Last year, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman issued directives to restore over 100 historical mosques across the Kingdom, a project that fell within the framework of the Program for Reconstruction of Historical Mosques. This month, the Crown Prince’s efforts to bring Saudi Arabia’s historical treasures to life have led to three mosques in the region of Hail being added to a list of 30 that will be renovated under the first phase of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Project for Developing Historical Mosques in the Kingdom.
According to Arab News, the first phase of restoration of these dozens of historic mosques, which are spread across 10 regions, has been estimated at more than SAR 50 million ($13.3 million). The first phase of works to be done on the three mosques in Hail, Al-Jarad Mosque, Qafar Mosque, and Al-Jal’ud Mosque, will be at a total estimated cost of SAR 6,211,000 (around $1.6 million). This development project is being supervised by SCTH, represented by “Restoration of Historic Mosques” in partnership with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
As reported by the news site, Al-Jarad Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in the historic town of Maghaydah and dates back to 1862. Built with mud and stone with a wooden roof, it was restored in 1962 and prayers were held there until 1991. The mosque covers 450 square meters and can accommodate 192 worshipers. Qafar Mosque dates back to the first half of the nineteenth century and was founded by Ruqayyah Bint Abdullah after the death of her husband. Also built with mud and stone with a wooden roof, the mosque covers 638 square meters and can accommodate 500 worshipers. Located in the southeast of Hail, Al-Jal’ud Mosque dates back to the year eighteenth century and is a station on the pilgrimage route. It was rebuilt in 1928 and can accommodate 120 people.
