Damascus, Syria
Coordinates: 33.511900, 36.306700
The Umayyad Mosque also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus (Arabic Romanized: Jami Bani Umayyah al-Kabir), located in the old city of Damascus, is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world.
The mosque is also important in Islam because of its historical and eschatological reports and events associated with the mosque.
After the Muslim conquest of Damascus in 634, the mosque was built on the site of a Christian basilica dedicated to Hz. Yahya عليه اسلام, honored as a prophet by Muslims and Christians.
The Umayyad Mosque holds great significance to Sunni & Shia Muslims, as this was the destination of the family of Hz. prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم, made to walk here from Iraq, following the Battle of Karbala.
Furthermore, it was the place where they were imprisoned for 60 days.
The following are structures found within the Mosque that bear great importance:
The entrance gate known as Bab as-Sa’at is the door marks the location where the prisoners of Karbala were made to stand for 72 hours before being brought inside. During this time, Yazid maloon had the town and his palace decorated for their arrival.
Shrine of Hz. Yahya عليه اسلام
According to Al-Suyuti, Ibrahim stated that since the creation of the world the Heavens and the Earth wept only for two people: Yahya and Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Hz. prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم
A legend dating to the sixth century holds that the building contains the head of Hz. Yahya عليه اسلام.
A white pulpit Marks the place where Imam Zayn al-Abidin رضي الله عنه addressed the court of Yazid maloon after being brought from Karbala.
Raised floor (in front of the pulpit) marks the location where all the women and children of Ahl e bayt (the household of Hz. prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) were made to stand in the presence of Yazid maloon
Wooden balcony (directly opposite the raised floor) – Marks the location where Yazid sat in the court.
A prayer rug and Mihrab encased in a glass cubicle marks the place where Imam Zayn al-Abidin رضي الله عنه used to pray while imprisoned in the castle after the Battle of Karbala
A metallic, cuboidal indentation in the wall marks the place where the head of Imam Husayn ibn Ali عليه اسلام was kept for display by Yazid maloon
A Zarih Marks the place where all the other heads of those who fell in Karbala were kept within the Mosque.
The mosque is also believed by Muslims to be the place where Hz. Isa عليه اسلام will return at the End of Days.
The mausoleum containing the tomb of Hz. Salahuddin Ayyubi رحمة الله عليه stands in a small garden adjoining the north wall of the mosque.
The Four Mihrabs
There are four mihrabs in the hall of Umayyad mosque, each of which belongs to each of the Four Sunni schools. One of them is in the middle, two other mihrabs are at the right sides of this mihrab and the fourth mihrab is on the left of this mihrab.
The middle mihrab which is the main one and bigger than others belongs to Maliki people. The right mihrabs belong to Hanafis and Hanbalis and the left mihrab belongs to Shafi’is. At the time of Mamalik, the four mihrabs were used by the leaders of the prayers.
Know This
It is no doubt one of the most beautiful mosques in the world and the most important historical and beautiful architectural and engineering. Damascus cannot be visited without going to the Umayyad Mosque
For international visitors the fee is 500 Syrian pounds or about $1.25. Men must wear long pants to enter but if you do not have long trousers they will provide an appropriate (dress-like) garment to wear in the mosque.
You must remove your shoes before entering (and enter via the relevant entrance (Male or Female).
The floors are highly polished and spotless so don’t worry about your socks. The other flooring is carpet. The mosaics are out of this world and ornate and beautiful. Your entrance fee also includes entrance to Salahadin’s Tomb (Conqueror of Jerusalem).
