The Juma Mosque of Durban ( ar, جُـمُـعَـة مَـسْـجِـد, Jumu‘ah Masjid, meaning "

Mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...

of The Congregation") is a

mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...

located in

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

Kwazulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...

in South Africa. Also known as the Grey Street Mosque, it represents a spiritual center for Durban's

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

History and origin

In August 1881, a site was bought by Aboobaker Amod Jhaveri and Hajee Mohamed in Grey Street (now known as Dr.

Yusuf Dadoo Yusuf Mohamed Dadoo (5 September 1909 – 19 September 1983) was a South African Communist and an anti-apartheid activist. During his life, he was chair of both the South African Indian Congress and the South African Communist Party ...

Street) from K. Munsamy for £115 for the construction of a mosque. A tiny brick and mortar structure which stood on the site was converted into the mosque. In February 1884 Aboobaker's estate bought land next to the mosque to enable its further expansion. In 1889 Hajee Mahomed Dada, in his capacity as the only surviving trustee of the mosque purchased more adjoining land due to the swift rise in the number of worshipers. The first of the two minarets on the mosque was constructed in 1904. At the same time, two shops were built alongside the mosque providing an income for its maintenance. A second minaret was added to the mosque in 1905 and several rooms, toilets and shower facilities were also added at the rear of the mosque for travelers to use. Rooms were also built for the Mu‘adh-dhin ( ar, جُـمُـعَـة مَـسْـجِـد, who calls worshipers to prayer). These minarets were at time two of the highest structures in the city of Durban. The mosque was rebuilt in 1927 following the design of the architects Payne & Payne, In 1943 William Bruce Barboure also contributed to the design of the building. The building is a unique blend of Islamic decorations and strong Union period vernacular style. The mosque is actually a series of interlinking buildings, arcades and corridors, in which commerce, religion and community exist in equilibrium. Further extensions and alterations were made to the mosque in 1943. Today the mosque building is a large plastered structure which features a mixture of various styles. A bridge extends from the neighbouring girls' school to the roof of the mosque. The flat roof, which is used for prayer during festivals is used as a playground during school days as the school is not equipped with one. The style of the mosque is essentially geometrical. The windows and inter-leading doors and the arched doorways all stress this geometrical design. It's gilt-domed minarets protrude above the bustling commercial area, but inside the marbled worship hall is peaceful and boasts a simple elegance. The mosque until the late 1970s enjoyed the status of being the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere. Image:Juma Masjid Mosque - Madrassa Arcade on Dr. Yusuf Dadoo Str-20140222.jpg, Madrassa Arcade on Dr. Yusuf Dadoo Street in 2014 Image:Juma Masjid Mosque - Madrassa Arcade on Cathedral Rd-20140222.jpg, Madrassa Arcade on Cathedral Road in 2014 Image:Juma Masjid Square-20140222.jpg, Juma Masjid Mosque and Juma Masjid Square Image:Juma Masjid Mosque on Grey Street(Dr. Yusuf Dadoo)-20140223-.jpg, Juma Masjid Mosque on Dr. Yusuf Dadoo Street in 2014

References

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External links

Visit the Juma Masjid Mosque
{{coord , -29.857147, 31.016576, format=dms, display=title, type:landmark_region:ZA Buildings and structures in Durban Mosques completed in 1930 Mosques in South Africa

History and origin

See also

References

External links