Mosque Name: Hala Sultan Tekke
Country: Cyprus
City: Larnaca
Year of construction (AH): 28 AH
Year of construction (AD): 649
GPS: 34°53’6.56”N 33°36’38.53”E
Gibson Classification: unknown
Rebuilt facing Mecca: 1232 AD
For a Link to the Qibla Tool Click Here
Description:
Most accounts establish a connection between this site and the death of Umm Haram during the first Arab raids on Cyprus under the Caliph Muawiyah between 647 and 649, which were later pursued throughout the Umayyad and the Abbasid periods. According to these accounts, Umm Haram, being of very old age, had fallen from her mule and had died during a siege of Larnaca. She was later buried where she died. However, according to Shia belief, her grave lies within the Jannatul Baqi cemetery in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The modern mosque in Larnaca was built beside this tomb in 1760 AD in Ottoman style. No previous Qibla could be determined.
There are however ruins of the original tomb and shrine, currently below a nearby building. Despite several visits to the shrine, Dan Gibson was not able to determine the shrine’s qibla. Below are photos taken in 2017.
The modern mosque
The official government sign
Plaque over the mosque door
Excavations of the original shrine
Excavations of the original shrine
Dan Gibson standing beside the minbar (pulpit).
The graves in the mosque.
Plaque in the Mosque.
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