Beirut: In the heart of Beirut, the Grand Omari Mosque stands proudly like an open page in the book of history. Its halls exude the spirituality of the place and its walls echo with the stories of centuries passed down through civilizations and nations to stay a living testament to the religious and cultural identity of the capital as well as a landmark firmly rooted in the hearts of its people.
According to Qatar News Agency, historical sources indicate that the mosque was built in 14 AH (635 CE) during the reign of the Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab. This venerable edifice was founded following the Islamic conquests of the Levant. When Muslims entered these lands, they established the mosque to serve as a center for worship, learning, and spreading the faith. The mosque was built upon the ruins of an ancient Roman sun temple, signifying the cultural and religious transformation that the region witnessed with the dawn of Islam.
Throughout history, the mosque has undergone transformations that reflect the course of history in Lebanon. During the First Crusade in the 12th century, it was converted into a cathedral before being retaken by Muslims in 1291 CE during the Mamluk era, following the liberation of the Levant. It then became a mosque where Islamic rituals were performed. Since then, the Grand Omari Mosque has continued to fulfill its religious mission, despite the momentous events and political and military upheavals it has endured.
With the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, the mosque regains its spiritual role in its most splendid form. Its halls are filled with worshippers, its courtyards resonate with the recitation of the Holy Quran, and it hosts Taraweeh prayers, religious lessons, and spiritual seminars. During the nights of this blessed month, the mosque transforms into a unifying center of faith, where young and old gather, and prayers are offered in an atmosphere of tranquility and reverence.
In a statement, Sheikh Mahmoud Al Akkawi, the imam and preacher of the Grand Omari Mosque, affirmed that Ramadan is a Grand and blessed month, during which Muslims fast during the day and pray at night. He cited the verse, “Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority,” and the Prophet’s saying, “The most beloved of places to Allah are the mosques.”
Named after Omar ibn al-Khattab, this blessed mosque has remained throughout the ages a beacon of worship and knowledge. The five daily prayers, the Friday sermon, and religious events are held in it. And during Ramadan, it witnesses a surge in activity, reflecting the deep connection of the people of Beirut to their mosques and heritage, he added.
Sheikh Al Akkawi explained that the mosque was built following the Islamic conquests in the Levant and has undergone several historical phases, yet, by the grace of Allah, it has remained standing, with Islamic rituals being performed in it to this day. He noted that the mosque was transformed from a Roman temple into a mosque, then into a cathedral during the Crusades, before being retaken by Muslims during the Mamluk era to stay a symbol of the continuity of Islamic identity in the city.
The Grand Omari Mosque is one of the oldest places of worship in Lebanon, and indeed one of the most ancient historical buildings still standing in Beirut today. It has borne several names throughout history. Under the Mamluks, it was known as the “Islamic Conquest Mosque,” and during the Ottoman era, it was called the “Mosque of the Prophet Yahya,” until it was finally named its current name in honor of Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab.
The mosque has witnessed successive architectural phases reflecting the attention it received from rulers throughout the ages. The mosque’s entrance was built, and a minaret was added in the Mamluk era in 1350 CE. Musa ibn al-Zayni also constructed the minaret during the reign of Prince al-Nasir Muhammad ibn al-Hanish in 914 AH (1510 CE). During the reign of the governor of Beirut, Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzar, in 1183 AH (1765 CE), the outer courtyard was constructed. Sultan Abdul Hamid II added the iron cage inside the mosque, and the old minbar was erected in 1305 AH (1885 CE).
During the French Mandate period in Lebanon, the mosque’s facade was redesigned with the addition of an arcaded portico, and its main entrance was integrated with the new row of al-Maarad Street, an architectural move reflecting the transformations the city was undergoing at that time. It was also renovated in the years 1952, 1954, and 1960, including roof repairs, general restoration, and the addition of Andalusian inscriptions, overseen by the General Directorate of Islamic Endowments in Beirut and with the contribution of the Lebanese Museum.
During the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), the mosque suffered extensive damage before being restored in 2004 in a style that preserved its historical origins. A second minaret was added to the northwest corner, and a new columned courtyard was constructed beneath the mosque, restoring it to its former glory while maintaining its architectural and historical identity.
The mosque’s walls are distinguished by Byzantine and Arabic inscriptions that narrate chapters of its long history and reveal the interplay of arts and civilizations in its construction. The mosque also housed a library known as the Omari Library, which served as a center of learning and knowledge, contributing to the graduation of hundreds of scholars and jurists who played a prominent role in disseminating knowledge in Beirut and its surrounding areas.
Following the Grand Omari Mosque in age is the Imam al-Awza’i Mosque, further solidifying its status as one of the oldest Islamic landmarks in the capital. It is no exaggeration to say that this mosque is among the oldest historical buildings still standing in Beirut today.
Thus, the Grand Omari Mosque, especially during Ramadan nights, remains a sanctuary filled with remembrance, a beacon of knowledge, and a meeting place for generations, its stones bearing the city’s memory and its courtyards the spirit of faith. Within its walls, which have witnessed the transformations of centuries, the call to prayer continues to resonate, a testament that Beirut, despite the storms it has weathered, still retains a heart pulsing with faith and history.