Sidi Zouk Tomb

Sidi Zouk Tomb
Arabic: ضريح سيدي الذوق
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Location
Location	Bab al-Futuh, Cairo, Egypt
Location in Egypt
Geographic coordinates	30.0555570°N 31.2635420°E / 30.0555570; 31.2635420

The Sidi Zouk Tomb (Arabic: ضريح سيدي الذوق) is a small tomb located inside the Bab al-Futuh gate in Cairo, Egypt.^[1] It dates back to Mamluk period^[2] and has various stories and legends regarding the identity of the entombed. Most of the locals regard the tomb as sacred.^[1]

Description

The whole tomb is made of concrete, and it has a wooden door for access inside to view the grave. The tomb has a concrete dome painted green, and on top of the dome is a crescent painted in gold. It is akin to the Green Dome of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. A plaque stands above the door, which reads out "The shrine of Al-Arif Billah, Sidi Zouk".

The legend of Sidi Zouk

First version

The first version of the legend relates that Sidi Hassan al-Zouk was a wise man beloved by his people.^[3][4][2] He often intervened to resolve disputes and usually succeeded. But one day he failed to solve a conflict and the dispute ended in a bloody brawl.^[3][4][2] Sidi Zouk decided to leave the village in protest but suddenly he collapsed and died. His followers buried him next to the village gate.^[3][4][2]

Second version

In the second version of this legend, Sidi Zouk was a merchant of Moroccan origin.^[5] He emigrated to Egypt and stayed there. Soon, he contracted a chronic illness.^[6][7] When his children asked for him to return to Morocco so that he could ultimately be buried in his homeland, he declined their offer.^[6][7] They instead forced him to travel to Morocco, so he set off on his journey, but he succumbed to his illness as soon as he stepped foot in the Bab al-Futuh gate.^[6][7][5]

Third version

The third version of this legend takes place in the Mamluk period.^[8][5] According to this account, Sidi Zouk was a government official. The Sultan complained about his government officials and threatened to imprison them.^[8] Feeling humiliated, Sidi Zouk decided to leave Egypt, but died just as he stepped foot into Bab al-Futuh.^[8]

In popular culture

The phrase "taste will not leave Egypt" is a common Egyptian phrase, which originated from the legendary story of how death prevented Sidi Zouk from leaving Egypt.^[9][2][3]

Controversy

In the 1940s, a 15 meter excavation was conducted under the tomb, but no human remains were found.^[10]

See also

• Islam in Egypt

References

1. "Sidi Zouk's Tomb".
2. "سيدي الذوق.. حارس باب الفتوح". صحيفة الخليج (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-03-24.
3. ""الذوق مخرجش من مصر".. حكاية أصغر ضريح فى القاهرة وقصة المقولة الشهيرة". اليوم السابع. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
4. "قصة ضريح سيدي الذوق". الأرزاق بالله (in Arabic). 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
5. "The story of Sidi Zouk's Tomb".
6. فايز, وائل (2022-05-08). ""الذوق ماخرجش من مصر».. سر المثل الشهبي الشهير و«صاحب المقام"". الوطن (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-03-24.
7. "" الذوق مخرجش من مصر "مثل شعبي يحكي قصة مغربي عاش في القاهرة الفاطمية - ihata". 2017-07-08. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
8. "أشهر الأضرحة والمقامات| «سيدي الذوق».. أصغر ضريح لكبير فتوات «المماليك» (7-30)". دار الهلال (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-03-24.
9. الموجز (2020-08-04). "معلومات مثيرة عن العارف بالله صاحب مقام " سيدى الذوق" | قضايا وتحقيقات | الموجز". www.elmogaz.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-03-24.
10. "سيدي الذوق.. حارس باب الفتوح". صحيفة الخليج (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-03-24.