Al Khamis Mosque

Al Khamis is among the oldest mosques in the region, with a foundation traditionally dated to the eighth century though the standing fabric is later, and its two identical minarets rising side by side are the shape most associated with old Bahrain. The prayer hall is roofless and the arcades stand open. A visitor centre beside the ruins explains the phases of construction, of which there were several. The two minarets were built at different times, which is visible in the stonework when the light is right.

Background

Tradition holds that this was the first mosque in Bahrain, raised in the time of the Umayyad caliph Umar II, with a foundation possibly as early as 692 CE, though an inscription found on the site suggests the 11th century CE. Other sources credit the Uyunids with a first building that had one minaret, with the second added two centuries later under the Usfurids. A 14th-century prayer hall had a flat roof on wooden columns, and a later roof section rests on arches over thick masonry piers dated to 1339. Restoration work uncovered a limestone slab shaped like a mihrab, thought to be from the 12th century CE and carved with two Qur'an verses normally used on gravestones.

Source: Wikipedia, "Khamis Mosque"

What's there

• The twin minarets - two identical towers standing side by side.
• The roofless prayer hall - the arcades left open to the sky.
• The building phases - construction running across several periods.
• The visitor centre - the interpretation beside the ruins.

When to go

November to March is the comfortable season. The site keeps set hours and closes on some days. Late afternoon light is best on the minarets.

Before you go

The site is small and an hour covers it. The eighth-century foundation date is traditional rather than firmly established. It sits beside a busy highway which affects the setting.

Nearby

Manama is northeast, and Barbar Temple is northwest.

Key facts