Al Bidya Mosque
Al Bidya Mosque
- Al-Bidya Mosque (Gulf Arabic: مَسْجِد ٱلْبِدْيَة, romanized: Musjid Al-Bidyah, sometimes transliterated as Al-Bidiyah (ٱلْبِدِيَة) or Al-Badiyah (ٱلْبَدِيَة)) is a historical Musjid in the Emirate of Fujairah, the U.A.E. It was the oldest known Musjid in the country, prior to the discovery in September 2018 of the ruins of a 1000-year-old Musjid dating back to the Islamic Golden Age, near the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Musjid in the city of Al Ain, Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Still in use, it is located in the small village of Al-Badiyah or Al-Bidiyah, about 40 km (25 mi) north of the Emirate’s capital city, and is also known as the “Ottoman Mosque”.
- The Musjid’s date of construction is uncertain 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., 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 1997-98. and Fujairah Archaeology and Heritage Department concluded that the Musjid was believed to be built in 1446 AD, along with the two watch towers overlooking the Musjid and the village.