Aleppo’s Historic Umayyad Mosque Reopens After Restoration

The historic Umayyad Mosque in Syria’s Aleppo has reopened following restoration work, marking a new chapter in the landmark’s history after years of war and destruction.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the mosque reopened on Thursday at a ceremony attended by ministers, government officials and religious figures.

Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib said the mosque had been an integral part of the city’s history since the Umayyad era.

“After years of hardship and destruction, we are restoring Aleppo’s Grand Mosque to the city,” al-Gharib said, describing it as a refuge for revolutionaries and a symbol of the struggle for freedom and dignity.

He said local efforts had helped protect Aleppo and its historic landmarks from further destruction and made the mosque fit for use again.

Al-Gharib added that the restoration had preserved the mosque’s historical features and facilities, allowing the call to prayer to once again echo through its halls.

Syria’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Osama al-Rifai, said Aleppo held a special place in the hearts of Muslims because of its historical and cultural significance. He said the mosque had regained its former splendour and was poised to begin a new chapter as a centre of religious life and learning.

Religious Affairs Minister Mohammed Abu al-Khair Shukri described Aleppo’s Umayyad Mosque as comparable in significance to the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, noting its long history of scholarship and struggle.

Shukri stressed that rebuilding people was more important than reconstructing infrastructure, saying that people were the foundation of civilisation, progress and the future. He added that Syrians were continuing their efforts to rebuild everything destroyed by the conflict.

Aleppo Mufti Ibrahim Shasho said the reopening would breathe new life into the historic mosque and preserve its legacy of endurance and resilience for future generations.

One of Aleppo’s most important religious and cultural landmarks, the Umayyad Mosque has played a significant role in the city’s intellectual and cultural life for centuries.

Its reopening after restoration and rehabilitation is expected to help restore its historic place in Aleppo’s religious and social life, offering a symbol of recovery as the city continues to overcome the legacy of war.