The Maqam Nabi Yushaʿ occupies a distinctive position in Jordan’s network of venerated prophetic sites. According to local Islamic tradition, Yushaʿ bin Nun, the successor to Prophet Musa (Moses) and leader of the Israelites after their Exodus from ancient Egypt, is buried at this location on the hilltops overlooking the old city of As-Salt. While historical and archaeological evidence cannot confirm the precise burial place of Joshua, the tradition of associating this spot with his resting place appears to date back several centuries. The persistence of this belief across generations reflects the continuity of local devotional practice, rather than historical verification in the strict sense.

The origins of the shrine’s built form likely go back to the late Mamluk or early Ottoman period. Architectural and stylistic indicators—such as the use of locally quarried limestone and the rectangular plan of the original chamber—are consistent with small Ottoman-era funerary structures of the 16th century in the region. As-Salt, already an established highland town by that time, became a locus of regional trade and administration, and the maqam’s development corresponded with the city’s growing religious profile during Ottoman rule.

By the modern era, the shrine had become an established locus of pilgrimage and local veneration. Its maintenance and visitation by residents of the Balqa region reinforced As-Salt’s cultural identity as a town of religious heritage. The Jordanian state’s program of mosque restoration and expansion during the early 2000s led to the formal reconstruction and enlargement of the site. In 2004, a new mosque complex was inaugurated adjacent to the old shrine under the patronage of King Abdullah II, integrating modern religious facilities while preserving the historic mausoleum.

The Maqam Nabi Yushaʿ today serves a dual role: as a functioning congregational mosque and as a heritage site representing the intersection of faith, memory, and architectural continuity. While scholarly assessments generally note the absence of corroborating archaeological data linking the site with the historical Joshua, its religious significance in Jordanian Islamic tradition remains undiminished. The shrine exemplifies how sacred geography in the Levant continues to express intertwined layers of scriptural association, local identity, and national heritage policy.

circa 1500 CE

Maqam Nabi Yusha'
The mausoleum is the earliest element of the complex and represents the type of small, stone-built shrine common in Ottoman-period Jordan. It is constructed from roughly dressed limestone blocks bonded with lime mortar, forming a simple rectangular chamber with thick walls and a slightly vaulted roof. Inside the chamber lies a long cenotaph, approximately six metres in length, covered with a green cloth inscribed with Qurʾānic verses. The exaggerated size of the cenotaph is symbolic, reflecting veneration of the prophet rather than literal proportion. Around the mausoleum are smaller graves of later date, marking its role as a focal point of burial and sanctity for the local community.

The interior is minimally ornamented, its austerity reflecting both the modesty of the region’s traditional religious architecture and the emphasis on spiritual reverence over aesthetic display. The chamber is illuminated by small arched windows, and the entrance is a low stone doorway facing the adjacent courtyard. This original structure likely underwent minor restorations during the late Ottoman and British Mandate periods, but the basic plan remains unchanged.

circa 2004 CE

Modern Mosque Complex
In 2004, the site was expanded through the construction of a new mosque directly adjoining the mausoleum. The mosque covers an area of about 1,400 square metres, incorporating a single large dome and a slender minaret roughly twenty-seven metres high. The architectural language of the mosque blends modern Jordanian design with classical Islamic motifs—arched colonnades, geometric stone ornament, and a central dome proportioned to harmonize with the surrounding landscape of As-Salt’s hills.

The interior of the mosque comprises separate prayer halls for men and women, a library, a multipurpose room for Qurʾān study, and residential quarters for the imam and muezzin. The flooring and interior finishes employ polished marble and restrained decorative calligraphy, maintaining continuity with Jordan’s broader trend toward dignified simplicity in contemporary mosque design. The adjacency of the modern prayer hall and the historical shrine allows visitors to move seamlessly between communal worship and private veneration, integrating functional and spiritual dimensions within one precinct.

The spatial setting of the maqam enhances its architectural presence. Situated on an elevated site overlooking the old urban core of As-Salt, the complex commands panoramic views of the surrounding highlands. The physical prominence of the site reinforces its symbolic role within the religious topography of Jordan, where numerous maqāmāt mark hills and valleys traditionally associated with prophetic narratives.