The As-Sahabah Mosque (Arabic: مسجد الصحابة) is a mosque located at the Maydan Al-Sahaba Square in the city of Derna, Libya.[1][2] It was built in the 1970s on the site of a cemetery containing the graves of the Sahaba who were slain by the Byzantine armies during the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb.[2] Within the grounds of the mosque is an attached cemetery containing the tomb of Zuhayr ibn Qays al-Balawi and at least seventy Muslim soldiers involved in the Battle of Mamma.[1]
| As-Sahabah Mosque | |
|---|---|
مسجد الصحابة | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Region | Cyrenaica |
| Modern 20th-century mosque built next to a 7th-century Muslim cemetery | |
| Location | |
| Location | Derna, Libya |
  Shown within Libya | |
| Geographic coordinates | 32°45′41″N 22°38′33″E / 32.7613837°N 22.6423723°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | mosque |
| Style | Modern |
| Completed | 1975 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | Many (uncountable) |
| Minaret(s) | 1 |
| Shrine(s) | 3 |
History edit
After the Battle of Mamma in 688, Zuhayr ibn Qays al-Balawi was killed[3] along with his fellow generals (also Sahabah), Abdullah ibn Barr al-Qayisi and Abu Mansur al-Farsi, along with the rest of the returning Muslim forces. They were buried in what would be present day Derna.[4]
During the Ottoman period, three shrines for Zuhayr, Abdullah and Abu Mansur were built.[2] The cemetery was also called "Muhammad Bey Cemetery" but eventually the locals would change its name to "Sahaba Cemetery."[1]
In 1970, the people of Derna volunteered to fund a project for a construction of a new mosque next to the cemetery.[1][2] Construction work started in 1970, and the mosque was eventually opened in 1975.[1][2]
Sahabah Cemetery edit
The cemetery of the Sahabah is attached to the mosque.[1][2] Three domed tombs are present, and these tombs are built over the graves of Zuhayr ibn Qays al-Balawi, Abu Mansur al-Farsi and Abdullah ibn Barr al-Qayisi.[1][2] At least seventy martyrs are buried in the cemetery, but it has all been plastered over, save for the three aforementioned tombs.[1][2]
2012 attack edit
In 2012, a bomb was detonated in the As-Sahabah Mosque compound.[5] The explosion damaged the mosque[6] and completely destroyed the tomb of Zuhayr ibn Qays al-Balawi. The destruction of the shrine caused the body of Zuhayr to accidentally be uncovered, where it was found to have been almost uncorrupt.[7] The tombs of Abdullah ibn Barr and Abu Mansur were also attacked with bulldozers.[8]
Damage in 2023 flood edit
The advent of Storm Daniel in 2023 resulted in two dams collapsing due to excessive rainfall.[9] The collapse of the two dams resulted in a huge flood, which ravaged the city of Derna.[10] The As-Sahabah Mosque was damaged by the flood and its surroundings were water-logged.[1]
See also edit
- Islam in Libya
- List of mosques in Libya
- Sidi Okba Mosque, a mosque with a similar purpose and function
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i الوصلي, عبد العزيز. ""دانيال" يجرف بلاد الصحابة.. كيف تشبثت درنة بفاتحيها؟". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h مسعود, عبد القادر بن (14 September 2023). "تضم رفات أكثر من 70 صحابيا ودمرها الفيضان.. مقبرة الصحابة التاريخية في مدينة درنة الليبية". ArabicPost.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ The encyclopaedia of Islam. 11: V - Z. Leiden: Brill. 2002. ISBN 978-90-04-12756-2.
- ^ The encyclopaedia of Islam. 11: V - Z. Leiden: Brill. 2002. ISBN 978-90-04-12756-2.
- ^ "Libya: New Wave of Attacks Against Sufi Sites | Human Rights Watch". 7 December 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Libya: New Wave of Attacks Against Sufi Sites | Human Rights Watch". 7 December 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Sahaba Graves | PDF | Muhammad | Abrahamic Religions". Scribd. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ الوسط, بوابة (31 May 2014). "متطرفون يهدمون مقبرة صحابة رسول اللّه في درنة". Alwasat News (in Arabic). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Motamedi, Maziar. "Why did Derna's dams break when Storm Daniel hit Libya?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ Motamedi, Maziar. "Why did Derna's dams break when Storm Daniel hit Libya?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
