The Umayyad Mosque
Damascus, Syria · The mosaics of Damascus and the memory of the Umayyad caliphate
A historic masterpiece of Islamic architecture from the Umayyad era, known for its minarets and magnificent mosaics.
Did you know?
- Caliph al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik built it on a site that had been a Roman temple and then a church; it is one of the oldest great mosques still standing.
- Its walls hold the famous “Barada” mosaic, depicting rivers, palaces and trees without a single image of a person or an animal.
- It has three minarets: the Minaret of the Bride, the Minaret of Isa and the Minaret of Qaitbay.
- Beside its northern wall lies the tomb of the commander Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi.
History and architecture
Caliph al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik wanted to build in the capital of the caliphate a mosque worthy of it. He gathered the most skilled craftsmen and spent vast sums on it for nearly ten years. The result was a wide courtyard surrounded by arcades, a prayer hall with three aisles, and walls covered with golden and green mosaics depicting gardens and rivers. The mosque became a model that shaped mosque architecture from al-Andalus to the East. It survived fires, earthquakes and invasions and was restored many times, yet it kept its original Umayyad spirit. Inside is a shrine attributed to the Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist), peace be upon him, which visitors come to for reflection and supplication. The travellers Ibn Jubayr and later Ibn Battuta described it when they visited, expressing their admiration for its mosaics, its size and its circles of learning.
Founded: 86–96 AH / 705–715 CE
Religious significance
One of the oldest and most venerable mosques of the Muslims, it was for centuries a center of learning and of circles of hadith and fiqh in the Levant.
About the descent of Isa (peace be upon him) the Prophet ﷺ said: “He will descend at the white minaret east of Damascus” (Muslim), and many link this to the Minaret of Isa in the mosque.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever follows a path in pursuit of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise” (Muslim), and the mosque was one of the greatest beacons on that path.
Visiting tips
- Best time: Just before the Maghrib prayer, when the courtyard glows in the sunset light. Check the current situation and travel advice before visiting.
- Photography: From the western end of the courtyard, to capture the Treasury Dome, the northern arcade and the mosaics in a single shot.
- Nearby: Tomb of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi, Al-Hamidiyah Souq, Citadel of Damascus, Azm Palace
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Where is The Umayyad Mosque?
The Umayyad Mosque is in Damascus, Syria.
When was The Umayyad Mosque founded?
86–96 AH / 705–715 CE