14 of the Oldest Mosques in the World

Source: sacredfootsteps.org

14 mosques established in the first 150 years of Islam, after the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated to Madina:

1. Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, Syria: 96 years after migration (AH)

The site of the Umayyad Mosque was originally a Christian church and a Roman temple prior to that. After the Muslim conquest of Syria, the church was converted into a mosque. Caliph Walid I, who oversaw its conversion, radically altered the layout of the building- a project that was completed in 715. Parts of the outer wall today still date back to the original Roman temple of Jupiter. Inside, an edifice marks the spot where John the Baptist’s (Yahya ibn Zakariyya) head is thought to be buried. A plaque has also been placed above the spot where the head of Imam Husayn (may God be pleased with him) was put on display after he was martyred at Karbala.

The Historic Scale of Syria’s Refugee Crisis

 Source: nytimes.com

Photographs by: Lynsey Addario

The Syrian refugee crisis has exploded from about 270,000 people a year ago to today’s tally of more than two million who have fled the country. The pace of the diaspora has been characterized by the United Nations as the worst since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. In addition, an estimated 4.25 million Syrians have been displaced within their country, bringing the total number forced into flight to more than six million.

BAD NEWS: HELICOPTER ATTACK IN ALLEPO RESULTS 22 PEOPLE BEING KILLED

Beirut (AFP) – At least 22 people, including 14 children, were killed in regime air raids on rebel districts of the northern city of Aleppo on Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

“An (aerial) attack using explosive-laden barrels over the Sakhur, Ard al-Hamra and Haydariyeh districts (of eastern Aleppo) killed 22 people, among them 14 children and an 18-year-old boy,” said the Britain-based Observatory.

The Aleppo Media Centre (AMC), an activist network on the ground, reported several helicopter attacks on rebel-held areas of the city.

Once Syria’s commercial capital, Aleppo has suffered massive destruction since a rebel offensive in July last year.

The city is now divided into pro- and anti-regime areas, and according to the AMC, the regime uses its air force near daily to target rebel districts.

http://news.yahoo.com/syria-air-raids-39-kill-22-aleppo-39-130346660.html