The ruins of a Christian monastery dating back to the sixth or seventh century have been discovered on sandy Siniyah Island (Al Sinniyah Island), which is located in the southern Persian Gulf just off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sheikhdom of Umm al-Quwain . The rare monastery dates back to pre-Islamic times, although it may have been constructed and occupied while the Prophet Muhammed walked the earth.
The unusual find was announced by officials from the Umm al-Quwain Department of Tourism and Archaeology, and reported on by the Associated Press on November 3. The timing of the announcement coincided with a visit to the site by a representative from the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth.
The discovery of this shrine to first-millennium AD Christian belief on the Arabian Peninsula reveals the truth about the complex religious history of the Middle East. The monastery was built only a century or less before Islam became the dominant religion in the region. However, there is no reason to believe it was abandoned once Islam reached its pinnacle of influence.
This monastery is a highly unusual discovery, but it is not entirely unique. Another Christian monastery was found off the UAE coast in the early 1990s on Sir Bani Yas Island , which is a possession of the emirate of Abu Dhabi . This site includes a church, monastery and several courtyard houses, all of which were constructed at least a century after the newly unearthed monastery on Siniyah Island.
The existence of these…
