BAB SHARQI
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How to get here:
The Eastern Gate is a 15 minute walk from the Umawi musjid. Ali Al Jamal Road runs from the east to the west of the old city. The Eastern Gate is at the eastern end.
- Bab Sharqi is the most well preserved of the old city’s gates. It is the only gate that retains the original Roman design featuring a triple arched entrance: a large central passageway for wheeled carriages, and two smaller side passageways for pedestrians.
- It is believed that it was originally constructed in the first century CE and then later rebuilt in the third century.
- Khalid Ibn al-Walid is said to have entered the city through this gate when his forces conquered the city in 635. The minaret was added to the gate in the twelfth century under Nur al-Din Zangi.
- In a hadith of Muhammad SAW, it is stated that “He (Isa AS) will descend at the white minaret, East of Damascus” (at the time of his return to earth). Some understand this to be the Eastern Minaret of the Umawi Musjid, while others consider the minaret above the Eastern gate of the city to be the site.
