16/09/2026
Saudi Arabia Uncovers 1,300-Year-Old Mosque in Al-Baha With Inscription Mentioning Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has uncovered an ancient mosque at the Al Maallamah archaeological site in the Al-Baha region, dating back more than 1,300 years to the early Islamic period. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into the religious and community life of the region’s early Muslim inhabitants.
The mosque, built with carefully arranged granite stones, includes a mihrab, entrances and a minaret. Archaeologists also discovered Arabic inscriptions carved into the stone, including an inscription mentioning Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Other structures and artefacts found at the site point to residential, social and commercial activity.
The wider Al Maallamah site was also connected to the extraction and processing of gold, silver and copper, with excavations uncovering pottery, grinding stones, soapstone fragments and other archaeological remains. The findings are helping researchers understand the religious, social and economic history of early Islamic communities in Saudi Arabia.
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