Israeli archaeologists on Wednesday unveiled an ancient mosque in the country’s south that antiquities officials said sheds light on the region’s transition from Christianity to Islam.

The remains of the mosque, believed to be more than 1,200 years old, were discovered during works to build a new neighbourhood in the Palestinian Bedouin city of Rahat, the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a statement.

The mosque located in the Negev desert (also called Naqab in Arabic) contains “a square room and a wall facing the direction of Mecca”, with a half-circle niche in that wall pointing to the south, the IAA said.

“These unique architectural features show that the building was used as a mosque,” the authority said, noting it probably hosted a few dozen worshippers at a time.

A short distance from the mosque, a “luxurious estate building” was also discovered, with remains of tableware and glass artefacts pointing to the wealth of its residents, the IAA said.

Three years ago, the authority unearthed another mosque nearby from the same era of the seventh to eighth century AD, calling the two Islamic places of worship “among the earliest known worldwide”.

The mosques, estate and other homes found nearby illuminate “the historical process that took place in the northern Negev with the introduction of a new religion — the religion of Islam, and a new rulership and culture in the region,” the IAA said.

“These were gradually established, inheriting the earlier Byzantine government and Christian religion that held sway over the land for hundreds of years.”

The Muslim conquest of the region occurred in the first half of the seventh century.

The IAA said the mosques found in Rahat would be preserved in their current locations, whether as historic monuments or as active places of prayer. (The New Arab)

abdulskulboy:
That is Islam. The best religion with tolerance and obedient to older ones and the minors. May Allah continue to bless Muhammad. S. A. W

abdulskulboy:
That is Islam. The best religion with tolerance and obedient to older ones and the minors. May Allah continue to bless Muhammad. S. A. W

Samfloxin:
Muslims leave our holy land alone, go back to Macca

malvisguy212:
when you mentioned the name of Muhammad, why do you add pbuh ? is because Muhammad is in hell fire as confirm in the Quran, because why will you invoke peace on some one that is supposedly in heaven ? between heaven and hell , which side need peace ? Muhammad is in hell, and the Quran confirm it. if you need proof, I will give you

Samfloxin:
Muslims leave our holy land alone, go back to Macca

excanny:
Despite the useless numerous mosques, that didn't the Jews from kicking their ass severally.

Why didn't Allah save them from the hands of the Israelis?

Allahu Jews Akbar

excanny:
Despite the useless numerous mosques, that didn't the Jews from kicking their ass severally.

Why didn't Allah save them from the hands of the Israelis?

Allahu Jews Akbar

malvisguy212:
when you mentioned the name of Muhammad, why do you add pbuh ? is because Muhammad is in hell fire as confirm in the Quran, because why will you invoke peace on some one that is supposedly in heaven ? between heaven and hell , which side need peace ? Muhammad is in hell, and the Quran confirm it. if you need proof, I will give you