Letter K
219. Kufr Raḥtā | كُفُر رحتا
Irbid Governorate
Jāmi‘ or muṣallā
JADIS no. 2222054
MEGA no. 5971 (mosque not registered)
Coordinates: 32°34'54.0"N 35°45'30.0"E
32.581667, 35.758333
(approximately).
Plan: broad rectangular with a miḥrāb in the S wall (Khouri 2009). It was not possible to identify this mosque. A vaulted building in the center of the old village (fig. 219.1) served as a reception hall (‘aqd) and not for religious purposes. A rectangular space chiseled into the virgin bedrock (fig. 219.2) has been used in old times as an open air prayer place (muṣallā), according to oral reports of inhabitants. This space, however, has no indication of a prayer niche.
Measurements: unknown.
Exterior: unknown.
Interior: unknown.
Building Materials: local brownish limestone.
Construction details: unknown.
Preservation: Ruined, ‘aqd not in use for Muslim prayer. The interior is presently filled with dump.
Inscription(s): none known.
Date(s): unknown.
Traveler Reports: general description of the village by G. Schumacher (Steuernagel 1927) without sprecific reference to the mosque. In contrast to this: “Remains of ancient mosque with miḥrab, a number of barrel vaulted rooms, tesserae, big numbers of cisterns ... were found” (Khouri 2009)
Bibliography: Steuernagel 1927, A. 459-460; Mittmann 1970, 34 no. 75; Khouri 2009, 97 s.v. Kufr Rahta.
