Gallery
Description
Property Name: Al-Rashid Mosque
Inventory No: 967-7-1
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2009-07-21
Country (State party): Yemen
Province: Shibam
Town:
Geographic coordinates: 15° 55′ 35.62″ N
48° 37′ 32.43″ E
Historic Period: Abbasid
Year of Construction: 753
Style: Abbasid
Original Use: Mosque
Current Use: Mosque
Architect: Unknown
Significance
Constructed during the reign of Harun al-Rashid, the mosque presents typical Abbasid construction. It is the only building in Shibam that burnt bricks are used. The mosque is located at the main public square and next to the main bazaar. It is composed of a rectangular prayer hall that opens to an arcaded courtyard. Both the courtyard and prayer hall are supported by wooden beams. The building is completely white-washed and the ceilings of the prayer hall are decorated with painted and carved panels. The minaret seen today is not the original, but from the 16th century. The original minaret was located at the southeast corner.
Selection Criteria
iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history
v. to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance
State of Preservation
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References
Damluji, S. Samar. Valley of Mud-brick Architecture: Shibam and Tarim in Wadi Hadramut, Garnet Publishing Ltd, 1992.
Varanda, Fernando. The Art of Building in Yemen, Ph.D diss., University of Durham, 1994.
Breton, Jean-Francois and Christian Darles. Shibam and the Wadi Hadramaut. In MIMAR 18: Architecture in Development. Singapore: Concept Media Ltd. 1985.
Geoffrey, King & Lewcock, Ronald. Arabia in Architecture of the Islamic World, ed. Michell, George. Thames and Hudson Ltd., London, 1978.