List of the oldest mosques in the world

List of the oldest mosques in the world
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).

Contents

Oldest mosques

Building Image Location Country First Built Denomination Notes
Quba Mosque Masjid al-Quba.jpg Medina Saudi Arabia 622 Sunni Oldest mosque site, but building largely rebuilt in 20th century
Al-Masjid al-Nabawi Green Dome of the Holy Prophet.jpg Medina Saudi Arabia 622 Islam Site of pilgrimage. Contains Muhammad's tomb. Largely rebuilt.
Masjid al-Qiblatain Al-Qiblatin Mosque.jpg Medina Saudi Arabia 623 Sunni Mosque of the two Qiblas
Jawatha Mosque Jwathamsk.jpg Al-Kilabiyah Saudi Arabia 629 n/a (defunct)
Masjid al-Haram Kaaba mirror edit jj.jpg Mecca Saudi Arabia 638 Islam Site of pilgrimage, rebuilt in 1571
Great Mosque of Kufa Kufa Mosque, 1915.jpg Kufa Iraq 639 Shia
Mosque of Uqba Kairouan's Great Mosque courtyard.jpg Kairouan Tunisia 670 Sunni rebuilt in 800s
Cheraman Juma Masjid Cheraman jumamasjid.JPG Kodungallur India Sunni Locally considered to be the first mosque of India; reliability of sources unclear
Imam Hussain Mosque Kerbela Hussein Moschee.jpg Karbala Iraq 680 Shia reconstructed several times, including in 1016
Al-Aqsa Mosque Al-aqsa-mosque01 cropped.JPG Jerusalem 705 Sunni
Al-Zaytuna Mosque MinaretMosqueeZitounaTunis.JPG Tunis Tunisia 709 Sunni
Umayyad Mosque Umayyad Mosque.jpg Damascus Syria 715 Shia, Sunni National Mosque
Great Mosque of Xi'an Chinese-style minaret of the Great Mosque.jpg Xi'an, Shaanxi China 742[1] Although remains date mostly from the 18th century,[2] the Mosque was founded in 742[3]

By country and territories

Afghanistan

  • Haji Piyada, built in the second half of the 9th century, oldest Islamic building in Afghanistan [4]

Australia

  • Central Adelaide Mosque, the oldest major city mosque built in 1888. However, the first mosque in Australia was built at Marree in northern South Australia in 1861.[5]

Bangladesh

Canada

  • Al-Rashid Mosque, built in 1938, first purpose built mosque

China

Egypt

France

Germany

  • Berlin Mosque, built in 1924, oldest mosque building in Germany

India

  • Cheraman Juma Masjid, date uncertain but purportedly in 7th century, one of the oldest mosques in India
  • Old Jumma Masjid of Kilakarai, 11th century, one of the oldest mosques
  • Kazimar Big Mosque in Madurai. Built in 13th century second oldest mosque in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu

Indonesia

  • Agung Demak Mosque, built in 15th century, one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia

Iran

  • Jameh Mosque of Ferdows, built possibly in 7th century

Iraq

  • Imam Hussain Mosque, built in 680

Jerusalem

Malaysia

Netherlands

Oman

  • Masjid Mazin bin Ghadouba, foundations date to 7th century, oldest mosque in Oman

Pakistan

Saudi Arabia

  • Masjid al-Haram, built ca. 7th century, oldest mosque in Saudi Arabia
  • Quba Mosque, built in 7th century, oldest mosque in the world

Singapore

Somalia

Syria

Thailand

Tunisia

Turkey

  • Hagia Sophia, built in 537 as a Christian church, later converted to a mosque in 1453, now a museum

United Arab Emirates

  • Al Badiyah Mosque, built in 15th century, oldest mosque in UAE

United Kingdom

  • Masjid-e-Abu Hurairah (Wales), built in 1860, oldest mosque in UK
  • Shah Jahan Mosque (England), built in 1889, oldest purpose built mosque in England
  • Fazl Mosque (England), built in 1924, oldest purpose built mosque in London

United States

Yemen

  • Great Mosque of Sana'a, built in 7th century, possibly oldest mosque
  • Al-Janad mosque, built in 7th century, possibly oldest mosque

See also

External links and references


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