# Al Bidya Mosque

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{{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](/source/Islam)
| location              = [Al-Bidiyah](/source/Al_Badiyah), [Fujairah](/source/Fujairah), [United Arab Emirates](/source/United_Arab_Emirates)
| established           = [15th century](/source/15th_century) [C.E.](/source/Common_Era)
| tradition             = [Sunni](/source/Sunni_Islam)
| architecture_type     = Mosque
| dome_quantity         = 4
| minaret_quantity      = 0
| website               = 
}}

'''Al Bidya Mosque''' ([Gulf](/source/Gulf_Arabic) {{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](/source/Al_Bidya) [Emirate of Fujairah](/source/Emirate_of_Fujairah), the [U.A.E.](/source/United_Arab_Emirates) 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](/source/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](/source/Al_Ain), in [Abu Dhabi](/source/Emirate_of_Abu_Dhabi).<ref name="Emirates24/7 10-2018">{{cite news |work=[The National](/source/The_National_(Abu_Dhabi)) |title=Remains of 1,000-year-old mosque reveal a rich past |publisher=[Emirates 24/7](/source/Emirates_24%2F7) |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](/source/The_National_(Abu_Dhabi)) |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](/source/Al_Badiyah), about {{convert|40|km|mile|abbr=on}} north of the [Emirate's capital city](/source/Fujairah_City),<ref name=TN1210/> and is also known as the "[Ottoman](/source/Ottoman_Empire) 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](/source/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](/source/radiocarbon_dating) is not possible. It is estimated to date to the [15th century](/source/15th_century) [C.E.](/source/Common_Era),<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](/source/The_National_(Abu_Dhabi))}}</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](/source/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](/source/The_National_(Abu_Dhabi)) |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 tower](/source/watch_tower)s 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](/source/Helix) [domes](/source/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](/source/mihrab)'' (the [niche](/source/Niche_(architecture)) in the wall that indicates the [direction](/source/Qibla) of [Mecca](/source/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](/source/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/>

{{Clear|left}}

==See also==
* [Islam in the United Arab Emirates](/source/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](/source/Asianet_News))
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51buojBFi7A 500 year old Mosque in UAE] ([YouTube](/source/YouTube))
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI1u5NIrhpU 570 Year old Mosque in UAE | Al Badiyah Mosque | Life and Travel | Malayalam Travel Vlog #05]

{{Mosques in the United Arab Emirates}}

{{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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Al Bidya Mosque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bidya_Mosque) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bidya_Mosque?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.