It was established in 1773 by Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Sheikh as the Dakhna Grand Mosque (Arabic: مسجد دخنة الكبير) in the Dakhna quarter of the former walled town and later got evolved into a center of learning for Hanbali Sunni scholars. Named after Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh, it is one of the oldest existing mosques in Riyadh and was demolished and rebuilt on numerous occasions throughout the 20th century, with the latest renovation having taken place in the period 2001–2005 during the third phase of the Qasr Al Hukm District Development Project.
History
The mosque was first built by Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Abd al-Wahhab in 1773 soon after Imam Abdulaziz ibn Muhammad's takeover of the walled town of Riyadh from Dahham bin Dawwas. The mosque later became a center of learning for religious and scientific studies in the Dakhna quarter, that led to the quarter being nicknamed as Hayy al-Ulema (transl. neighborhood of the scholars).[1] The mosque was renovated and rehabilitated in 1942, 1962 and 1983.[2]
