The Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque
The landmark of Homs: a mosque standing in a wide garden, its facade banded in black and white. The tomb of Khalid ibn al-Walid is inside.
- Opening hours
- Daylight hours, outside prayer times
- Entry
- Free
- Duration
- 45 minutes
- Best time
- Morning, garden empty and the facade unshaded
- Period
- Ottoman
- Address
- North of the city centre, Homs
The building that explains the stone language of Homs in one look. It stands north of the centre in a wide garden, and its facade is built up in bands of black basalt and white limestone — the region’s two stones side by side. What stands today was rebuilt in the early 20th century, in the Ottoman period.
Getting there
North of the city centre. The garden is open and you can walk right around the building; all four faces are worth seeing.
What to see
Two minarets and a central dome. In the north-east corner of the interior is the tomb of Khalid ibn al-Walid, a commander of the early Islamic period, from whom the mosque takes its name.
When to go
In the morning the garden is empty and the banding on the facade reads without shadow. Friday midday prayer is very crowded.
Tips
- Walk around the garden: all four faces carry the black-and-white banding
- The tomb is in the north-east corner of the interior
- Friday midday prayer is very busy; pick another hour