Sheikh Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Mosque (Arabic: جامع الشيخ سليمان الراجحي), better known as Al-Rajhi Grand Mosque (Arabic: جامع الراجحي), is a Friday mosque in the al-Jazirah neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Opened in 2004, it incorporates elements of Andalusian Moorish 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]
| Al Rajhi Grand Mosque | |
|---|---|
جامع الراجحي | |
 Al Rajhi Mosque, 2024 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Location | |
| Location | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Municipality | Al-Sulay |
| Geographic coordinates | 24°40′38″N 46°46′44″E / 24.67722°N 46.77889°E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Moorish[1] |
| Founder | Sulaiman al-Rajhi |
| Funded by | Sulaiman al-Rajhi |
| Date established | 26 September 2004 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| Interior area | 13,260 square metres (3.28 acres) |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Dome height (outer) | 37 m |
| Dome dia. (outer) | 28.8 m |
| Minaret(s) | 2 |
| Minaret height | 55 m |
| Site area | 43,568 square metres (10.766 acres) |
Overview
editThe 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 al-Saud.[9] Around 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 around 3 thousand books, which by 2013, increased to around 16 thousand books and 47 thousand 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
editIn March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a global pandemic. Weeks later, King Salman announced a three-week nationwide curfew, barring all types of gatherings across Saudi Arabia.[14] Al Rajhi Mosque subsequently got 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 12 mosques in Riyadh designated for Islamic funerary rituals in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.[16][17]
References
edit- ^ "Al-Rajhi Mosque in Riyadh". Saudipedia. 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "جسر على (الدائري) للوصول لجامع الراجحي". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ Morgan, Francis. Vacation Goose Travel Guide Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Soffer Publishing.
- ^ Akram, Seraj (2020-10-20). Muslim Factbook: The most realistic book about the Muslim World. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64892-668-6.
- ^ الرياض, اليوم- (2013-09-27). "جامع "الراجحي" بالرياض". alyaum (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ "سليمان الراجحي.. نعم المال الصالح للمرء الصالح - سلمان بن محمد العُمري". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "جامع الراجحي.. أعمال برٍّ تغطي أحياء الرياض". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ ""مغاسل الأموات" تخيف الأحياء: مغسلة مسجد الراجحي في الرياض تستقطب متدربين من كندا وروسيا في دورات لمدة 4 أسابيع". archive.aawsat.com. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ اليوم, الرياض ـ (2004-09-27). "سمو أمير الرياض خلال افتتاحه للمسجد". alyaum (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ a b "الساحة الشرقية لجامع الراجحي تتحول إلى سوق تجاري.. والباعة الجائلون يضايقون المصلين والسكان". www.alriyadh.com (in Arabic). 25 December 2004. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "جامع الراجحي.. أعمال برٍّ تغطي أحياء الرياض". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
- ^ "صالح بن عبدالعزيز الراجحي في ذمة الله". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
- ^ "غياب أحد الأركان الـ 4 المؤسسة لمصرف الراجحي بوفاة محمد الراجحي". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia's King Salman orders curfew for 21 days". Al Arabiya English. 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
- ^ "أول صلاة جمعة في الرياض بعد فتح المساجد .. عبادة والتزام بالإجراءات". صحيفة الاقتصادية (in Arabic). 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
- ^ الرياض, واس- (2021-09-02). "12 جامعا في الرياض لصلاة الجنائز". alyaum (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ "السعوديون يؤدون صلاة الجمعة بسلوك اجتماعي مختلف". الشرق الأوسط (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-04-10.