[1] The Hanbali Mosque was founded by the al-Hanbali family of Nablus in the early 16th-century, between 1526-27,[2] and named after them.

Ancient stone pillars with carved capitals were used during the mosque's construction, possibly dating from the Byzantine or Roman eras.

[3] According to local Muslim tradition, the wooden box in the mosque preserves three hairs of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.

The box is brought out annually on the 27th day of Ramadan for worshipers to view and seek blessings from.

[2] In the 1930s the imam of the mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Radi al-Hanbali maintained connections with the rebel leader Izz al-Din al-Qassam.