List of the oldest mosques
Mosque of Uqba, founded in 670 in Tunisia
The designation of the oldest mosque in the world requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest mosque congregation. Even here, there is the distinction between old mosque buildings that have been in continuous use as mosques, and those that have been converted to other purposes; and between buildings that have been in continuous use as mosques and those that were shuttered for many decades. In terms of congregations, they are distinguished between early established congregations that have been in continuous existence, and early congregations that ceased to exist.
To be listed here a site must:
- be the oldest mosque in a country, large city (top 50), or oldest of its type (denomination, architectural, etc.);
- be the oldest congregation of its type (denomination).
Oldest mosques
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
| Building | Image | Location | Modern country | First Built | Denomination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masjid al-Haram |  |
Mecca | Saudi Arabia | unknown | Abrahamic religion | Site of Haj pilgrimage and direction (Qibla) of Muslim formal prayers; rebuilt many times, notably 1571 by the Ottomans and late 20th century by Saudis, further radical enlargement under way since 2010. |
| Quba Mosque |  |
Medina | Saudi Arabia | 622 | Oldest mosque site (after the building of Masjid-al-Haram) but building largely rebuilt in the late 20th century. | |
| Al-Masjid al-Nabawi |  |
Medina | Saudi Arabia | 622 | Site of pilgrimage. Contains Muhammad's tomb. Largely rebuilt and greatly enlarged in the late 20th century, whilst retaining at its heart the earlier construction of the Ottomans, and landmark green dome. | |
| Masjid al-Qiblatain |  |
Medina | Saudi Arabia | 623 | Mosque of the two Qiblas | |
| Huaisheng Mosque |  |
Guangzhou | China | 627 | The Huaisheng Mosque is the main mosque of Guangzhou. It has been rebuilt many times over its history. According to tradition it was originally built over 1,300 years ago in 627AD by Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas who was an uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and was named in memory of Muhammad. | |
| Masjid al-Qiblatayn |  |
Zeila | Somalia | 627 | built in the 7th century in Zeila, shortly after the hijra; known to be among the oldest mosques in the world and the oldest in Africa. | |
| Cheraman Juma Masjid |  |
Kodungallur | India | 629 | Built by Malik Deenar and named for Cheraman Perumal. It is confirmed to be the first mosque ever built in India, and the state of Kerala | |
| Palaiya Jumma Palli |  |
Kilakarai | India | 630 | Sunni | First ever mosque to be built in Tamil Nadu and is the second mosque to ever be built in India , Constructed by Yemeni merchants and trade settlers in the Pandiya Kingdom and ordered by Bazan ibn Sasan, Governor of Yemen at the time of Muhammad[1] |
| Jawatha Mosque | .jpg) |
Al-Kilabiyah | Saudi Arabia | 629 | Has recently been renovated and prayers are still held in this mosque. | |
| Great Mosque of Kufa |  |
Kufa | Iraq | 639 | Shia | The mosque, built in the 7th century, contains the remains of Muslim Ibn‘ Aqīl - first cousin of Husayn ibn ‘Alī, his companion Hānī ibn ‘Urwa, and the revolutionary Mukhtār al-Thaqafī. |
| Mosque of Uqba | |
Kairouan | Tunisia | 670 | Sunni | rebuilt in the 9th century |
| Imam Hussain Mosque |  |
Karbala | Iraq | 680 | Shia | reconstructed several times, including in 1016 |
| Al-Aqsa Mosque |  |
Old City of Jerusalem | Palestine | 705 | Sunni | Al-Aqsa and Bayt al-Muqaddas, is the third holiest site in Islam and is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. The site on which the silver domed mosque sits, along with the Dome of the Rock |
| Al-Zaytuna Mosque |  |
Tunis | Tunisia | 709 | Sunni | |
| Umayyad Mosque |  |
Damascus | Syria | 715 | Sunni | National Mosque |
| Imam Ali Mosque | .jpg) |
Najaf | Iraq | 977 | Shia, Sunni | Shrine of first Shia Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, and fourth Sunni Rashidun Caliph. |
| Great Mosque of Xi'an |  |
Xi'an, Shaanxi | China | 742[2] | Although remains date mostly from the 18th century,[3] the Mosque was founded in 742[4] | |
| Atiq Mosque, Awjila | _-_The_Mosque_of_Atiq.jpg) |
Awjila | Libya | 1101 | Sunni | |
| Arba'a Rukun |  |
Mogadishu | Somalia | 1268/9 | Sunni | |
| Fakr ad-Din Mosque |  |
Mogadishu | Somalia | 1269 | Sunni | Mosque built by Sultan Fakr ad-Din of the Sultanate of Mogadishu (10th Century - 16th Century). |
| Kazimar Big Mosque |  |
Madurai | India | 1284 | Sunni, Hanafi Shadhili | Second Mosque in Tamil Nadu. |
By country
Afghanistan
- Haji Piyada, built in the second half of the 9th century, oldest Islamic building in Afghanistan [5]
Albania
▪ Iljaz Mirahori Mosque, is a historic mosque in Korçë, Albania. It was built in 1494 by Iljaz Hoxha, also known as Iljaz Bey Mirahor.[6] It is a Cultural Monument of Albania.[7]
▪ King Mosque, Elbasan or Sulltan Bayazit mosque in Elbasan was builted around 1482.
Argentina
- At-Tauhid Mosque, Buenos Aires. Opened in October 1983 by the shia community of Buenos Aires and with the support of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Argentina. It is a very simple building with a subtle Islamic style in its facade.[8]
Armenia
- Blue Mosque, Yerevan, built in the mid 18th century.
Australia
See also: List of mosques in Australia
- Central Adelaide Mosque, the oldest major city mosque built in 1888. However, the Marree Mosque is the first mosque to be built in what is now Australia at Marree in northern South Australia in 1861.[9]
Azerbaijan
- Juma Mosque, Shamakhi, was built in 743-744, set on fire by Armenian units of "Dashnaktsutiun" in 1918, reconstructed in 2009.
Bangladesh
- Sixty Dome Mosque, built in 1450 AD by Khan Jahan Ali (1398-1459), is the second-oldest mosque in Bangladesh, and is located in Bagerhat, Khulna division. The fortified structure contains eighty-one domes, sixty stone pillars and eleven mihrabs.
Brazil
- Mesquita Brasil (São Paulo), previous site built in 1929; current building inaugurated in 1952. First mosque in Brazil.[10]
Canada
See also: List of mosques in Canada
- Al-Rashid Mosque, built in 1938, first purpose built mosque
China
See also: List of mosques in China
- Great Mosque of Xi'an, built in 742, but oldest mosque in China is the Beacon Tower mosque of Guangzhou being built in 627.[11]
France
See also: List of mosques in France
- Paris Mosque, built in 1926, oldest mosque in France
Germany
See also: List of mosques in Germany
- Berlin Mosque, built in 1924, oldest mosque building in Germany
Ghana
- Larabanga Mosque, built in 1421. The oldest existing mud-brick mosque in Ghana.
India
See also: List of mosques in India
In India - Tamil Nadu - Ramanathapuram District - Kilakarai - "Old Jumma Masjid" (Palaya Kuthba Pallivasal) started to built in 628 by the order of Governor of Yemen Ibn Bin Sasan is the first Masjid Built in India and Third Oldest masjid built in the world - This is built at the time of Prophet Muhammed (SAL) - This mosque is still used for prayers from the opening - By Keelai Kether Mohideen Kalanjiam
- Cheraman Juma Masjid, Built in 629 and first mosque in India
- Kazimar Big Mosque, built in 1278. The first mosque at Madurai in south India
Indonesia
See also: List of mosques in Indonesia
- Great Mosque of Demak, the oldest surviving mosque in Indonesia dating to the 15th century.
Iran
See also: List of mosques in Iran
- Jameh Mosque of Ferdows, built possibly in the 7th century
- Tarikhaneh Mosque, Damghan, 8th century
Iraq
- Great Mosque of Kufa, built in 639
Kosovo
- Mosque of Muderis Ali Efendi, Prizren, built in 1543-1581
- Mosque of Kuklibeu, Prizren, built in 1534
- Mosque of Sinan Pasha, Prizren, built in 1615
Macedonia
- Halit Efendi Mosque, build in 1415, is one of the oldest mosque in Macedonia.
Malaysia
See also: List of mosques in Malaysia
- Kampung Laut Mosque, built in 1730s
Montenegro
- Sailors' Mosque, it was built in the 14th century.
Netherlands
- Mobarak Mosque (The Hague), built in 1955, first purpose built mosque in the Netherlands
Niger
- Agadez Mosque, Agadez. Built in 1515.
Nigeria
- Great Mosque of Kano, Kano. Built in the 15th century for Emir Muhammad Rumfa
Oman
- Masjid Mazin bin Ghadouba, foundations date to the 7th century, oldest mosque in Oman
Pakistan
See also: List of mosques in Pakistan
- Nivin Masjid, Lahore - 1465
Saudi Arabia
- Masjid al-Haram, First and oldest mosque in the world
- Quba Mosque, built in the 7th century
- Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, built in the 7th century; very old mosque in Saudi Arabia
Singapore
See also: List of mosques in Singapore
- Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, built in 1820
Somalia
- Masjid al-Qiblatayn, built in the 7th century in Zeila, shortly after the hijra; oldest mosque in the Horn region
- Fakr ad-Din Mosque, built in 1269; oldest mosque in Mogadishu
- Arba'a Rukun Mosque, built c. 1268/9 in Mogadishu, concurrently with the Fakr ad-Din Mosque
South Africa
- Auwal Mosque, built in 1798 in Cape Town. This is the oldest mosque in South Africa.
- Juma Masjid Mosque, built in 1881, one of the oldest mosques in South Africa
- Habibia Soofie Saheb Jamia Masjid, built in 1905, one of the oldest mosques in South Africa
Spain
- Córdoba Mosque, built between 780 and 785. Later converted to a catholic cathedral in 1236
Sri Lanka
- Masjid al-Abrar, built in the first century of Hijra in Beruwala, Sri Lanka. The date has been carved in its stone pillars. It is situated in western province of Sri Lanka.
Syria
See also: List of mosques in Syria
- Umayyad Mosque, built in 715
Taiwan
See also: List of mosques in Taiwan
- Taipei Grand Mosque, built in 1965
Tanzania
- Great Mosque of Kilwa, 10th century
- Kizimkazi Mosque
Thailand
See also: List of mosques in Thailand
- 300 Years Mosque, built in the 17th century, possibly oldest mosque in Thailand
Tunisia
- Mosque of Uqba, built in the 7th century, possibly oldest mosque in Tunisia
Turkey
See also: List of mosques in Turkey
- Hagia Sophia, built in 537 as a Christian church, later converted to a mosque in 1453, now a museum since 1931
United Arab Emirates
- Al Badiyah Mosque, built in the 15th century, oldest mosque in UAE.
United States
See also: List of mosques in the United States
- Al-Sadiq Mosque, commissioned in 1922, in Chicago, Illinois
Yemen
- Great Mosque of Sana'a, built in the 7th century, possibly oldest mosque
- Al-Janad mosque, built in the 7th century, possibly oldest mosque
See also
- List of mosques
- List of first mosques by country
- List of mosques in Africa
- List of mosques in the Americas
- List of mosques in Asia
- List of mosques in Europe
- List of mosques in Oceania
- Mosque
- List of the oldest buildings in the world
- Oldest churches in the world
- Oldest synagogues in the world
External links and references
- ↑ Gibb & Beckingham 1994, pp. 814–815 Vol. 4.
- ↑ China By Shelley Jiang,pg. 274
- ↑ Fodor's China edited by Margaret Kelly, pg 618
- ↑ Geography of China: Sacred and Historic Places By Britannica Educational Publishing, pg. 181-182, Kenneth Pletcher
- ↑ "City of Balkh (antique Bactria) - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
- ↑ Albania Explorer
- ↑ "Religious buildings with the "Culture Monument" status". Republic of Albania National Committee for Cult. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
- ↑ "Circuitos Halal". City of Buenos Aires. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Afghan cameleers in Australia - Australia's Culture Portal". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
- ↑ Mesquita Brasil: Nossa História in Portuguese.
- ↑ Britannica Educational Publishing; Kenneth Pletcher (2010). The Geography of China: Sacred and Historic Places. Britannica Educational Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 9781615301829. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
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