By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI – Algeria has inaugurated the third biggest mosque in the world, after the Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid-e-Nabwi in Madinah, ahead of the holy month of Ramzan following over a decade of planning, preparations and construction, which were marred by controversies over delays and cost overruns. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune formally inaugurated the mosque on February 25.
Known locally as the Djamaa El-Djazair, the mosque is stated to be the largest in Africa and outside Islam’s holiest sites. Its prayer hall can accommodate over 1.20 lakh Namazis. The mosque was constructed on the Mediterranean coastline by a Chinese firm throughout the decade of 2010s at a cost of 900 million U.S. dollars. It also features the world’s tallest minaret, measuring 265 metres.
The grand mosque’s modernist design contains Arab and North African flourishes to honour Algerian tradition and culture, as well as a helicopter landing pad and a library which can house up to 10 lakh books. The mosque, adorned with marble pillars and a large mihrab, showcases authentic Algerian decoration, showcasing the beauty of the region.
The mosque was the brainchild of the late Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was removed from office following protests in 2019. Bouteflika wanted the mosque to be his legacy, just like the Mosque Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco, which is Algeria’s neighbour, named after the former king, once hailed as Africa’s largest.
Djamaa El-Djazair mosque.
The prayer hall, spanning 20,000 square meters, and mosque walls were adorned with Arabic calligraphy over a six-km stretch, with engineering design based on anti-seismic standards. The mosque features a landing helicopter space, car park which can accommodate 4,000 cars, and a large courtyard surrounded by gardens and ponds on the lower floor.
Resembling a massive cube, the prayer hall stands approximately 22.5 metres high, with a dome soaring to 70 metres at its apex. All religious elements, including the Qibla wall, Mihrab, and Minbar, blend seamlessly into the modern aesthetic of the hall.
The mosque was scheduled to be inaugurated in February 2019, but the protests which eventually forced President Bouteflika to step down halted these plans. The mosque’s construction invited wide controversy, amid criticism over the choice of its location, which experts warned was in a fairly earthquake-prone area, as well as the suspicions of corruption.
World Union of Muslim Ulema general secretary Ali Mohammed Salabi said the inauguration of the mosque would guide Muslims towards goodness and moderation. Algeria has been promoting a moderate brand of Islam since the government forces controlled a rebellion in 1990s, when a civil war swept the country.
The inaugural event was largely ceremonial as the mosque has been open to international tourists and state visitors to Algeria for about five years. President Tebboune was accompanied by some leading scholars and preachers from Islamic and western countries at the inaugural ceremony. The mosque will now be hosting Taraweeh prayers during the upcoming Ramzan, when Muslims in Algeria and elsewhere will observe month-long fasts.
People assembled in Djamaa El-Djazair mosque for namaz
Thousands of people performed the first Friday namaz at the mosque on March 1. The public transport company in the Algerian capital announced the launch of several transportation lines from various points in Algiers, providing direct access to the mosque square to facilitate the arrival of worshippers. The prayer was also broadcasted through various local channels.
Leading the worshipers in the first Friday namaz was the Dean of Djamaa El-Djazair, Sheikh Mohammed Mamoun El Kacimi El Hassani. In his sermon, he said the mosque’s establishment stems from the understanding that it is the primary centre of radiance helping in the advancement of society. “We are witnessing a historic moment etched in the memory of generations, affirming Algeria’s deep-rooted identity and the contributions of its scholars. This mosque was built upon land irrigated by the blood of those who resisted colonisation, martyred in the Battle of El Ouffia during the early stages of French colonialism,” he said.
Significantly, the mosque has been built on the ruins of the White Fathers’ School, established by the French cardinal Lavigerie during the colonial era to support the occupation and missionary campaign in Alegria. This choice aims to establish a religious and political symbolic significance which reinforces Algeria’s victory in reclaiming its identity and defeating France’s attempts to erase and distort its identity over a century and a half, from 1830 until the country’s independence in 1962.
The mosque complex extends beyond religious functions, encompassing cultural and educational buildings. These include a house for the Holy Quran studies, an Islamic Cultural Centre, a library housing 10 lakh books, lecture halls, museums, research centres, and more. These facilities position the mosque as not only a centre of religious activity but also a hub for social, cultural, and educational events.
The project had its share of controversies during the years of the mosque’s construction, including the choice of site, which was stated to be seismically risky. Besides, many Algerians criticised the project,
saying they would have preferred the construction of four hospitals in different parts of the country.
The construction of the mosque, along with a major national highway and 10 lakh housing units, was marred by suspicions of corruption during the Bouteflika era, with suspected bribes paid to the government officials.
Islam is the majority and state religion in Algeria and the vast majority of is citizens are Sunni Muslims belonging to the Maliki school of jurisprudence. Islam was first brought to Algeria by the Umayyad dynasty following the invasion of Uqba ibn Nafi in a long process of conquest stretching from 670 to 711. The native Berbers were rapidly converted in large numbers, although some Christian and pagan communities continued with their primitive religious practices.
Following the revolution, various groups have tried to influence Algeria into becoming an Islamic Arab socialist state. A Ministry has been set up in the Algerian government to take care of religious affairs. While Islamic awareness is promoted in Algeria, religious tolerance is high in the country. People of all religions are afforded the right to worship and are respected.
