monastery of Buhayra the monk
Image: copyright Sunia Choudhary. All rights reserved.

Visiting Bosra, Syria: Ancient Ruins, Mosques & Sites Visited by the Prophet Muhammad

Back in 2010, I spent a year in Syria, studying Arabic in Damascus. While there, I visited Bosra in the south of the country. These are the memories of my trip, which feels like a lifetime ago. 

Bosra
Bosra Square. Image: CC upyernoz via Flickr.

Roman Metropolis 

Bosra, also known as Busra al-Sham, played a significant role in early Islamic history; it was captured by Khalid Bin Walid in 634AD. Long before Islam, however, it was a Roman metropolis, connecting Damascus to the Red Sea. 

roman amphitheatre
Roman Amphitheatre, built in the second century AD. with seating for about 15,000, it was one of the largest amphitheatres of the Roman empire. It was later enclosed by an Ayyubid fortress. Image: copyright Sunia Choudhary. All rights reserved.

Monastery of Buhayra

These are the ruins of the monastery of Buhayra, the monk that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ met as a child when travelling to Syria with his uncle. 

monastery of Buhayra the monk
Image: copyright Sunia Choudhary. All rights reserved.

While there, we were told the story of a lady who walked over the entire area of the monastery heel to toe with the hope that her foot might be placed upon the same spot that he ﷺ once stood. Through the doorway below stands the horse and cart we travelled on. 

monastery of Buhayra the monk
Image: copyright Sunia Choudhary. All rights reserved.

Al-Mabruk Mosque

Al-Mabruk mosque was built on the spot where the Prophet’s ﷺ camel was believed to have been tied when he visited the city. 

al-mabruk mosque bosra
Al-Mabruk Mosque. Image: copyright Sunia Choudhary. All rights reserved.

There are imprints in the ground that people say belong to the camel. 

Image: copyright Sunia Choudhary. All rights reserved.

Al-Omari Mosque

al-omari mosque bosra
Al-Omari Mosque. Image: copyright Sunia Choudhary. All rights reserved.

Founded by Caliph Umar, who led the Muslim conquest of Syria in 636. It was completed in the early 8th century by Caliph Yazid II and renovated in the 12th and 13th centuries by the Ayyubid dynasty, making it one of the oldest mosques in the world.

al-Omari mosque Bosra
Al-Omari Mosque. Image: copyright Sunia Choudhary. All rights reserved.

Sadly, according to online reports, much of it has been destroyed in the recent war. If anyone is aware of the extent of the damage, we would be grateful if you could lets us know in the comments below. 

Ancient Nabatean Ruins

More ancient ruins of a city that thrived for over a millennia. 

al bosra
Image: copyright Sunia Choudhary. All rights reserved.

Nabatean arch. 

al-bosra
Image: copyright Sunia Choudhary. All rights reserved.

May God protect Sham and its people. If I have made any mistakes in my recollection of the city, please forgive (and correct) me. 

Further Reading

Official Bosra city site 

UNESCO

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