00:00Have you ever seen such a unique-looking mosque, with four irregular domes and made of mud
00:10and stone?
00:11This unusual structure is the oldest mosque in the UAE.
00:15It's known as the Al-Bidya Mosque, and it's located at the coast of Fujairah in the village
00:21of Al-Bidya.
00:24Although the mosque's date of construction is uncertain, the Fujairah Archaeology and
00:29Heritage Department, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, concluded that it
00:33was believed to be built in 1446 AD.
00:39The Al-Bidya Mosque is considered a landmark with unique archaeological importance, as
00:44it gives us a glimpse into the lives of people living on this land over 600 years ago.
00:51While most mosques around the world are characterized with one large circular dome, you will notice
00:56that Al-Bidya has four, and each one is a different size, and consists of multiple little
01:02domes that are mounted on top of each other.
01:05All four domes are supported by one central pillar, which is the main pillar that the
01:10construction foundation is based on.
01:14It was built out of materials available in the area, including stones of various sizes
01:20and mud bricks coated in many layers of whitewashed plaster.
01:24Inside the mosques, you will find a mihrab, where the imam sits and recites prayers.
01:29There is also a mimbar next to it, which is a few steps on which the imam stands to deliver
01:34Friday sermons.
01:36The walls of the mosque are decorated with dentate cravings.
01:40It also has small windows, allowing light and air to enter.
01:45Inside the mosque, you will also find prayer mats, several different Quran books, and a
01:49light brown carpet to protect the floors.
01:52The mosque is located in a wide rectangular yard, surrounded by a wall made of stone,
01:57mud, and hay.
01:59At the moment, the mosque is closed to visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, under
02:04normal circumstances, it is still being used on a daily basis for all five prayers.
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