Fewer than before, but still manyMosques in Yemen reveal history [Archives:2004/791/Culture]

Ismail Al-Ghabiri
Tarim is one of the important cities in Sayoon district. It is to the northeast of the city of Sayoon on Wadi Hadhramout, near to the mouth of Wadi Al-Masila.
The oldest mention of the city appears in the Sabai inscriptions dating back to the fourth century A.C. She became the center of Wadi Hadhramout and the seat of Labid bin Ziad, the governor appointed by the Prophet's successors.
Along with Shibam, Tarim alternately took presidency in the area until 203 AH when the Zabid-based Ziadi State took control of the whole area of Hadhramout. Minister Hassan bin Salamah ordered many mosques to be built in Tarim and Shibam.
Tarim was famous for the large number of mosques, as many as 360. This number is large compared to its size and population. The number, however, started to decrease due to the appearance of large mosques that could take in huge crowds of worshippers. Therefore, some of the mosques were destroyed and others were expanded with the result that we have today only 100 mosques.
Most of Tarim mosques were simple and small. They were merged with each other, expanded and became larger ones to host big congregations. During expansion or maintenance, they were upgraded and modified into architecturally wonderful buildings.
An example of them is the mosque at the heart of Tarim city, which was built about one thousand years ago ( between 375-402 AH.). It is said that the mosque was built at the order of Hassan bin salamah. The mosque is among other mosques built by his order in different areas.
This mosque was renovated several times. The first was in 581 AH, that is two centuries after its establishment. The second time was in 585 AH, and the third in 960 AH. Later, it was also expanded many times, the last of which was n 1392 AH.
The mosque has an area of 19,110 square feet and the roof is propped by 60 cylindrical columns, each of which is 16 inches in diameter. The mosque has 8 doors and a high-distinguished minaret that towers over the mosque. It sprouts from the middle of the eastern wall with a height of 115 feet.
Actually, the mosque is on the second floor and the first is used for storing books and scripts. It is called Al-Ahqaf Library. There are other beautiful mosques such as Bin Alawi mosque. It is one of the famous and most visited mosques. It is also old and was built by Imam Ali bin Alawi in 530 AH. It is made up of clay and noorah in an excellent way.
It was refurbished more than once. A minaret was built at the last gate. The mosque is some 16 meters long, extending from the east to the west. The kibla wing is about 14.5 thira'as. The yeard is 18025 thira'as long and 17.25 thira'as wide.

Al-Mihdhar
Another famous mosque is Al-Mihdhar bin Abdulrahman Al-Saqqaf. It has a magnificent architecture especially its 175-feet minaret, which has four aspects and a staircase inside. It was built in 1333 AH. What is remarkable is that despite its height, it is made up of clay with palm fronds. The minaret was designed by poet and intellect Abu Bakr bin Shihab who died in 1334. It was built by Awadh bin Salman, a craftsman who built also Al-Habashi Dome in the city of Sayoon.
Returning to Al-Ahqaf Library, which we said occupies the first storey of the Tarim Mosque building, the establishment of the library was a necessity dictated by the profusion of scripts in the city of Tarim and neighboring countries. Tarim was a center for learning in Wadi Hadhramout since the fourth century AH. It accommodated many libraries, schools, institutes, and zawias. It also had many scholars.
Several families lived there and were interested in collecting scripts and books on different subjects from different countries. In other areas in Wadi Hadhramout, there were families, scholars, and men who possessed private libraries which they dedicated to learning.
An Egyptian mission made a study in 1970 to preserve scripts in Al-Ahqaf Library, which was established in 1970. The library now contains some 5,300 hand-written books on a diversity of subjects including interpretation, jurisprudence, tradition, conjugation, language, literature, history, notes on Prophet's life, medicine, mathematics, astronomy and other sciences.
Because the library was a collection of books from different private libraries, it contains several sub-libraries such as Al-Kaf, Al-Yahya, Al-Ribat, Bin Sahl, Al-Husseini, Al-Junaid, and so on. Everyone of these divisions carries the name of its donor to commemorate him and each of them has a special index. Al-Ahqaf Library's index system has recently been modernized.
The library contains very rare and old exquisitely written books and scripts which are very valuable.

Hodeidah Grand Mosque
It is located in a neighborhood within the wall of the city. It is one of the famous mosques in Hodeidah dating back to early 12 hejri century. It was built in 1111 hejri at the expense of a virtuous woman called Fatimah bint Ahmed Al-Zaraq. Her father was a Hodeidah merchant returning from Oman.
It was also expanded by other men of charity. A sheikh expanded it rear and built the minaret and the bathrooms. In 1370 AH, Saif Al-Islam Mohammed Al-Badr maintained and raised its ceiling. In 1394 AH, the mosque was completely destroyed and was rebuilt by sheiks Ali Al-Jabali and Abdullah Aqil. In 1411 AH, the ceiling was destroyed in order to build the minaret and was rebuilt at the expense of some traders.
The mosque now contains 48 columns and seven aisles. It is 18 meters wide and 31 meters long. The mosque walls are covered with colored stones from the outside and white pebbles on the inside. Windows are distributed equally on the four sides of the mosque.

Al-Aidarous Mosque
It was built by sheikh Al-Aidarous in 890 AH. It is a small mosque built in the typical Islamic style. On your left when you enter, you can see the tomb of sheikh Al-Aidarous. The mosque was maintained for the first time during the Ottoman rule, 60 years after the death of sheikh al-Aidarous.
The present building and the renewal of the dome and the eastern main entrance were done in 1274 AH as it mentioned in the foundation statement written on a wood board.
A dome mounts on the main entrance reached by means of a staircase. The dome is ornamented with decorations and geometrical and floral patterns painted on a plaster layer. An eye-catching arch stands on the entrance resembling the style in the west of the Arab World.
The Dome of sheikh Al-Aidarous is big perching on a square room containing wooden coffins of sheikh Al-Aidarous and some of his relatives. The interior of the dome is decorated with embroideries water paints. It has four rectangular windows for ventilation and light. Each window has two wooden flaps on which embroideries are carved.
The mosque has a high minaret, which has become a landmark of the city of Aden. It is next to the northern wall of the dome and was built with black stones (habash).
It has an octagonal body and is topped with a multi-faceted dome. There are few openings in the minaret, but it has four mashrabiyas on the third floor used for prayer calling lime mosques in Iran and India. This reflects the interaction of Aden with other Muslim countries. The minaret was built in the 19th century.
The last changes made to the mosque were in late 19th century. It is among the Yemeni mosques that have large number of columns and aisles. It has no yard as it is the case in old Yemeni mosques.

Ibb Grand Mosque
It is located in the center of the city on a raised land and is reached by means of a staircase.

Historical background
According to circulated stories, the mosque dates back to the reign of Caliph Omar bin Al-Khattab, that is, to the second decade of hejra. It was subjected to changes and additions throughout it history making it the fourth best mosque in Yemen in terms of capacity and grandeur after Taiz Al-Janad mosque, Sana'a Grand Mosque, and Al-Ashair in Zabid. Now, it is impossible to recognize which part was constructed in the time of Omar. The most substantial enlargement was done by minister of the Ziadi State Hassan bin Salamah as part of his construction of mosques in different areas in the country.
The present guise of the mosque is the result of the work of Prince Asad Addin Mohammed bin Al-Hassan at the beginning of the Rasouli State. The mosque was also renewed during the Tahiri State, and later under the Ottoman reign.
Current condition: Its planning is the same as that of typical mosques. It consists of a yard encircled by four wings, the broadest of which is that of the kibla. The front part of the mosque has domes on it and columns inside. The mosque has three entrances in the western wall and a high minaret to the southeast. It is octagonal in shape and has a prominent edge towards the tip. The minaret dates back to the Rasouli State, exactly the year 685 as it is inscribed on a stone at the foot of the minaret.
The importance of the mosque: the most important characteristic of the mosque is that it is one of the mosques built in the early days of Islam.

Al-Jalaliah Al-Ulia Mosque:
It is located in the center of the old city and is reached through climbing steps.
Historical background: The mosque dates back to the 9th hejri century. The following inscription can be read: “This mosque was built at the order of sheikh Jalal Addin Addin Mohammed bin Abi Bakr Al-Siri, sheikh of Ba'adan district, in 815 hejri.”
Nothing remains from the original building except the prayer house, lecturing hall and the yard. The prayer house is a square building with an entrance on the southern side. The prayer house consists of two aisles divided by a row of columns which include a misplaced two new concrete columns. The ceiling is decorated with square pieces of wood, which reflect different patterns.
The kibla wall has a mihrab in the middle. It is a concave space in the wall with inscriptions and patterns on it. A spacious yard lies to the south of the prayer house whose ground is paved with habash stones. The teaching hall is located on the western side and opens onto the yard through a broad arch
The minaret is one the eastern side of the yard. It is one of the magnificent minarets. Its base is square and the body has many aspects. It is embroidered with geometrical shapes made of plaster. There is something like a balcony towards the tip and is crowned with a multifaceted dome. This gives the mosque a dignified pose, and a nice architectural and traditional style that has enabled the mosque to be a significant landmark of the city of Ibb.
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