Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik

Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 705 to 715 CE. He is best known for his extensive construction projects, including the expansion of the Great Mosque of Damascus and the mosque in Medina, which featured the first known mihrab (prayer niche) in Islamic architecture. His reign is often regarded as a golden age for the Umayyad dynasty, marked by significant cultural and architectural advancements.