Sidi Okba Mosque

Sidi Okba Mosque
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Mosque
Location
Location	Algeria, Sidi Okba
Shown within Algeria
Geographic coordinates	34.7490277°N 5.8996375°E / 34.7490277; 5.8996375
Architecture
Completed	686

Sidi Okba Mosque (Arabic: مسجد سيدي عقبة) is the oldest surviving mosque in Algeria. The mosque was first established as the mausoleum in 686 dedicated to Uqba ibn Nafi, a Companion of the Prophet and one of the prominent commanders of the early Muslim conquests of North Africa. The mosque has witnessed many renovations since then.

Location

The mosque is located in the locality of Sidi Okba, 6 km south of the town of Tabuda and 10 km west of the city of Biskra, on the National road number 38 toward the locality of Khenguet Sidi Nadjil.

History

Uqba ibn Nafi, on his return from the victorious battle in the Atlas Mountains, was killed by the army of the Christian king Kusaila ambushing him near the town of Thouda in 642. His corpse was buried in the current Sidi Okba and later the mosque was built on top of it for commemoration. It is not exactly recorded who built the mosque. Historians consider that it was the followers of Uqba who were captured during the battle, and later redeemed by the judges in Tunis from the prison. Commander Zuhayr ibn Qays sent them back along with other Muslims to Thouda, where they built the mosque.

The building was initially built in very simple manner, entirely by limestone mortars, and there was no precious materials being used. This architectural style resembled some of the oldest Islamic architectures and the mosques built by the hand of Muhammad himself. Certain architectural elements were also similar to the mosques built during the time, including the qibla wall.

The mosque had been renovated several times, some of which records were lost and difficult to assess the exact date and details. One of the renovations were conducted in 1025 under the rule of Zirid emir al-Mu'izz ibn Badis. According to the inscription inscribed in the mausoleum which uses the similar letters being used as well in the Great Mosque of Kairouan, a decorative door was added to the mosque. In the 14th century, a zawiya was instituted by the Awlad Mourat. During Ottoman Algeria, another renovation was conducted by the wali Mohamed Ben Omar al-Tunisi, and this is inscribed on the mihrab as the year 1789. There are other inscriptions designating the dates of renovations as well, including the decoration of the painting on the wall which designates the year 1800.

Architecture

The mosque is irregularly shaped with 60 meters length and 37 meters width. It consists of three hallways and the main door at the south. The mihrab is decorated with simple interlace pattern and irregular layout, and it is covered by the semi-dome. The cavern which covers the prayer hall has two domes, one above the mausoleum and the other facing the qibla wall.

Gallery

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  Minaret
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  Mihrab and the prayer hall