Asia

[Visited: February 2018]

While walking in Qaisariah souq, I met a friendly Saudi guy who was kind enough to tell me about Jawatha mosque. He told me it is the oldest mosque in Eastern Saudi Arabia, built in 629 CE, still during Mohammed's lifetime. According to him, inhabitants of Al Hofuf were Christians back then, and the mosque was built where once a church stood. He points out the location on the map, and a few hours later, I drive through the date palm oasis, through suburbs, leaving the city behind me when I reach a parking lot. Jawatha mosque is standing right next to it. It is square, with towers at the corners, and more than anything resembles a fort, and indeed is modeled after Masmak fort.
After walking around the small building, I find the entrance. One pair of shoes outside, to which I add my own, and step into the darkness inside. Carpets cover the floor, and I find that the mosque is not an open space, but there are several walls with openings, meaning you cannot see the entire space at once. I walk through the arched openings in the walls, through the semi-darkness, to find the mihrab, pointing to the direction of Mecca. Like the rest of the mosque, it looks very simple. There is a stash of qurans in the corner. A few plastic chairs, empty. One guy, the owner of the pair of shoes, praying. Nothing else, no exorbitant, shining treasures to detract: the interior is as austere as the exterior.
After standing a while in the back of the mosque, absorbing the serene atmosphere, the guy in the corner finishes his prayers, and walks out. When he sees me, with my camera, he switches on the lights, so now I make another round of Jawatha mosque with a better view. No matter how small the mosque, it was only the second place to see Friday congregation prayer in Islam. Legend has it that when the Black Stone was stolen from Mecca, it was kept here for 22 years. A family of four enters, and they make a tour of the mosque just like I did. When I step out again, I see the ruins of the original mosque: the current mosque was built later than the original one.

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Jawatha mosque (Saudi Arabia)

Jawatha mosque > Saudi Arabia > Asia

[Visited: February 2018]

Around the World in 80 Clicks