Uwais al-Qarni Mosque
Islamic Shrine in Raqqa, Syria
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The Uwais al-Qarani Mosque (Arabic: مَسْجِد أُوَيْس ٱلْقَرَنِيّ, romanized: Masjid ʾUways al-Qaranīy) was a Twelver Shi'a mosque in Raqqa, Syria, until it was demolished by the Islamic State on May 31, 2014. As of 2026[update], it is currently awaiting reconstruction.
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| Uwais al-Qarani Mosque | |
|---|---|
مَسْجِد أُوَيْس ٱلْقَرَنِيّ | |
The mosque in 2006, prior to its 2014 destruction | |
  Location within Syria | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Shia (Twelver) (former) |
| Mosque (former) | |
| Status | Destroyed (by Islamic State) |
| Location | |
| Location | Raqqa |
| Country | Syria |
 Interactive map of Uwais al-Qarani Mosque | |
| Coordinates | 35°56′31.82″N 39°01′47.49″E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Completed | 2003 |
| Destroyed | 2014 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome | One |
| Minaret | One |
History
The former mosque contained the shrines of Ammar ibn Yasir and Owais al-Qarani, who died in the Battle of Siffin in 657 CE, which took place around 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Raqqa. It was adjacent to the Bab al-Baghdad, another major landmark in the city.[1][2]
Construction
The original tombs were located in the old cemetery at the edge of the city. In 1988, Syrian president Hafez al-Assad and the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini, initiated a project to develop a new mosque around the tombs. The work was completed in 2003 and a commemorative plaque credited President Bashar al-Assad and Iranian President Mohammad Khatami with completing the project.[3]
Destruction
In June 2013, rebel fighters from al-Muntasereen Billah militia were living in the mosque complex.[4] On 26 March 2014, the mosque was blown up by two powerful explosions and completely destroyed by the Islamic State because it was a Shi'a structure. More specifically, it was also built over graves and thus served as a shrine.[5][6][7][8]
