Khamis Mosque

Al Khamis Mosque

مسجد الخميس
Coordinates	26°12′30″N 50°32′54″E / 26.2082°N 50.5483°ECoordinates: 26°12′30″N 50°32′54″E / 26.2082°N 50.5483°E
Location	Khamis, Manama, Bahrain
Type	Mosque
Material	Stone and wood
Length	Building: 22.79m. Entire site: 113m
Width	Building:20m. Entire site: 48m
Beginning date	Founded in the 7th century, building constructed in the 11th century

The Khamis Mosque (Arabic: مسجد الخميس‎‎; transliterated: Masǧid al-ḫamīs) is believed to be the first mosque in Bahrain, built during the era of the Umayyad caliph Umar II. According to Al Wasat journalist Kassim Hussain, other sources mention that it was built in a later era during the rule of Uyunids with one minaret. The second was built two centuries later during the rule of Usfurids.^[1] The identical twin minarets of this ancient Islamic monument make it easily noticeable as one drives along the Shaikh Salman Road in Khamis.

It is considered to be one of the oldest mosques in the region, as its foundation is believed to have been laid as early as 692 AD. An inscription found on the site, however, suggests a foundation date of sometime during the 11th century. It has since been rebuilt twice in both the 14th and 15th centuries, when the minarets were constructed. The Khamis mosque has been partially restored recently.^[2]

Structure

The present building has two main phases:

• An early prayer hall with a flat roof supported by wooden columns dated to the 14th century.
• A later section of the flat roof was added, supported on arches resting on thick masonry piers (which have been dated to 1339^[3]

Islam was propagated to Bahrain in the 7th century AD when Muhammad sent an envoy Al-Ala'a Al-Hadrami, preaching Islam to the Governor of Qatar and Bahrain at the time, Munzir ibn Sawa Al Tamimi.

Mihrab Slab

Mihrab slab was a limestone slab, in the form of a mihrab. The slab was discovered during restoration works on the mosque and is believed to have originated from the 12th century AD. Inscriptions of two verses from the Qur'an are present on the slab, Qur'anic surah XXI, verses 34-35, which are normally used on gravestones.^[4]

See also

• Beit Al Qur'an
• Riffa Fort
• Bahrain Fort
• Arad Fort
• Khamis
• List of tourist attractions in Bahrain
• History of Bahrain

References

1. "روافد من بلادي" لقاسم حسين. Al-Wasat (Bahraini newspaper) (in Arabic). 6 May 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
2. The Middle East, p.6
3. Dictionary of Islamic Architecture, page 31
4. Traces of Paradise: Archaeology of Bahrain from 2500 BC to 300 AD ,page 204