Mosques/Masjid, Jiddah

As Jeddah is famous of its historical mosques in the old area, for which no effort was saved to preserve it properly. The expansion of the city area was doubled by two hundred times. The expanded city contained more than one thousand mosques all over the city. Those mosques were constructed in accordance with various styles of designs and different schools of heritage architecture ranging from the "Fatimi" "Ottoman" and Islamic styles to others kinds of styles existing in the city. There are also mosques of innovative and modern designs. The mosques now represent a distinguished Islamic feature of the city that is neighboring the Holy City of Makkah and the express highway to the Mosque of the Holy Prophet (in Madinah). Such features altogether gave the city a special spiritual atmosphere, where the building of mosques goes side by side with the growing progress of all forms of architecture in the city.

The Historical Area Protection Directorate of Jeddah was able to renovate the mosque. The building ownership was then transferred to the government. The directorate carried out renovation operations without effecting the core of the mosque.

The relationship between the King and the citizens of Jeddah was ever more consolidated. King Abdul Aziz always prayed the Friday Prayer in AL-Hanafi mosque, at AL-Nada market in AL-Ba Najah house. The citizens of Jeddah always meet and greet King Abdul Aziz in a big majlis joining them in that old house. As time passed by, the characteristic of AL-Hanafi mosque existed until today, to tell the history of those men who pledged to established the modern state. King Abdul Aziz used to meet and listen to the citizens in that mosque.

When we speak about the history of old Jeddah we must pat tribute to the historical era. When late King Abdul Aziz, the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia entered Jeddah city and took it temporarily as the headquarters for his governance.

It is square in figure with open courtyard, to provide natural ventilation and lighting.
The mosque of Osman Bin Affan at AL-Mathlum area was known as the 'Abnos Mosque' as it contained two poles of ebony wood. Its big minaret was built in the ninth and tenth Hijri centuries, the fifteenth century A.D.

The mosque of AL-Basha at AL-Sham district was built by Bakr Basha, the "Wali" of Jeddah. It had minaret that represented a unique architectural land mark. It remained intact until 1398 H - 1978, when the mosque was demolished and a new mosque was constructed on the location.

AL-Me'mari mosque is at AL-Alawi street. It was built by Mustafa Memar Basha in 1284 H, it was called after his name. AL-hanafi mosque is at AL-sham district. It was built in 1240 H and was renovated more than once.

The mosques of the historical area are famous for their old fashion of building, and beautiful form of architecture. There are six mosques which are considered the most important historical and architectural land marks, of Jeddah. The old one is "AL-Shafie Mosque" in AL-Mathloum area, its minaret was said to have been built in the seventh Hijri century - 13th century A.D. which is unique in its style of architecture.