After the Battle of Mamma in 688, Zuhayr ibn Qays al-Balawi was killed[3] along with his fellow generals (also Sahabah), Abdullah ibn Barr al-Qayisi and Abu Mansur al-Farsi, alongside with the rest of the returning Muslim forces. They were buried in what would be present day Derna.[4]
During the Ottoman period, three shrines for Zuhayr, Abdullah and Abu Mansur were built.[2] The cemetery was also called "Muhammad Bey Cemetery" but eventually the locals would change its name to "Sahaba Cemetery."[1]
In 1970, the people of Derna volunteered to fund a project for a construction of a new mosque next to the cemetery.[1][2] Construction work started in 1970, and the mosque was eventually opened in 1975.[1][2]
The cemetery of the Sahabah is attached to the mosque.[1][2] Three domed tombs are present, and these tombs are built over the graves of Zuhayr ibn Qays al-Balawi, Abu Mansur al-Farsi and Abdullah ibn Barr al-Qayisi.[1][2] At least seventy martyrs are buried in the cemetery, but it has all been plastered over, save for the three aforementioned tombs.[1][2]
2012 attack
In 2012, a bomb was detonated in the As-Sahabah Mosque compound.[5] The explosion damaged the mosque[6] and completely destroyed the tomb of Zuhayr ibn Qays al-Balawi. The destruction of the shrine caused the body of Zuhayr to accidentally be uncovered, where it was found to have been almost uncorrupt.[7] The tombs of Abdullah ibn Barr and Abu Mansur were also attacked with bulldozers.[8]
Damage in 2023 flood
The advent of Storm Daniel in 2023 resulted in two dams collapsing due to excessive rainfall.[9] The collapse of the two dams resulted in a huge flood, which ravaged the city of Derna.[10] The As-Sahabah Mosque was damaged by the flood and its surroundings were water-logged.[1]
