Saudi Arabia: 150-year-old Al Mansaf mosque reopens to worshippers

The recently-renovated Al Mansaf Mosque in Saudi Arabia’s Al Zulfi Governorate was reopened to worshippers on Monday, local media reported.

The 150-year-old mosque, located 260km northeast of Riyadh, is considered one of the oldest heritage buildings in the region.

The mosque has undergone a thorough renovation process as part of the Mohammed bin Salman Project for Historical Mosques Renovation in the Kingdom.

Under the renovation project, 30 mosques in 10 regions will be restored and renovated.

Throughout history, Al Mansaf mosque has been distinguished for its strategic location as it lies in a transit area between the north of Saudi Arabia and Arab Gulf states.

It is also unique in its construction, which has been built in the Najdi style. In addition to being a place of worship, the mosque is perceived as a cultural and a scholarly beacon for the residents of Al Zulfi region.

Sheikh Ali Jarallah Ibn Ghazi and a group of families built the mosque in Al Zulfi Governorate on a total area of 337 square meters, and it accommodated up to 87 worshipers before it was restored.

The mosque can accommodate 150 worshipers and consists of a prayer house, Al Sarha (a courtyard), a prayer area for women, restrooms, and ablution places for men and women, and a depot.

The mosque is located in the center of the old village, 38 km northwest of Al Zulfi and 272 km to the north of Riyadh, and it was rebuilt from clay bricks and cement, and its roof was built from Tamarix and palm fronds.

The mosque used to consist of a residential unit, a prayer house, and an earthly retreat, in addition to separate toilets, and has two main entrances, both located on the southern façade.