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.

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Oldest mosques

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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 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 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
Awjila Libya 1101 Sunni
Arba'a Rukun

Mosque

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

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

Armenia

Australia

Azerbaijan

Bangladesh

Brazil

Canada

China

France

Germany

Ghana

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

Indonesia

Iran

Iraq

Kosovo

Macedonia

Malaysia

Montenegro

Netherlands

Niger

Nigeria

Oman

Pakistan

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Somalia

South Africa

Spain

Sri Lanka

Syria

Taiwan

Tanzania

Thailand

Tunisia

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

United States

Yemen

See also

External links and references

  1. Gibb & Beckingham 1994, pp. 814–815 Vol. 4.
  2. China By Shelley Jiang,pg. 274
  3. Fodor's China edited by Margaret Kelly, pg 618
  4. Geography of China: Sacred and Historic Places By Britannica Educational Publishing, pg. 181-182, Kenneth Pletcher
  5. "City of Balkh (antique Bactria) - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
  6. Albania Explorer
  7. "Religious buildings with the "Culture Monument" status". Republic of Albania National Committee for Cult. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  8. "Circuitos Halal". City of Buenos Aires. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  9. "Afghan cameleers in Australia - Australia's Culture Portal". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
  10. Mesquita Brasil: Nossa História in Portuguese.
  11. 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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