Bāb Ḥuṭṭa (Arabic:باب حطة orباب الحطهBāb (al-)Huṭṭa,Bāb (al-)Hiṭṭa) is a neighborhood in theMuslim Quarter of theOld City of Jerusalem to the north ofAl-Aqsa Compound. The name literally means "Forgiveness (or Remission or Pardon[1]) Gate", referring to theRemission Gate of the Haram compound, connected byBāb Ḥuṭṭa Street.
As one of the northern gates,[2] it is opposite to Abwab Mihrab Mariam[3] and between Madrasah al-Karimiyah and Turbah al-Awhadiyah.[4] It is located on the Northern Wall near the eastern corner.[5] According to the study of Al-Ratrout (2002),[3] the gate's name has changed throughout history. It is believed that this change was due to restorations over the years and Le Strange named this door as the ancientBab al-Asbat.[3] Today, Bab al-Hitta is one of the three gates that are open for morning, evening, and night prayers.[6]
In the late 15th century,Mujir ad-Din described it as one of the largest quarters in Jerusalem.[7] A census taken by the Ottoman authority registered only Muslims in the quarter.[7] At the beginning of the 20th century, the quarter had boundaries defined as follows:
In the 19th century, Jews were an increasing percentage of Jerusalem's population, and began to spread out of theJewish Quarter into the Muslim Quarter. Jewish families settled in Bab al-Hutta by 1837.[8]
The neighborhood is considered one of the poorest areas in the Old City. It is home to theDom community of the Old City, known in Arabic asal-Nawar, led bymukhtar Abed-Alhakim Mohammed Deeb Salim.[9][10][11][12]
“Significantly, the surviving gateway has the single opening of a semicircular arch with distinctive 45 degree chamfer and segmental inner arch observed at many gates of the enclave, especially Bab al-Hashmi. Evidence that there is a vertical joint in the masonry of the wall at 1.20 metres west of this gate as well as the historical description of the gate by Khusru (Khusru, 1983, p59) suggests that Bab al-Asbat was built with at least two openings. But it has been partially blocked at the end of the 13th century AD and left as a single opening (Burgoyne, 1992, p112)”[3]
The construction date of the door is unknown, however, it was renovated during theAyyubids andOttomans’ reign.[6] According to the recordings found, the gate was repaired two times. It was done during the time of the Ayyubids in Rajab 617 A.H. and later in 989 A.H.[13][4]
Some scholars believe that the phrase "Hitta" in verses 58 and 161 ofSurah al-Baqarah andal-A’raf respectively refers to the Bab al-Hitta.[4]
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