Al-Zarqa Mosque

Al-Zarqa Mosque is a religious and historical landmark established in the latter half of the nineteenth century in the old town of Tharmada, part of Marat Governorate in Riyadh Province, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is located along the road leading to Shaqra Governorate, approximately 5.5 km from Marat Governorate.

The construction of al-Zarqa Mosque coincided with the era of Imam Faisal Bin Turki during the Second Saudi State, between 1843 and 1866. It is distinguished by designs inspired by traditional Najdi architecture, making it one of the prominent heritage buildings in the region. The mosque has remained open for prayer since its establishment.

The mosque was rebuilt under the directive of King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, with its area expanded to accommodate a larger number of worshippers. Several imams have served at the mosque, including Ibrahim Abdullah al-Anqari, Abdulrahman Mohammed al-Muqrin, Ibrahim Abdulrahman al-Anqari, and Abdullah Bin Hamid al-Hamid. Among its Muezzins were Abdullah al-Qasim and Abdulkarim Abdullah al-Shaalan.

The construction elements of al-Zarqa Mosque include mud and stone, with tamarisk wood and palm fronds used for the roof. The total area of the mosque is approximately 326 m², with a capacity of about one hundred worshippers. Its space is divided into a prayer hall, an open courtyard, an underground retreat, several ablution areas, a well and basin, and a washing room. The mosque also features a square minaret standing 11.29 m tall from ground level. It has two entrances, one located in the northeast and the other in the northern section.

The mosque underwent reconstruction and modernization, including upgrading its facilities, expanding its area, and increasing its capacity for worshippers. This was part of the development plan for the Mohammed Bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques, aimed at restoring and rehabilitating historic mosques across various provinces of the Kingdom. The project was launched in 2018 under the directive of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, crown prince and prime minister.