Al-Ateeq Mosque in Al-Bilad district in Darnah

Abstract

The ancient mosque of Derna city is one of the most prominent Islamic monuments in Libya, which is located in Al Belad district, in the center of the old city of Derna. It was constructed by Al Hajj Mohamed Bin Al Haj Mahmoud Bay Al Qurmanli in 1081 AH /1663 AD. He was born in Derna and was appointed “Mohamed Bay” as a governor of Derna and Benghazi in the late of the first Ottoman period (1081-1108 AH / 1670-1696AD).This mosque was named “The ancient mosque” because it is the oldest one in Derna city. It was also known as “The Bay Mosque” as it was constructed by “Mohamed Bay”. It was also named “The Great Mosque” because of its great space, size and grandeur in addition to being the city's largest monuments. In addition, it was named “Al Belad Mosque” because it was located at Al Belad district. This mosque is very important due to its grand space, its grandeur, its domes and its marble columns, and it can accommodate about 2,000 worshipers. It also reflects the durability of architecture, the accuracy of engineering and the beauty of Islamic architecture. Also, it represents a mixture between the architecture style of the Ottoman period and the local one; as it is a non-traditional mosque (with hallways without an atrium). This mosque has a rectangular area divided into seven arches and six vertical tiles parallel to the qibla wall. From the top, there are vertical semi-circular arches parallel to the qibla wall. The roof area is divided into forty-two square areas, each one is covered with a shallow dome (in the Aghlabian style), which is simple and completely devoid of any openings or decorations.The mosque includes a minaret located at the eastern end of the mosque's northern façade. It is a square-shaped base with an octagonal hull, followed by a corridor resulting from the retreat of the third floor of the minaret, which replaced the balcony so the muezzin can stand. This corridor was surrounded by the minaret palace, which is rectangular, with a pointed Ottoman summit like those of pointed Ottoman minarets (which likes the pencil), ending with the metal stand and the crescent. Inside, it was also found (a platform of soot wood), whose its sides were engraved with exquisite engravings.

Keywords

• the mosques; the ottoman; the remaining; darna; planning