Al-Bay'ah Mosque
Al-Bay'ah (Bledge) Mosque is one of the historic mosques in the holy sites. It was given this name because it marks the place where the Pledge of Al-‘Aqabah was concluded between the Messenger of Allah and the Ansar. It is one of the mosques targeted by Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques in its second phase. It is located east of Makkah Al-Mukarramah City, on the southern slope of Thubayr Mountain, at the edge of the Holy Site of Mina, in a mountain pass known as Shi'b Al-Ansar.
History of Al-Bay'ah Mosque
Historical accounts suggest that the construction of Al-Bay'ah Mosque (Al-Aqabah Mosque) dates back to 761, when the Abbasid Caliph Abu Jaafar Al-Mansur built it near Jamarat Al-Aqabah in the Holy Site of Mina. The mosque was established to commemorate the pledge of allegiance that led to the migration of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH), and his companions to Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah and the founding of the Islamic state. The mosque lies approximately five hundred m northeast of Jamarat Al-Aqabah.
Al-Bay'ah Mosque remained hidden behind Al-Aqabah Mountain until 2007, when development and expansion works in the holy sites led to the removal of the mountain, revealing the mosque and making it a prominent historical landmark of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the Holy Sites.
Restorations of Al-Bay'ah Mosque
Al-Bay'ah Mosque has undergone several restorations, most notably during the reign of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir Billah in 1227. According to Al-Tabari, the latest reconstruction occurred in 1615.
Three stone plaques, inscribed with the historical dates of the mosque's construction across different eras, are affixed to its walls. The first plaque is placed on the qiblah wall to the right of the mihrab from the outside, while the other two are mounted on the southern wall of the mosque.
The original structure of Al-Bay'ah Mosque differs from its current form. In 1429, Al-Taqi Al-Fasi described it in his book Shifa' Al-Gharam bi Akhbar Al-Balad Al-Haram (The Cure for Longing in the Stories of the Sacred City) as consisting of two arcades, each roofed with three domes supported by four arches, with a courtyard at the rear. The mosque had two doors on the northern and two on the southern sides.
Area of Al-Bay'ah Mosque
The area of Al-Bay'ah Mosque is estimated at 457.56 m², and it will remain the same after restoration. Its capacity will increase to sixty-eight worshippers at a time, compared to sixty-seven before the restoration. It is considered the first mosque in Makkah Al-Mukarramah Province to be targeted in the project's second phase due to its historical significance. Its legacy offers key insights into its features and the best methods for its restoration and development. The mosque is noted for its unique architectural characteristics, which reflect artistic and contextual values in architecture and construction, making it a focal point of the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques, which aims to halt the destruction of historical mosques and the deterioration of their historical structures.
Sources
Saudi Vision 2030
Heritage Commission.
Atlas of Historic Mosques. Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, 1440 AH.