The mosque is one of the oldest standing mosques in the world. It served as a rest stop for travelers, Arab caravans on trade routes through Syria and pilgrims traveling to Mecca. The travelers used the central courtyard of the mosque as a marketplace as well as a place to sleep. The arcades of the mosque on the eastern and western sides enclosed this central courtyard. The south side of the mosque had a double arcade that led to the mosque's prayer hall. The mosque's square
minaret was one of the earliest examples of
Umayyad-style minarets. Mosques in Damascus and Aleppo have similar style minarets from the same dynasty. This style of minaret was potentially inspired by the steeples of Syrian churches. Damage to Bosra began in 2012, as shells and tanks caused damage during the
Syrian civil war. In 2014, shell crater damage caused a hole in the roof of the mosque. Rubble from the mosque is scattered around the destruction site, and there is shell damage in the surrounding area as well. == Gallery ==