Radā'

Rada is a town of the Yemeni highlands whose most celebrated monument is the Amiriya, a mosque and school distinguished by domes, carved stucco and painted decoration. The complex combines a place of worship with rooms for teaching and residence, giving architectural expression to the prosperity of the Tahirid rulers who made the town an important centre.

Sultan Amir ibn Abd al-Wahhab founded the Amiriya in 1504, during the last years of the Tahirid dynasty. He spent extended periods in Rada, where members of his family also endowed other schools. The Amiriya's upper level contains a courtyard and living quarters, while a large water basin stands alongside the lower part. Its decorated prayer hall and spaces for study served scholars and worshippers together. The sultan himself is thought to have used the complex as a residence during his stays in the town.