79. Buṣayrā | بصيرا

aṭ-Ṭafīlah Governorate

Masjid

JADIS no. 2001013

MEGA no. 9175

Coordinates: 30°44'23.0"N 35°36'25.0"E

30.739722, 35.606944

 

Plan: broad rectangular with centered miḥrāb in the S wall, in axis to it the entrance door in the N wall. The interior prayer hall was divided by six free standing pillars into three naves running parallel to the qibla wall. They form 12 bays in N-S direction. Two windows in centralized axis of the W and E bays correspond with the windows on both sides of the miḥrāb. The western one, however, has been enlarged to form a door leading to the paved backyard with the old olive tree and the water tank of the maqām of Nēbi Shēt (no. 78). Centralized to the naves the W and the E walls had originally each three windows. Those of the W wall have been covered recently by a concrete revetment. To the right of the miḥrāb is a constructed minbar.

Measurements: 231.6 m²

Exterior: 19.12 x 14.95 m.

Interior: 16.7 x 13.87 m.

Building Materials: industrially fabricated limestone blocks in combination with concrete skeleton construction.

Construction details: After the old mosque fell out of use, the NE bays were separated by walls to install a teaching room. The windows of the W wall were closed at that time in order to make space for book shelves of the public library.

Preservation: The former mosque has been converted into a public library of the local charity association. The NE separated room is presently used for the teaching of technical courses. Not in use anymore for regular Muslim prayer.

Inscription(s): above the arched door frame Arabic inscription on three limestone slabs with frames. The letters appear in flat relief. It seems that the inscription of the lower slab left has been erased. The missing text is not known by the local inhabitants. The readable inscriptions (1-2) are (transcription and translation by NAt):

Translation: “In the name of Allāh, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Praise is for Allāh alone”-“This mosque was constructed in the time of His Highness Prince ‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Ḥussein year 1360 H(ijri)” (edited by RS).

Another inscription (3) is found on a limestone block above the miḥrāb. It seems that the present version had an older one which is now erased. The Arabic letters, running on three lines, are in flat relief and painted turquoise (transcription and translation by NAt):

Translation: “The mosques of Allāh shall be maintained by those who believe in Allāh and the Last Day” (Q. 9 at-Tawbah, 18 (start) (edited by RS).

Date(s): 1630 H (= 1941/1942 AD).

Traveler Reports: None known

Bibliography: Schick 2020 , no.19.