AtlasIslamica

Dam of Hz. Muawiyah رضي الله عنه

Built in the era of the Umayyad Caliph, Muawiyah bin Abi-Sufyan during the 58th Hijri year, It’s beautiful historical landmark rebuilt while preserving the remaining part of it

Madinah Sharif, Saudi Arabia

Coordinates: 24.443179, 39.918658

The name of Hz. Muawiyah رضي الله عنه is written on it, as it was built in his era by one of his commanders.

Construction

The Saiysad Dam was built in the era of the Umayyad Caliph, Muawiyah bin Abi-Sufyan during the 58th Hijri year, built by Abdullah bin Sakhr.

‘Muawiya Dam’, also known as ‘Saiysad Dam’, is 12km south-east of Taif, in the middle of an area which is full of mountains where water pours down during the rainy season in the Saiysad Valley where the dam was built.

The date of construction of this dam in engraved on a large rock at the bottom of the mountain on which the right front of the dam was built.

Six lines of text

The text is written in Arabic Magazi handwriting, without dots; it consists of six lines as follows:

The first line: This dam belongs to Muawiya the worshipper of Allah,
The second line: Amir Al Mo’menein (Muslims’ Caliph), built by Abdullah bin Sakhr;
The Third line: By the grace of Allah on the year fifty-eight,
The fourth line: O Allah, please forgive your worshipper Muawiyah,
The fifth line: The Muslims’ Caliph, his sin and support him and benefit
The Sixth line: The believers by him, written by Amr ibn Habab

Description

The Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan (رضي الله عنه) Dam is one of the oldest ancient dams discovered by the foundation stone at the top of the dam, which was dug by the name of of Hz. Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan (رضي الله عنه).

It was built on the eastern side of Medina sharif and it is located on the southern side of one of the villages which is called the village of Aqol at a distance of fifteen kilometers.

It is worth mentioning that the dam extends to a length of more than 30 meters and has reached a height of more than twenty meters extending from the bottom of the valley of strangulation to reach the surrounding area and also show that the dam has reached about ten meters from the base of the dam