White Mosque, Ramla

The White Mosque (also known as al-Abyad Mosque) is an ancient Umayyad mosque located in Ramla, Israel.

History

The construction of the mosque was carried out by Caliph Sulaiman ibn Abd al-Malik between 715-717 AD. However, his successor Omar II completed it by 720 AD. The mosque's construction used marble, while its courtyard was made from local stones.

According to Al-Muqaddasi, who described the mosque about two hundred years after its completion: "The main mosque of Ramla is in the market, and it is more beautiful and magnificent than the Umayyad Mosque."

Islamic Tradition

Local Islamic tradition claims that a famous Islamic saint, Nabi Saliheh's tomb was located in the northwest part of the mosque. The minaret is also known as the Minaret of 40 Martyrs.

Muslim traditions claim that in 1467, 40 companions of Prophet Muhammad were buried in the mosque. This event later influenced Western Christian tradition in the 16th century, where they believed that originally, the White Mosque was a church dedicated to the 40 martyrs of St. Sebastian.

Minaret and Islamic Significance

The minaret is also known as "The Tower of the Supreme Martyrs". According to Islamic tradition, it commemorates the burial of 40 companions of Prophet Muhammad in 1467.

Western Christian Tradition

In contrast, Western Christians believed that the White Mosque was a church originally dedicated to the 40 martyrs of St. Sebastian.

Note: I've kept the original dates and names intact, and resolved conflicts by preferring the most detailed and neutral explanations from Source 1.