[1] The mosque is situated around a tomb reputed to be that of a local saint, Ali b. Alim, who died in 1081.

[2] Ali was described as a great scholar and miracle worker by Sultan Baybars' biographer, Muhyi al-Din (died 1292).

[2] According to Mujir al-Din (writing c. 1496), the tomb was visited by Baybars in 1265, who prayed for victory before retaking Arsuf from the crusaders.

[3] The existing building contains parts of different ages of construction and repair; however, Petersen claims that none date from before the 15th century,[3] while Taragan identifies elements, specifically the entrance door to the minaret, which fit the style of other early Mamluk religious buildings from the 1270s-90s, noting that no written documents remain to support such an early date for the mosque.

[3] Since 1990, notably, due to its central location in Israel, the shrine is again a popular target for pilgrimage for Israeli Arabs from the villages of the Galilee and townspeople from places like Jaffa and Ramla, coming on Fridays to pray at the tomb and participate in different ceremonies.