Al-Majidiyyeh Mosque

Al-Majidiyyeh Mosque is located in Beirut, Lebanon.

A plaque to commemorate the construction of the new minaret of Al-Majidiyyeh Mosque; Engraved on it (in Arabic): In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful ﴾The mosques of Allah should only be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and fear none but Allah. It is right to hope that they will be among the ˹truly˺ guided﴿ This new high minaret of Al-Majidiyyeh Mosque was built at the expense of benefactor Hajj Sami Al-Sayyid Abdulatif Qabbani, may God Almighty have mercy on him, in the year 1422 H. - 2002 CE.

Overview

Originally a fort, the building was converted into a mosque in the mid-19th century and named after Sultan Abdul Majid. Damaged during the Lebanese Civil War, the mosque was restored in 2004.

Construction

Originally a fort overlooking the harbor, Al-Majidiyyeh Mosque was later converted into an Ottoman army munitions magazine and a warehouse for wood merchants. In 1841, a group of Beirut citizens collected funds to restore it, adding a new building on its western side. Three years later, they converted it into a mosque. The mosque was enlarged in 1906. In 1974, the monument was entirely renovated. The mosque was severely damaged during the early years of the Civil War (1975-1990). Post-war restoration started in 2000 and was completed in 2004. It included the reinstatement of an entrance from Khan Antoun Bey Square and the addition of a new, taller minaret.

History

Al-Majidiyyeh Mosque was originally a fort overlooking the harbor, and formed an integral part of the city ramparts. Deserted, it then served as an Ottoman army munitions magazine and as a warehouse used by wood merchants. In 1841, a group of Beirut citizens collected funds to restore it, adding a new building on its western side. Three years later, they converted it into a mosque and named it ‘Al-Majidiyyeh,’ in honor of Sultan Abdul Majid. The mosque was enlarged in 1906 when pointed arches - fashionable in Beirut at the end of the 19th century – were added to its façade. In 1974, the monument was entirely renovated. Its location between Khan Antoun Bey and Souk Al-Tawileh made it very vulnerable and the mosque was severely damaged during the early years of the Civil War (1975-1990). Post-war restoration started in 2000 and was completed four years later. It included the reinstatement of an entrance from Khan Antoun Bey Square and the addition of a new, taller minaret.

Timeline

1841: A group of Beirut citizens collected funds to restore a fort overlooking the harbor by adding a new building on its western side.

1844: The fort was converted into a mosque and named ‘al-Majidiyyeh,’ in honor of Sultan Abdul Majid.

1906: The mosque was enlarged.

1974: Renovation of the entire mosque.

1975-1990: The mosque was severely damaged during the Civil War due to its location.

2000: Start of the post-war restoration of the mosque.

2004: Mosque completely restored.

See also

References
  • Al-Wali, Sheikh Mohammad Taha (1973) Tarikh al-masajid wal jawami’ al-sharifa fi Bayrout, Dar al-Kotob, Beirut.
  • Hallaq, Hassan (1987) Al-tarikh alijtima'i wa al-siyasi wa al-iqtisadi fi Bayrut, [Social, Political and Economic History of Beirut], Dar al-Jami'at, Beirut.
  • Hallaq, Hassan (1987) Bayrut al-mahrousa fil'ahd al-'uthmâni, [Beirut during the Ottoman Period], Dar al-Jami’at, Beirut.
  • Les lieux de culte au Liban. Ministère du Tourisme, Beyrouth.

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