Fakhr al-Din Mosque

Fakr Ad-Din Mosque
مسجد فخر الدين زنكي
Fakr Ad-Din Mosque ; مسجد فخر الدين زنكي
	The 13th century Fakr Ad-Din mosque in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Location
Location	Mogadishu; Somalia
Architecture
Type	Mosque
Completed	969
Dome(s)	2

The Fakr Ad-Din Mosque (Arabic: مسجد فخر الدين زنكي), also known as Masjid Fakhr Ad-Din, is the oldest mosque in Mogadishu, Somalia. It is located in Hamar Weyne (literally "big Hamar"), the oldest part of the city.^[1] It is believed to be the 7th oldest mosque in Africa.

Description

The mosque was built in 969 by Sultan Fakr ad-Din, the first Sultan of the Sultanate of Mogadishu. This ruling house was succeeded by the Muzaffar dynasty, and the kingdom subsequently became closely linked with the Ajuran Sultanate.^[2]

Stone, including Indian marble and coral, were the primary materials used in the construction of the masjid. The structure displays a compact rectangular plan, with a domed mihrab axis. Glazed tiles were also used in the decoration of the mihrab, one of which bears a dated inscription.

Photographs of the Fakr ad-Din mosque feature in drawings and images of central Mogadishu from the late 19th century onwards. The mosque can be identified amidst other buildings by its two cones, one round and the other hexagonal.

References

^ Adam, Anita. Benadiri People of Somalia with Particular Reference to the Reer Hamar of Mogadishu. pp. 204–205.
^ "The Sultanates of Somalia | World Civilization". courses.lumenlearning.com. Retrieved 2019-02-01.