List of the oldest mosques


The oldest mosques in the world can refer to the oldest, surviving mosque building or to the oldest mosque congregation. There is also a distinction between old mosque buildings in continuous use as mosques and others no longer used as mosques. In terms of congregations, there are early established congregations that have been in continuous existence, and early congregations that ceased to exist.
The major regions, such as Africa and Eurasia, are sorted alphabetically, and the minor regions, such as Arabia and South Asia, are sorted by the dates in which their first mosques were reportedly established, more or less, barring those that are mentioned by name in the Quran.
To be listed here a site must:
  • be the oldest mosque in a country, large city, or oldest of its type ;
  • be the oldest congregation of its type.

    Mentioned in the Quran

The following are treated as the oldest mosques or sanctuaries mentioned in the Quran:
BuildingImageLocationCountryFirst builtNotes
Al-Haram MosqueMeccaSaudi Arabia, considered the oldest mosque, associated with AbrahamAl-Masjid al-Ḥarām, the holiest sanctuary, containing the Ka'bah, a site of the Ḥajj, the Qiblah, and the first mosque in Islamic thought. Rebuilt many times, notably 1571 by the Ottomans, and the late 20th century by the Saudis, further enlargement under way since 2010.
Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound Jerusalem PalestineConsidered the second oldest mosque in Islamic tradition, associated with Abraham.
The Dome of the Rock was constructed in 692, the Qibli Mosque in 705.
Al-Masjid al-Aqṣá, the former Qiblah, site of the significant event of Night Journey '''', considered the third holiest site in Islam. The Qur'an does not specify the precise location of "the furthest place of prayer", and its meaning was debated by early Islamic scholars. Eventually, a consensus emerged its identification with the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
The term Al-Aqsa properly refers to the whole Temple Mount compound. The mosque compound should not be confused with the silver-domed congregational mosque or prayer hall facing Mecca, commonly referred to in English as Al-Aqsa Mosque, and also known as Al-Qibli Mosque.
Quba MosqueMedinaSaudi ArabiaThe first mosque built by Muhammad in the 7th century CE, possibly mentioned as the "Mosque founded on piety since the first day" in the Quran. Largely rebuilt in the late 20th century.
The Sacred MonumentMuzdalifahSaudi ArabiaAl-Mashʿar Al-Ḥarām a site of the Hajj.

Africa

Northeast Africa

Northwest Africa

Southeast Africa

Southern Africa

West Africa

Asia

Arabian Peninsula

Levant

BuildingImageLocationCountryBuilt
TraditionNotes
BeirutLebanonSunniThe mihrab is the oldest part of the mosque, dating back to the Caliphate of Umar.
Al-Qibli Mosque
Jerusalem PalestineA Muslim prayer hall with a silver-colored lead dome located in the southern part of Al-Aqsa, built by the Rashidun caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab.
Ibrahimi MosqueHebronPalestine
Umayyad Mosque DamascusSyriaSunniIt is considered to be the oldest mosque still in use in its original form. It was originally built after the Muslim conquest of the city in 634. The current structure dates to 715.
Great Mosque of AleppoAleppoSyriaThe mosque was modified and completely rebuilt in later periods. The mosque and its minaret were partially destroyed in April 2013, during the Syrian Civil War
Great Omari Mosque GazaPalestineOriginal structure from the 7th century, renovated later
White MosqueRamlaIsrael
Al-Omari MosqueBosraSyria
Great Mosque of RaqqaRaqqaSyriaIn partial ruins since
Arab Ahmet MosqueArab Ahmet, NicosiaCyprusNamed in honour of a 1571 Ottoman army commander

West Asia

BuildingImageLocationCountryFirst builtTraditionNotes
Imam Ali Mosque BasraIraqrebuilt in 665.
Great Mosque of KufaKufaIraqShiarebuilt in 670. The mosque contains the remains of Muslim ibn Aqeelfirst cousin of Husayn ibn Ali, his companion Hani ibn Urwa, and the revolutionary Mukhtar al-Thaqafi.
Maqam al-Imam al-Husayn MosqueKarbalaIraqShiaReconstructed several times, including in 1016.
Jameh Mosque of IsfahanIsfahanIranFirst mosque on the site was built circa 771, during the reign of the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur. It was then replaced by a larger one in 840–841 during the reign of al-Mu'tasim. It underwent many changes and additions after this, most notably under the Seljuks in the late 11th and early 12th centuries.
Jameh Mosque of FahrajFahrajIran
Great Mosque of SamarraSamarraIraq
Abu Dulaf MosqueSamarraIraq
Tarikhaneh MosqueDamghanIranThe oldest mosque in Iran to preserve much of its original form. Exact date of construction is unclear, but attributed to 9th century based on its style.
Al-Khulafa MosqueBaghdadIraq908The mosque was rebuilt and restored in the 1960s by the Ministry of Awqaf in its current shape
Al-Askari MosqueSamarraIraqShia Shrine of the 10th and 11th Twelver Shi'ite Imams: Ali al-Hadi and Hasan al-Askari.
Imam Ali MosqueNajafIraqShia, SunniHouses the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin and fourth Caliph, and the first person of the Shia Imamate.
Great Mosque of DiyarbakırDiyarbakırTurkey1092SunniOne of the oldest known mosques in modern Turkey, possibly the oldest, but its early history is not well-understood. A mosque was founded in the area after the city's Muslim conquest in 639. The current building dates from thee Seljuk-era, dated by inscription to 1091–2 and further works continuing in the 12th century.
Yivliminare Mosque AntalyaTurkey1230
Aslanhane MosqueAnkaraTurkey1290

Transcaucasia

Central Asia

China and Taiwan

BuildingImageLocationCountryFirst builtTraditionNotes
Huaisheng MosqueGuangzhouChinaOriginally built by Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, who was an uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and was named in memory of Muhammad. Rebuilt many times since.
Xianxian MosqueGuangzhou CityChinaThe mosque was originally built in 629 during the Tang dynasty.
Great Mosque of Xi'anXi'an, ShaanxiChinaAlthough the oldest stones date from the 18th century, the mosque was founded in 742.
Niujie MosqueBeijingChina996
Qingjing MosqueQuanzhou, FujianChina1009
Jinan Great Southern MosqueJinan, ShandongChina1295
Id Kah MosqueKashgar, XinjiangChina1442
Jamia MosqueHong KongChina1890Then British Hong Kong
Taipei Grand MosqueTaipeiTaiwan1947Oldest and most famous mosque in Taiwan. Original building was firstly used in 1947, then relocated to a new site where it was reconstructed in 1960.
Kaohsiung MosqueTaipeiTaiwan1949The second oldest mosque in Taiwan. The original building was built in 1949, then moved to a new location where the second building was built in 1951, and the third and final building built in 1992.
Macau MosqueMacauChina1980The first and only mosque in Macau, then Portuguese Macau.