In the UAE, the ruins of a mosque about 1000 years old, the oldest of those found to date, have been discovered.
Archaeologists from the Department of Cultural and Tourism of Abu Dhabi reported a new find - near the mosque under construction in Sheikh Khalifa in Al Ain, the ruins of an ancient mosque were found, whose age is about a thousand years. It is assumed that the religious building was built during the era of the Abbasid caliphate. This is the oldest find to date.
Three clay brick buildings and an ancient water supply system (falaj) were also discovered at the archaeological site: as early as 3,000 years ago, Al Ain residents mastered the technology of construction of burnt brick water pipelines that provided water to the settlements. It is curious that these water pipes are still functioning.
Archaeologists have discovered a niche (mihrab) in the wall of the mosque, oriented to the Kaaba. The construction of the structure allows us to conclude that the inhabitants of the settlement prayed both inside the mosque and outside, as today. Fragments of jugs for washing, made in the 9th or 10th century AD, were also found. All these findings indicate the depth of penetration of Islam and its influence in the region as early as 1000 years ago.
