description White Mosque Ramle Overview
The White Mosque (al-Masjid al-Abyad) is an 8th-century Islamic structure located in Ramla, Israel. Originally built during the Umayyad period, it was one of the earliest purpose-built mosques in the Levant region. The complex is noted for its underground reservoirs, particularly the large square cistern known as the Pool of Arches or Birket al-Anziyya, which features distinctive vaulted arches and provided water storage for the city. The mosque underwent various modifications through the centuries, with the current minaret dating from the Mamluk period.
help White Mosque Ramle FAQ
Who built the White Mosque in Ramla?
It dates to the Umayyad period, begun shortly after Ramla was founded as a new administrative city around 715 CE under Caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik. It ranks among the earliest purpose-built mosques in the Levant.
What is the tall tower at the White Mosque?
The landmark square minaret was rebuilt by the Mamluks in 1318 under Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad after earthquakes repeatedly damaged the complex. Its arcaded upper stages make it one of Ramla's most recognizable structures.
What are the underground reservoirs beneath the White Mosque?
Below the courtyard lie vaulted subterranean cisterns that collected and stored water for the city, a celebrated piece of early Islamic engineering. Visitors can see the arched water galleries descending beneath the compound.
Is the White Mosque an active mosque today?
After centuries of earthquake damage and rebuilding, the complex functions mainly as a historic monument rather than a regular congregational mosque. Ramla itself is a mixed Jewish-Arab city in central Israel.
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