It was built in several stages, the most important of which took place after the death of the saint Sidi Ali Karray at the end of the 15th century.
The second stage was an extension of the prayer hall on the eastern side and the addition of a burial chamber to the north.
The dome of this room is a typical example of a specific Sfax construction technique, which involves is the using a wooden tool to press the plaster more firmly onto the underlying structure, leaving small square indentations on the surface.
According to Faouzi Mahfoudh, towards the end of the 18th century, the building underwent restoration and a small patio was added as part of the construction of a house (probably that of Saint Abdallah Jammoussi) on the northeast side of the oratory.
This patio has a covered gallery near the entrance and stairs to an upper floor, giving the whole mausoleum a domestic feel.