-leaders-tribe-quraysh).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-thisweekinpalestine_9-0)** Hooda, Samreen (September 2006). ["Mosque of Sayyed Hashim - Gaza"](http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=1911&ed=130&edid=130). *This Week In Palestine*. Palestine. Retrieved 17 January 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["ماذا تعرف عن «غزة هاشم»؟ – قناة الغد"](https://www.alghad.tv/%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%81-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%9F/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Saber, Indlieb Farazi (2024-01-14). ["A 'cultural genocide': Which of Gaza's heritage sites have been destroyed?"](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/14/a-cultural-genocide-which-of-gazas-heritage-sites-have-been-destroyed). *Al Jazeera*. Retrieved 2024-12-03.

## Bibliography

- Cohen, Amnon; [Lewis, Bernard](/source/Bernard_Lewis) (1978). *Population and Revenue in the Towns of Palestine in the Sixteenth Century*. Princeton University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-691-09375-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-691-09375-X).

- [Guérin, Victor](/source/Victor_Gu%C3%A9rin) (1884). [*La Terre sainte*](http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k36685w.r=Guérin%2C+Victor.langEN) (in French). Vol. 2. Paris.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

- [Meyer, Martin Abraham](/source/Martin_A._Meyer) (1907). [*History of the city of Gaza: from the earliest times to the present day*](https://archive.org/details/historyofcityofg00meyeuoft). Columbia University Press.

- [Sharon, Moshe](/source/Moshe_Sharon) (2009). [*Corpus Inscriptionum Arabicarum Palaestinae, G*](https://books.google.com/books?id=P2LtyFVNJmcC). Vol. 4. BRILL. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-04-17085-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-17085-8).

- [Roy, Sara](/source/Sara_Roy) (2011). [*Between Extremism & Civism: Political Islam In Palestine*](https://books.google.com/books?id=psGpkALC-W8C&dq=Daraj+Gaza&pg=PA40). Princeton University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-691-12448-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-691-12448-3).

v t e Gaza City Gaza History Jewish community Education Port Mayor Neighborhoods Old City Zaytun Quarter Daraj Quarter Tuffah Shuja'iyya Al-Jadida Turukman Nasser Rimal Sabra Al-Shati refugee camp Sheikh Ijlin Sheikh Radwan Tel al-Hawa Mosques Abu Khadra Mosque Aybaki Mosque Great Mosque of Gaza (Great Omari Mosque) Ibn Marwan Mosque Ibn Uthman Mosque Katib al-Wilaya Mosque Mahkamah Mosque† Sayed al-Hashim Mosque Sham'ah Mosque Shaykh Zakariyya Mosque Zofor Domri Mosque Churches Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church Holy Family Catholic Church Gaza Baptist Church† Historic buildings and institutions Ancient Synagogue Hamam al-Sammara Qasr al-Basha Qissariya Market Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Palestinian Legislative Council Central Archives of Gaza City Gaza War Cemetery Health care and education Al-Ahli Arab Hospital Al-Aqsa University Al-Azhar University Al-Rantisi Hospital Islamic University Al-Shifa Hospital Kamal Adwan Hospital Al-Awda Hospital Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital Recreation and cultural centers Al-Bustan Bisan City Al-Deira Hotel Faisal Equestrian Club Gaza Mall Al-Andalusia mall Gaza Museum of Archaeology Palestine Stadium Rashad Shawa Cultural Center Roots Club As-Sadaka Gaza YMCA Streets and squares Ahmad Orabi Street Izz Ad Din Al Qassam Street Jamal Abdel Nasser Street Omar Mukhtar Street Palestine Square Al-Rashid Street Salah al-Din Road Suq Street Unknown Soldier's Square Wehda Street Neighborhood map Al-Awda Al-Shati Nasser Sheikh Radwan North Rimal South Rimal Sabra Daraj Tuffah Old City Turukman Al-Jadida Shuja'iyya East al-Jadida East Turukman Zaytun Tel al-Hawa Sheikh Ijlin

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Daraj Quarter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daraj_Quarter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daraj_Quarter?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.