Al-Rayyan Masjid reflects Jazan’s old history of archaeological mosques
The archaeological mosque of the Jazan Valley Center marks an ancient history, possibly dating back more than 400 years, as it stands out as one of the oldest archaeological mosques in the Jazan region that has maintained its ancient construction.
Although the historical sources did not confirm a particular date for the construction of the mosque, the “encyclopedia of Jazan monuments” team conducted field surveys of the walls and mihrab of the mosque.
They also surveyed the domes above the mosque where the team failed to identify similar elements in the Jazan area, and therefore it is not possible to refer to the era of its construction.
The mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah towards which Muslims should face when praying.
The mosque is located atop a hill known as the “square” to the south of the town of Al-Rayyan in the center of Wadi Jazan, in which its mihrab and antique construction appear to top the modern expansion of the mosque to accommodate more worshippers.
On the way to the old mosque, visitors pass through the modern expansion added to the southern part of the mosque in 1432 AH, which is about 300 square meters and has a capacity of more than 250 worshippers.
The visitor notices the durability of the construction of the mosque, which has maintained its traditional pattern for hundreds of years.
The archaeological building, upon construction, was approximately 120 square meters with space for about 100 worshippers, where stones and pieces of burned mud were used in construction as well as relying on the rigidity of the exterior walls and the width of walls that reach about one meter.
The mosque has two rectangular stone bases in the center, bound together with the walls of the mosque through other stone arches, carrying six throne-shaped domes that form the roof of the mosque.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance branch in the Jazan Region paid attention to the mosque, which, throughout its long history, remained a beacon for knowledge, a house of worship, and for memorization of the Holy Qur’an.
They also surveyed the domes above the mosque where the team failed to identify similar elements in the Jazan area, and therefore it is not possible to refer to the era of its construction.
The mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah towards which Muslims should face when praying.
The mosque is located atop a hill known as the “square” to the south of the town of Al-Rayyan in the center of Wadi Jazan, in which its mihrab and antique construction appear to top the modern expansion of the mosque to accommodate more worshippers.
On the way to the old mosque, visitors pass through the modern expansion added to the southern part of the mosque in 1432 AH, which is about 300 square meters and has a capacity of more than 250 worshippers.
The visitor notices the durability of the construction of the mosque, which has maintained its traditional pattern for hundreds of years.
The archaeological building, upon construction, was approximately 120 square meters with space for about 100 worshippers, where stones and pieces of burned mud were used in construction as well as relying on the rigidity of the exterior walls and the width of walls that reach about one meter.
The mosque has two rectangular stone bases in the center, bound together with the walls of the mosque through other stone arches, carrying six throne-shaped domes that form the roof of the mosque.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance branch in the Jazan Region paid attention to the mosque, which, throughout its long history, remained a beacon for knowledge, a house of worship, and for memorization of the Holy Qur’an.