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Jamia Mosque, Harar

Coordinates: 9°18′40″N 42°08′20″E / 9.31111°N 42.13889°E / 9.31111; 42.13889
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Jamia Mosque (Arabic: مسجد الجامع)
"Grand Mosque of Harar"
Religion
AffiliationIslam
RegionHorn of  Africa
Location
Location10 Amir Uga St.
Harar, Ethiopia
Jamia Mosque, Harar is located in Ethiopia
Jamia Mosque, Harar
Shown within Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates9°18′40″N 42°08′20″E / 9.31111°N 42.13889°E / 9.31111; 42.13889
Architecture
TypeMosque
Completed1216 C.E
Minaret(s)2

Jamia Mosque (Arabic: مسجد الجامع),  also known as Grand mosque of Harar is a mosque in Harar, a city in eastern Ethiopia. It is located in the old walled city, the Harar Jugol, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

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Local tradition suggests that the Jamia Mosque is one of the oldest mosque remaining in Harar, while others give it a foundation date of 1216 C.E.[1] Three Harar mosques have been dated to the Tenth Century C.E.,[2] but the Jamia Mosque has not been dated. Archaeological excavation within the mosque perimeter has not been permitted.[3]

The Jamia Mosque was extensively remodeled with the addition of a second minaret in the 16th century probably during the reign (1528–1543) of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, whose gravestone is in the prayer hall. An inscription on the wooden minbar indicates that this was constructed in 1175/1761, i.e. during the reign of Amir Ahmed.[1] Under Amir Abdullahi (1885-1887) the mosque was enlarged. During the Italian occupation (1936-1941) a water pool was added to the courtyard on the east side of the mosque.[4] The mosque was most recently remodeled in the 1980s, with the addition of a second story.[4]

Reference

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  1. ^ a b Insoll, Timothy; Zekaria, Ahmed (2019). "The Mosques of Harar: An Archaeological and Historical Study" (PDF). Journal of Islamic Archaeology. 6 (1). University of Exeter: 81–107, page 86. doi:10.1558/jia.39522.
  2. ^ The three are Aw Mansur Mosque and Garad Muhammad Abogh Mosque within the Jugol, and Aw Machad Mosque outside. Harar Jugol (Ethiopia) No 1189 revised (Report). International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). p. 28. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017.
  3. ^ Insoll & Zekaria 2019, p. 11
  4. ^ a b Chiari, Gian Paolo (2015). A Comprehensive Guide to Harar and Surroundings. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Arada Books. pp. 128–129. ISBN 978-99944-866-6-3.