Damascus
Sitt al-Sham was the daughter of Najm al-Din Ayyub and the sister of Salah al-Din. She was one of the most generous patrons of Ayyubid Damascus and founded…
Sitt al-Sham was the daughter of Najm al-Din Ayyub and the sister of Salah al-Din. She was one of the most generous patrons of Ayyubid Damascus and founded al-Madrasah al-Shamiyyah al-Barraniyyah outside the city walls, which became one of the largest and most respected colleges of Shafi'i law in Syria. She passed away in 616 AH (1220) and was buried in the domed tomb chamber of her madrasa together with members of her family. The building survives today as a small mosque in the Saruja area of Damascus.