Architectural and Cultural Significance of the Al-Bidyah Mosque: An Exploration of Islamic Heritage in the UAE | ||||
| Shedet | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 26 August 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: research articles | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/shedet.2025.398380.1309 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Ahmed Ameen   1; Issam Okleh2; Nagwa Zouair3; Maher Al-shamaileh4; Mhran Alzo'ubi4; Mahmoud Al Rwaidi5
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| 1University of Sharjah, UAE- Fayoun University, Egypt | ||||
| 2University of Khorfakkan, UAE- University of Jordon, Jordon | ||||
| 3University of Khorfakkan, UAE - Fayoun University, Egypt | ||||
| 4University of Khorfakkan, UAE | ||||
| 5University of Sharjah, UAE- University of Mutah, Jordon | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Al-Bidyah Mosque, located in the Emirate of Fujairah, represents the oldest surviving mosque in the United Arab Emirates and stands as a rare exemplar of rural Islamic architecture that has remained largely intact since the 17th century. This study offers a comprehensive architectural, historical, and jurisprudential analysis of the mosque, situating it within the broader spatial and cultural dynamics of the southeastern Arabian Peninsula. Through original field documentation, comparative typological analysis, and critical engagement with Ibadi jurisprudence, the paper challenges prevailing misconceptions surrounding the mosque’s function and typology—particularly those suggesting funerary or Ottoman associations. Radiocarbon dating, combined with oral testimony and Portuguese and Dutch archival records, suggests a construction date between 1650 and 1680 CE, likely under the influence of the Ya’ariba architectural revival that followed the expulsion of Portuguese forces from the Gulf. However, the evidence also supports the possibility that this structure was built atop the remains of an earlier mosque, potentially dating back to the mid-14th century. The study argues that Al-Bidyah Mosque forms part of a transregional architectural idiom shaped by environmental adaptation, maritime connectivity, and legal-religious values, with close parallels to now-lost sites such as Qidfiʻ Mosque. Its architectural features—including a four-dome roofing system, central load-bearing column, recessed mihrab, and absence of a minaret—are examined as deliberate expressions of Ibadi spatial philosophy and liturgical pragmatism. The study affirms that the structure was conceived and continuously functioned as a mosque, rather than as a mausoleum. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Al-Bidyah Mosque; Islamic Vernacular Architecture; Ibadi Legal Traditions; Architectural Conservation; Domed Mosque Typologies | ||||
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