The Al-Omari Mosque of Bosra (Arabic: الْمَسْجِد الْعُمَرِي, romanized: al-Masjid al-ʿUmarīy) is a mosque in the Roman Ancient city of Bosra, Syria, a World Heritage Site. The mosque was founded by Caliph Umar, who led the Muslim conquest of Syria in 636 CE, and it was completed in 720 CE by Caliph Yazid II. The mosque was renovated in the 12th and 13th century CE by the Ayyubid dynasties. The mosque was lightly damaged between 2012 and 2014, during the Syrian civil war. The mosque has been renovated, and is active.
History
The mosque is one of the oldest standing mosques in the world. It served as a rest stop for travelers, Arab caravans on trade routes through Syria and pilgrims traveling to Mecca. The travelers used the central courtyard of the mosque as a marketplace as well as a place to sleep. The arcades of the mosque on the eastern and western sides enclosed this central courtyard. The south side of the mosque had a double arcade that led to the mosque's prayer hall.
The mosque's square minaret was one of the earliest examples of Umayyad-style minarets. Mosques in Damascus and Aleppo have similar style minarets from the same dynasty. This style of minaret was potentially inspired by the steeples of Syrian churches.
Damage to Bosra began in 2012, as shells and tanks caused damage during the Syrian civil war. In 2014, shell crater damage caused a hole in the roof of the mosque. Rubble from the mosque is scattered around the destruction site, and there is shell damage in the surrounding area as well.