Al Rajhi Grand Mosque
| Al Rajhi Grand Mosque | |
|---|---|
Arabic: جامع الراجحي | |
 Al Rajhi Mosque, 2024 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Riyadh, Al-Sulay |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
  Location of the mosque in Saudi Arabia | |
| Geographic coordinates | 24°40′38″N 46°46′44″E / 24.67722°N 46.77889°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | Moorish Revival[1] |
| Founder | Sulaiman Al-Rajhi |
| Funded by | Sulaiman Al-Rajhi |
| Completed | 2004 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 20,000 worshippers |
| Interior area | 13,260 m2 (142,700 sq ft) |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Dome height (outer) | 37 m (121 ft) |
| Dome dia. (outer) | 28.8 m (94 ft) |
| Minaret(s) | 2 |
| Minaret height | 55 m (180 ft) |
| Site area | 43,568 m2 (468,960 sq ft) |
Sheikh Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Mosque (Arabic: جامع الشيخ سليمان الراجحي), better known as Al-Rajhi Grand Mosque (Arabic: جامع الراجحي), is a Sunni Islam Friday mosque in the al-Jazirah neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Opened in 2004, it incorporates elements of Andalusian Moorish Revival architecture and is one of the largest mosques in Riyadh besides being considered among the largest mosques in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. It is named after the Saudi businessman and billionaire Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi, who primarily funded the mosque's construction.[2][3][4][5]
Overview
[edit]The construction of the mosque was financed by Saudi businessman Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi. The mosque was set to replace an old mosque of the same name situated in the east of al-Safa neighborhood since 1985.
The mosque is locally known for providing Islamic funerary services to the deceased, such as ritual baths and prayers, which was previously located in the al-Rabwah neighborhood.[6][7][8]
The mosque was inaugurated on 26 September 2004 by the-then governor of Riyadh, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz.[9] Approximately two months after its inauguration, local street vendors had turned the mosque's eastern parking lot into an open-air marketplace, resulting in overcrowding and disorder.[10] The local Al-Riyadh daily reported the issue and asked the city's municipal authorities to intervene in the matter.[10]
The mosque's library was opened in 2005, which initially contained approximately 3,000 books, which by 2013, increased to around 16,000 books and 47,000 volumes.[11]
The mosque hosted the funeral prayers of Saudi businessman and philanthropist Saleh bin Abdulaziz al-Rajhi, the founder of Al Rajhi Bank upon his death in 2011.[12] In 2012, the mosque also hosted the funeral prayers of Mohamed bin Abdulaziz al-Rajhi, the brother to both Saleh and Sulaiman.[13]
COVID-19 closure and reopening
[edit]In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a global pandemic. Weeks later, King Salman bin Abdulaziz announced a three-week nationwide curfew, barring all types of gatherings across Saudi Arabia.[14] Al Rajhi Mosque subsequently was closed to worshippers until June 2020,[15] when the Saudi government eased restrictions and worshippers were allowed in limited numbers provided that they maintain social distancing. In 2021, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs recognized Al Rajhi Mosque as one of the twelve mosques in Riyadh designated for Islamic funerary rituals in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.[16][17]
In popular culture
[edit]The mosque had a brief appearance in the 2023 Indian Hindi-language comedy drama film Dunki, incorrectly depicting it as part of the skyline of Jeddah.
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Al-Rajhi Mosque in Riyadh". Saudipedia. July 10, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ "جسر على (الدائري) للوصول لجامع الراجحي". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
- ^ Morgan, Francis. Vacation Goose Travel Guide Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Soffer Publishing.
- ^ Akram, Seraj (October 20, 2020). Muslim Factbook: The most realistic book about the Muslim World. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64892-668-6.
- ^ الرياض, اليوم- (September 27, 2013). "جامع "الراجحي" بالرياض". alyaum (in Arabic). Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "سليمان الراجحي.. نعم المال الصالح للمرء الصالح - سلمان بن محمد العُمري". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
- ^ "جامع الراجحي.. أعمال برٍّ تغطي أحياء الرياض". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). August 4, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ ""مغاسل الأموات" تخيف الأحياء: مغسلة مسجد الراجحي في الرياض تستقطب متدربين من كندا وروسيا في دورات لمدة 4 أسابيع". archive.aawsat.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ اليوم, الرياض ـ (September 27, 2004). "سمو أمير الرياض خلال افتتاحه للمسجد". alyaum (in Arabic). Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ a b "الساحة الشرقية لجامع الراجحي تتحول إلى سوق تجاري.. والباعة الجائلون يضايقون المصلين والسكان". www.alriyadh.com (in Arabic). December 25, 2004. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "جامع الراجحي.. أعمال برٍّ تغطي أحياء الرياض". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). August 4, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "صالح بن عبدالعزيز الراجحي في ذمة الله". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "غياب أحد الأركان الـ 4 المؤسسة لمصرف الراجحي بوفاة محمد الراجحي". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). September 26, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia's King Salman orders curfew for 21 days". Al Arabiya English. March 23, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- ^ "أول صلاة جمعة في الرياض بعد فتح المساجد .. عبادة والتزام بالإجراءات". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). June 5, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ الرياض, واس- (September 2, 2021). "12 جامعا في الرياض لصلاة الجنائز". alyaum (in Arabic). Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "السعوديون يؤدون صلاة الجمعة بسلوك اجتماعي مختلف". الشرق الأوسط (in Arabic). Retrieved April 10, 2023.
