372. Sūf | سوف

Jerash Governorate

Masjid ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz

JADIS no. 2219029

MEGA no. 28460, mosque 5858

Coordinates: 32°18'55.0"N 35°50'20.0"E

32.315278, 35.838889

Plan: broad rectangular; entrance in N wall facing miḥrāb in the S wall; on both sides of entrance two large windows recessed into the wall. Originally, the interior was divided into two naves by transversal twin arches spanning from N to S. Only the wall corbels in the S wall have been preserved (figs. 372.10-11). Therefore, a flat or barrel-vaulted roof supported by perpendicular transversal arches can be assumed. In front of the entrance, there is an old cistern of undetermined age. It seems to be of rectangular shape and the walls are plastered.

Measurements: unknown.

Exterior: unknown.

Interior: unknown.

Building Materials: limestone blocks laid into horizontal rows, bond with mortar of different periods of restoration, even very recent ones. The lintel of the main entrance consists of a late Roman or Byzantine limestone beam with a tabula ansata (fig. 372.5). The original Greek inscription was erased to make space for the later Arabic text (see below).

Construction details: transversal arches perpendicular in N-S direction to the broad-rectangular plan to carry a flat roof. The Umayyad door frame (with original upper hinges) as well as those of the lateral windows seem to be authentic; the new wooden door is fixed in these hinges; the E window has a segmental arch as upper frame with an embossed key-stone (fig. 372.9).

Preservation: The old part represents today the basement of a new mosque which has been constructed on top of the old one (fig. 372.3). During this new construction the original supporting pillars of the arches have been replaced by concrete piers which support the floor of the modern second storage on concrete cross beams (fig. fig. 372.37).; basement presently in use for women’s prayer.

Inscription(s): Above the entrance a lintel with a tabula ansata of late Roman or Byzantine origin, The original text has been resaved and replaced by an Arabic inscription in the lines, very thin incised characters: 

Transcription and translation: (by Dr. Yusef Zurekat):

Translation: “The one in need [of the mercy] of Allāh Umar ibn ‘Abd al-ʿAzīz, in the year eighty six H(ijri).”