Jerusalem tradition identifies this maqam on Straus Street as the grave of Sayyiduna Ukasha ibn al-Mihsan (RA), an early Companion of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.…
Jerusalem tradition identifies this maqam on Straus Street as the grave of Sayyiduna Ukasha ibn al-Mihsan (RA), an early Companion of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Known in Arabic as Maqam Sayyiduna Ukasha (مقام سيدنا عكاشة), it lies north-west of Jerusalem’s Old City, near the historic Street of the Prophets. The adjoining mosque was established during the late Ottoman period beside the older maqam and the Qaymariyya graveyard. Sayyiduna Ukasha at Badr Sayyiduna Ukasha ibn al-Mihsan (RA) was among the early Muslims and migrated from Makkah to Madinah. He fought beside the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at Badr, where Ibn Ishaq relates that his sword broke and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave him a wooden branch that became a sword in his hand by Allah’s permission. He later witnessed other campaigns and was appointed by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to lead expeditions. His best-known moment in the hadith came when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spoke of seventy thousand members of his ummah who would enter Paradise without being called to account: “‘Ukasha bin Mihsan Al-Asdi got up, lifting his covering sheet, and said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Invoke Allah that He may make me one of them.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘O Allah, make him one of them.’” Sahih al-Bukhari 6542 The maqam and the Qaymariyya graves The maqam was renewed in 1280 AH, corresponding to 1863–64 CE. An Arabic inscription identifies it as the maqam of Sayyiduna Ukasha (RA), Companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and records the declaration of faith. Nearby is the Qaymariyya graveyard, historically called the Graves of the Martyrs. Its recorded burials include Ayyubid and Mamluk amirs from the Qaymari family, among them Husam al-Din Abu al-Hasan al-Qaymari, who died in 648 AH, and Khidr al-Qaymari, who died in 661 AH. The mosque and maqam were damaged during the disturbances of 1929, after which the imam petitioned the Supreme Muslim Council for their repair and protection.