Al Abrar Mosque (), is a
mosque
A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard.
Originally, mosques were si ...
in
Beruwala, Sri Lanka, which is claimed to be the first and the oldest mosque in the country.
The mosque purportedly dates back to 920 AD, built by Arab merchants who arrived here to trade with locals in spices, ginger and steel en route to China.
The mosque, fronted by a large pond, has undergone several extensive reconstructions since it was first built, with little attention paid to preserve any historical aspects of the structure. In 1893 the roof was supported by large round pillars, which were demolished in 1986 when the mosque went through a significant refurbishment and expansion, under the guidance and supervision of
Abdul Bakeer Markar, the local member of parliament, representing
Beruwala, who later went on to become the
Speaker of the Parliament and the first
Governor
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
of the
Southern Province.
[ The renovated building was designed by W. J. Neil Alles of Surti and Alles Chartered Architects and built by Alhaj S. M. A. Hameed and M. N. A. Haniffa.][
On 8 June 2003 an image of the mosque was included on two commemorative stamps (a Rs.23 and Rs.4.50), released by the Postal Department to mark the first Arab settlement][
]
See also
* List of mosques in Sri Lanka
References
{{reflist
Mosques in Sri Lanka
Religious buildings and structures in Kalutara District