Jamia Mosque, Harar

The Jamia Mosque is a Friday mosque in Harar, a city in eastern Ethiopia. It is located in the old walled city, the Harar Jugol, that is a UNESCO World [Heritage Site].

History

Local tradition suggests that the Jamia Mosque is one of the oldest mosque remaining in Harar, while others give it a foundation date of 1216 CE. Three Harar mosques have been dated from the 10th century CE, although the Jamia Mosque was not dated. Archaeological excavation within the mosque perimeter has not been permitted.
The Jamia Mosque was extensively remodeled with the addition of a second minaret in the 16th century, probably during the reign of Ahmad [ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi] the mosque was enlarged. During the Italian occupation a water pool was added to the sahn on the east side of the mosque. The mosque was most remodelled in the 1980s, with the addition of a second storey.