Al Bidya Mosque

{{Short description|Mosque in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates}} {{Infobox mosque | building_name = Al-Bidya Mosque <br> The Ottoman Mosque<ref name=GN121001 /> | native_name = {{transliteration|ar|Masjid Al-Bidyah}} ({{lang|ar|مَسْجِد ٱلْبِدْيَة}}) | image = 2011-0209-Al Badiyah Mosque.jpg | image_size = 265 | map_type = UAE#Persian Gulf#Middle East#West Asia | map_size = 265 | map_caption = Location in the U.A.E. | map_relief = 1 | coordinates = {{coord|25|26|20.65|N|56|21|14.08|E|display=inline,title}} | religious_affiliation = Islam | location = Al-Bidiyah, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates | established = 15th century C.E. | tradition = Sunni | architecture_type = Mosque | dome_quantity = 4 | minaret_quantity = 0 | website = }}

'''Al Bidya Mosque''' (Gulf {{langx|ar|{{Script|Arab|مَسْجِد ٱلْبِدْيَة}}|Masjid Al-Bidyah}}, sometimes transliterated as '''Al-Bidiyah''' ({{lang|ar|ٱلْبِدِيَة}}) or '''Al-Badiyah''' ({{lang|ar|ٱلْبَدِيَة}})) is a historical mosque in the village of Al Bidya Emirate of Fujairah, the U.A.E. At some 500 years old, it is the oldest mosque in the country,<ref name=GN080609>{{cite news |url=http://gulfnews.com/gntv/bidya-oldest-known-mosque-in-the-uae-1.534524 |title=Bidya oldest known mosque in Fujairah or UAE |newspaper=Gulf News |date=August 6, 2009 |access-date=August 1, 2011}}</ref> although ruins of a 1,000 year-old mosque have been found in Al Ain, in Abu Dhabi.<ref name="Emirates24/7 10-2018">{{cite news |work=The National |title=Remains of 1,000-year-old mosque reveal a rich past |publisher=Emirates 24/7 |url=https://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/remains-of-1-000-year-old-mosque-reveal-a-rich-past-2018-09-10-1.673063 |date=2018-09-10 |access-date=2018-10-10}}</ref><ref name="TheNational 10-2018">{{cite news |last=Power |first=Timothy |title=How a 1,000-year-old mosque in Al Ain anchors the UAE in human history |newspaper=The National |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/how-a-1-000-year-old-mosque-in-al-ain-anchors-the-uae-in-human-history-1.770075 |date=2018-09-13 |access-date=2018-10-10}}</ref> It is located in the small village of Al-Badiyah or Al-Bidiyah, about {{convert|40|km|mile|abbr=on}} north of the Emirate's capital city,<ref name=TN1210/> and is also known as the "Ottoman Mosque".<ref name=GN121001>{{cite news| url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/designs-on-the-past-1.432084 | title=Designs on the past | newspaper=Gulf News | date=December 10, 2001 | accessdate=August 1, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="planetware.com">{{cite web| url=http://www.planetware.com/fujairah/ottoman-mosque-uae-fuj-bidyah.htm | title=11 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Fujairah | website=www.planetware.com }}</ref>

==History== The mosque's date of construction is uncertain<ref name=GN121001/> and because the mud and stone built structure uses no wood, radiocarbon dating is not possible. It is estimated to date to the 15th century C.E.,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/oldest-uae-mosque-holds-onto-its-secrets-1.469565/ |title=Oldest UAE mosque holds onto its secrets |author=Eugene Harnan |newspaper=The National}}</ref> however some much earlier estimates have been proposed. The site was investigated by the archaeological center of Fujairah in co-operation with the University of Sydney from 1997 to 1998.<ref name=TN1210>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/south-asia/the-oldest-mosque-in-the-country |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230195122/http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/south-asia/the-oldest-mosque-in-the-country |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2012 |title=The oldest mosque in the country |newspaper=The National |date=December 4, 2010 |access-date=April 18, 2011}}</ref> and Fujairah Archaeology and Heritage Department concluded that the mosque was believed to be built in 1446 AD, along with the two watch towers overlooking the mosque and the village.<ref name=GN121001/>

==Structure== thumb|right|240x240px|Inner view

The small, square structure has an area of {{convert|53|m2|sqft|sigfig=2}} and was built from materials available in the area, primarily stones of various sizes and mud bricks coated in many layers of whitewashed plaster. The roof has four squats, helical domes that are supported by only one centrally placed pillar that also forms the ceiling. Entrance to the mosque is through double-winged wooden doors.<ref name=TN1210/>

The prayer hall has a small ''mihrab'' (the niche in the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca), a simple pulpit, arches, and openings. A central pillar divides the internal space into four squares of similar dimensions. The pillar supports all four domes that can be seen from the exterior.<ref name="planetware.com"/>

Inside the prayer hall, a number of small decorative windows allow light and air to enter the mosque. There are also cube-shaped spaces carved into the thick walls where copies of the Quran and other books are stored.<ref name=GN071008>{{cite news |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/history-comes-alive-1.117589 |title=History comes alive |newspaper=Gulf News |date=July 10, 2008 |access-date=July 30, 2018}}</ref>

The mosque continues to host daily prayers, and is a tourist attraction.<ref name=TN1210/>

==See also== * Islam in the United Arab Emirates

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{commons category-inline}} * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvEePAbmS_s Video: The Imam of Al Bidya mosque] (The National) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqEExNoFKek Al Bidya Mosque in Fujairah | Gulf Roundup 1 Jan 2016] (Asianet News) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51buojBFi7A 500 year old Mosque in UAE] (YouTube) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI1u5NIrhpU 570 Year old Mosque in UAE | Al Badiyah Mosque | Life and Travel | Malayalam Travel Vlog #05]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bidya Mosque}} Category:15th-century mosques in Asia Category:Mosques in the Emirate of Fujairah Category:Mosque buildings with domes in the United Arab Emirates Category:Ottoman mosques in Asia Category:Sunni mosques in Asia