Jawatha Mosque

Jawatha Mosque (Arabic: مَسْجِد جَوَاثَا‎, romanized: Masjid Jawāthā), also incorrectly spelled Al-Jawan, is located in the village of Al-Kilabiyah, about 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. It was the earliest known mosque built in eastern Arabia, and most of the original structure is in ruins.[2] Nevertheless, the site is still used for prayer.[3]

Jawatha Mosque
مَسْجِد جَوَاثَا
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Location
LocationAl-Ahsa, Eastern Province,  Saudi Arabia
Location in Saudi Arabia
AdministrationSaudi Arabian government
Geographic coordinates
Architecture
TypeMosque
Date established7[1]–16 AH (c. 629–636[2] CE)

Construction

It was built in the seventh year of the Hijrah (c. 629 CE), or c. 636 CE,[2] at the hands of the Bani Abd al-Qays tribe, which lived there before and early in the Islamic period. This mosque is believed to be the first mosque built in Eastern Province and where the second Friday congregation prayer in Islam was offered, the first being held in the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.[1] According to legend, when the Hajr Al-Aswad (Black Stone) was stolen from Mecca by the Qarmatians, it was kept in this mosque for nearly 22 years.[4]

Most of the mosque's original structure has been lost and it remains in danger of collapse. Only five small mud-brick arches remain. The visible ruins probably date from around the 9th century AD. The mosque's current structure's design is similar to the design of Masmak fort in Saudi Arabia.

See also

References
  1. Abdul-Ali (August 24, 2005), Jawatha Mosque in danger of going down, Al-Ahsa: Jafariya News
  2. Roger Wood (1975). An introduction to Saudi Arabian antiquities. Saudi Arabia: Idārat al-Āthār wa-al-Matāḥif. Dept. of Antiquities and Museums, Minstry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. p. 151. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  3. John, Lawton (November–December 1991), The Arab Heartland, 42, Saudi Aramco World, archived from the original on 2012-10-04, retrieved 2010-10-18
  4. "Day trips; Hofuf". Camels. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 2006-03-06.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)


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