| Umayyad Mosque of Mosul | |
|---|---|
 View of the present-day al-Masfi Mosque on the site of the former Umayyad Mosque | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Status | demolished (new mosque built on the site) |
| Location | |
| Location | Mosul, Iraq |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque |
| Style | Islamic |
| Established | circa 641 CE |
| Demolished | 1810 (al-Masfi Mosque built on same site) |
TheUmayyad Mosque of Mosul (Arabic:الجامع الأموي), also known asal-Atiq Mosque (Arabic:الجامع العتيق),[1] was a large historicmosque inMosul, Iraq, originally established in the 7th century. The mosque was demolished in 1810, after which the present-dayal-Masfi Mosque (Arabic:جامع المُصَفِّي,romanized: Jāmiʿ al-Muṣaffī) was built on part of the site. The latter is also still known as the "Umayyad Mosque".[2][3]
Mosul was founded byearly Arab Muslim conquerors circa 637[4] or 640–1 CE.[5] According to medieval Arabic sources,Arfajah al-Bariki, who was placed in charge of the conquering Muslim force by CaliphUmar,[6] established the town as amiṣr (military encampment) and built acongregational mosque within it.[6][7]: 289 The town was further developed under the Umayyad caliphMarwan II (r. 744–750), to whom some sources also attributed the mosque's foundation and name (Umayyad Mosque).[8][6]
The mosque was restored and enlarged multiple times until it occupied a large area, possibly measuring 110 metres (360 ft) from east to west.[7]: 289 One major restoration was commissioned bySayf al-Din Ghazi in 1148, at which time severalmadrasas and other religious establishments were added around it.[7]: 299 After the foundation of a new congregational mosque, theal-Nuri Mosque, later that same century, the old "Umayyad Mosque" declined in importance and became neglected, though an important cemetery developed near it.[7]: 292
The Umayyad Mosque, in poor condition, was eventually demolished in 1810.[7]: 289 The only piece of the building that is thought to have been preserved is a decoratedmihrab inside the al-Nuri Mosque which was likely transferred to that building around the time of demolition.[9][10][7]: 101 On the site of the former Umayyad Mosque, the smaller present-day al-Masfi Mosque was subsequently built,[7]: 289 founded by Muhammad Muṣaffi al-Dhahab (Arabic:محمد مُصَفِّي الذهب).[8][11] The mosque had a minaret known as the al-Kawāzīn minaret.[4]
The al-Masfi Mosque was heavily damaged during the2017 battle to expelISIS from Mosul. The building was subsequently restored by Aliph, an international organisation dedicated to heritage conservation. It began hosting prayers again in 2021 and it was officially reopened in March 2024.[2][3]
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