Joatha Mosque

Joatha Mosque is located 12 km northeast of Hofuf in Al-Ahsa. A landmark of Islamic heritage, it is recognized as the earliest known mosque in eastern Arabia.

Early Islamic History

Built by the Bani Abd al-Qays tribe around 628 CE, the mosque hosted the second Friday congregational prayer in Islamic history, after the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.

Historical Traditions

According to a traditional account, the Black Stone (Hajr Al-Aswad) was safeguarded within the mosque for nearly 22 years during the 10th century.

Architecture and Preservation

The original structure has weathered more than a millennium. Its remaining 9th-century arches and ancient Qibla wall preserve a connection to its past.

Today, a modern enclosure protects the mosque, which remains a place of prayer and a symbol of the spiritual legacy that began at the dawn of Islam.