The Grand Es-Saffah Mosque in Laghouat
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May God bless you in the morning.... The Great Mosque, also known as the Safa Mosque, was built in the center of Laghouat city in 1874. A religious, historical, and tourist site _____________________ The mosque is known by three names, due to being the largest mosque in the city at that time.
May God bless you in the morning...
The Great Mosque
Or known as al-Masjid al-Safah, it was built in the city of Laghouat in 1874.
A religious, historical and tourist destination
_____________________
The mosque is known by three names: the Great Mosque, due to being the largest mosque in the city at that time; the Mosque of the Stone, because it was built on the stone or rock of Tizgranin; and the Mosque of the Minaret, since it was the first mosque in Laghouat to feature a minaret. At that time, this mosque was constructed on the ruins of the old house of the Ottoman governor Ben Salem, who governed Laghouat. Next to it stood the Boscarin military tower, located in the old fortress.
The Great Mosque's architecture dates back to the Geometric style, where a staircase in the center leads to the mosque, a small courtyard is accessed via opposite stairs, allowing you to ascend and enter the prayer hall.
The credit for the design and construction of this mosque goes to the Italian Muslim architect Giacomo Molinari.
Among the local builders involved in constructing the mosque were members of the Thelji family, a revolutionary family from Laghouat, and their names are inscribed on the plaster at the mosque's minaret.
Molinari was part of a group of Italian civil engineers and architects who arrived in the city of Agouz in 1854, following its occupation in 1852, to carry out several constructions, including the old military post and the church located in the city center.
This engineer designed and oversaw the construction of the Masjid al-Saffaah in Laghouat, and also played a key role in the design and supervision of the old mosques in the cities of Jelgafa and the ancient mosque in Aflo.
When the team of engineers and builders returned to Italy, this engineer remained in Laghouat after embracing Islam, influenced by the ethics and education of the city's inhabitants and their consistent volunteer work in building the mosque. He learned Arabic and chose the name Ahmed (Giacomo Ahmed Molinari).
Died on July 28, 1908, at the age of 94, and was buried in the cemetery of Sheikh Yans in the city of Agueyt after his will.
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Source: National Tourism Office of Algeria — Facebook · Reference source