The mosque is located in the city of Al-Haytham, west of Al-Kharj Governorate, south of Riyadh. It is one of the historical mosques that are linked to the history of the old town, as it has represented for decades a center of worship and a place where the people of the region gather to perform prayers and hold religious and educational activities.
Old architectural style
The mosque is distinguished by its traditional Najdi architectural style, as it was built using mud and stone, while its roof was designed from tamarisk wood and palm fronds, which reflects the traditional building methods for which the architecture of the central region was famous.
The mosque also played an important religious and educational role, as it hosted Quran and writing classes, in addition to religious lessons and lectures.
The mosque was established in 1338 AH, during the reign of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman - may God have mercy on him - following the establishment of the old town in Al-Haytham. Its historical importance is highlighted by its connection to the site of Al-Sharia Palace, which includes the Saud Al-Kabir Palace and Al-Bajadi Palace, reflecting the historical status that the site enjoyed at that time.
Before the development work, the mosque's area was about 314 square meters, with a capacity of about 90 worshippers. It consists of a prayer house, a courtyard (an open outdoor area surrounded by walls), in addition to a cellar (basement) that is characterized by its coolness in the summer and its warmth during the winter, which is one of the traditional architectural features associated with the mosques of the region.
With its inclusion in the Prince Mohammed bin Salman project for the development of historical mosques, the mosque underwent development work aimed at preserving its architectural identity and highlighting it as a religious and heritage landmark. Its area increased after the development to about 371 square meters, and its capacity increased to about 150 worshippers, with the addition of service facilities including toilets for men and women.
Historical religious landmark
The Qasr Al-Sharia Mosque represents one of the historical religious landmarks in the city of Al-Haytham in Al-Kharj Governorate. It also embodies an inherited religious and social value that reflects the importance of preserving historical mosques as part of the cultural and architectural identity of the Kingdom.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques works to achieve a balance between traditional building standards and modern technologies, giving the mosques an appropriate degree of sustainability, while preserving the authentic architectural and heritage characteristics of each mosque. The development work is carried out by Saudi companies specializing in heritage buildings, and under the supervision of Saudi engineers to ensure the preservation of the historical architectural identity of the mosques.
The project is based on four strategic objectives: to rehabilitate historical mosques for worship and prayer, to restore their architectural authenticity, to highlight the civilizational dimension of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to enhance the religious and cultural status of historical mosques, thereby contributing to highlighting and preserving the Kingdom’s architectural heritage for future generations.
