The Al-Jazzar Mosque (Jama al-Jazzar) is the largest mosque in Israel outside of Jerusalem and the dominant architectural landmark of Akko’s Old City. Built in 1781 by the Ottoman governor Ahmed al-Jazzar, the mosque combines Ottoman grandeur with recycled ancient materials, creating a building that is both a statement of power and a catalog of the region’s layered history.
Ahmed al-Jazzar
Ahmed al-Jazzar (“the Butcher”) was born in Bosnia around 1720 and rose through the Ottoman military and administrative ranks to become the governor of the Sidon province, which included Akko, in 1775. His nickname came from his brutal methods of governance: he was known to execute rivals, punish disobedience with extreme violence, and rule through fear. But al-Jazzar was also an ambitious builder who transformed Akko from a neglected port into a fortified, prosperous city. He rebuilt the city walls, constructed the mosque, the bathhouse (Hammam al-Basha), the Khan al-Umdan caravanserai, and strengthened the harbor. His greatest moment was the defeat of Napoleon in 1799, when his defense of Akko, supported by the British navy, stopped Napoleon’s eastern campaign and changed the course of European history.
Building
The mosque was built in the Ottoman imperial style, influenced by the great mosques of Istanbul. The central prayer hall is topped by a large dome, flanked by smaller domes and a tall, slender minaret that is the highest point in the Old City. The exterior walls are faced with dressed stone, and the entrance leads through a courtyard with a marble fountain for ablutions (wudu). The courtyard is surrounded by a colonnade of arches, and the columns supporting the arches were taken from the ruins of Caesarea and other ancient sites, a common Ottoman practice of recycling ancient materials that gave the mosque an instant sense of history.
Interior
The prayer hall interior is decorated with painted panels, Quranic calligraphy, and Ottoman-era tile work. The mihrab (prayer niche indicating the direction of Mecca) is ornately carved, and the minbar (pulpit) is made of carved wood. The floor is covered with carpets, and the dome above is painted with floral and geometric designs. The overall atmosphere is serene and spacious, in contrast to the crowded market streets outside.
Underground Cistern
Beneath the mosque, a large Crusader-era cistern is accessible to visitors. The cistern, built by the Knights of St. John in the 12th century, was part of the Crusader city’s water system. Al-Jazzar built his mosque directly above the Crusader remains, and the cistern, with its vaulted stone ceiling supported by massive pillars, is an atmospheric reminder that Ottoman Akko sits on top of Crusader Akko.
The Tombs
In a small mausoleum adjacent to the mosque, Ahmed al-Jazzar and his successor Suleiman Pasha are buried. The tombs, decorated with carved stone and Islamic calligraphy, are among the finest Ottoman funerary monuments in the country. Al-Jazzar died in 1804, five years after his greatest triumph against Napoleon, and was buried in the mosque he had built to glorify God and himself in roughly equal measure.
Hairs of the Prophet
The mosque is reported to house a relic considered sacred in Islam: strands of hair attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, kept in a reliquary and displayed on special occasions. The presence of this relic elevates the mosque’s religious significance beyond its architectural importance and draws Muslim pilgrims from across the region.
Visiting
The mosque is open to visitors outside of prayer times. Modest dress is required (shoulders and knees covered), and shoes must be removed before entering the prayer hall. Head coverings are available for women at the entrance. The courtyard and the Crusader cistern beneath are included in the visit. The mosque is a functioning house of worship, and visitors should be respectful of worshippers.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Al-Jazzar Mosque is the centerpiece of Ottoman Akko. Hoshen Tours visits the mosque, the cistern beneath it, and tells the story of the Bosnian governor who built it, defeated Napoleon with it, and is buried beside it.