The Atiq Mosque (Arabic: المسجد العتيق, lit. 'old mosque') is a Sunni Islam mosque, located in the oasis village of Awjila, in the Sahara desert of the Cyrenaica region of eastern Libya. The mosque is located in the old city area of Awjila.[1] It dates from the 12th century and has unusual conical domes made of mudbrick and limestone.[1][2]
| Atiq Mosque | |
|---|---|
Arabic: المسجد العتيق | |
 Exterior of the mosque, c. 1984 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Awjila, Sahara, Cyrenaica |
| Country | Libya |
  Location of the mosque in Libya | |
| Geographic coordinates | 29°07′39″N 21°17′28″E / 29.127464°N 21.291016°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Completed | 12th century |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | 21 |
| Materials | Mud brick; limestone |
History
editThe region around Awjila was conquered by Arab Muslims under the leadership of Sidi 'Abdullāh ibn Sa'ad ibn Abī as-Sarḥ.[3] His tomb was established in Awjila c. 650 CE.[4]: 396 [a] The Arab chronicler Al-Bakri says that there were already several mosques around the oasis by the 11th century.[4]: 395
The present Atiq Mosque dates to the 12th century.[2] It was restored in the 1980s.[1]
Structure
edit_-_The_Mosque_of_Atiq.jpg)
The unusual mud brick building covers an area of 400 square metres (4,300 sq ft) and is roofed by 21 conical domes made of mud brick and limestone. Each dome has small openings so that light can enter the building.[1]
The walls are 40 centimetres (16 in) thick. Nine doors lead into the interior of the building, where the many pillars and arches create a spacious, light, cool and calm environment.[1] Beside the mihrab there is a recessed niche for the minbar, where the prayer leader stands. Mosques in Arabia and East Africa have similar minbar niches, which may indicate that the mosque builders followed the Ibadi school of Islam.[2]
See also
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Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f Ham, Anthony (1 August 2007). Libya. Ediz. Inglese. Lonely Planet. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-74059-493-6.
- ^ a b c Petersen, Andrew (11 March 2002). Dictionary of Islamic Architecture. Taylor & Francis. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-203-20387-3.
- ^ "Awjila". Libyan Tourism Directory. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ^ a b Mason, John Paul (October 1974). "Saharan Saints: Sacred Symbols or Empty Forms?". Anthropological Quarterly. 47 (4). The George Washington University Institute for Ethnographic Research: 390–405. doi:10.2307/3316606. JSTOR 3316606.
External links
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- Batibo, Herman (2005). Language Decline And Death in Africa: Causes, Consequences And Challenges. Multilingual Matters. ISBN 978-1-85359-808-1.
- Chandra, Satish (1986). International Protection of Minorities. Mittal Publications. GGKEY:L2U7JG58SWT. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- Falola, Toyin; Morgan, Jason; Oyeniyi, Bukola Adeyemi (2012). Culture and Customs of Libya. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-37859-1.
- Mason, John P. (Summer 1982). "Qadhdhafi's "Revolution" and Change in a Libyan Oasis Community". Middle East Journal. 36 (3). Middle East Institute: 319–335. JSTOR 4326424.
Further reading
edit- Shagluf, Mas'ud (1976). "The Old Mosque of Ujlah". Some Islamic Sites in Libya: Tripoli, Ajdabiyah and Ujlah. Art and Archeology Research Papers. Department of Antiquities, Tripoli. pp. 25–28.