Baalbeck Mosque

Mosque Name: Baalbeck Mosque

Country: Lebanon

City: Baalbeck

Year of construction (AH): 122 AH

Year of construction (AD): 740 AD

GPS: 0’26.03”N 36°12’25.59”E

ArchNet: http://archnet.org/sites/4421

Gibson Classification: Between

Rebuilt facing Mecca: never

Note: In the film, The Sacred City (shot in 2014), this mosque was mistakenly classified as a Petra facing mosque. At that time Gibson was still in the middle of his research. When he published his first book Qur’anic Geography, (2010) he had not yet identified Between Qiblas. However, when so many between Qiblas became apparent, he changed this mosque’s classification to Between. The very latest data is available in the Online Qibla Tool, and this should always be used, rather than a documentary film, or a YouTube video.

For a Link to the Qibla Tool Click Here

Description:

The Great Mosque of Ba’albek in Lebanon is an Umayyad mosque dating back to about 140 AH. (Some claim it could be as much as 60 years later) It has suffered from deterioration due to dampness, salt, and structural degradation. The last renovation was conducted with special attention to archaeological remains, as it is believed that the mosque may have been built upon several older structures dating back to antiquity. Lime mortar and traditional materials were used to preserve the building’s character. As you can see in the photo, the Ba’albek Mosque (to the right of the main Ba’albek ruins) has an orientation directly between Petra and Mecca.