Meeran Jumma Mosque Explained

Meeran Jumma Mosque
Map Type:Sri Lanka
Map Size:220px
Map Relief:yes
Coordinates:6.0246°N 80.2187°W
Religious Affiliation:Islam
Location:90 Leyn Baan Street
Municipality:Galle
Province:Southern
Country:Sri Lanka
Sect:Sunni
Festivals:-->
Organizational Status:-->
Architecture Type:mosque
Architecture Style:Baroque
Year Completed:1904
Date Destroyed:-->
Elevation Ft:-->

The Meeran Jumma Mosque (Sinhala; Sinhalese: ගාලු කොටුව මීරාන් ජුම්මා මස්ජිදය), commonly known as Galle Fort Mosque, is a mosque located within Galle Fort, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.

History

The current two-storey building was commissioned in 1904 by Ahamed Haji Ismail,[1] [2] allegedly on the site of a Portuguese catholic church. Although it is claimed that it was the original site of a mosque built in the 1750s, predating the Portuguese occupation. The numerals painted on the front wall of the mosque state the year 1325 Hijri, which supports the notion that a prayer space existed here before the 20th century.

Ismail was a devout wealthy Muslim, who also commissioned mosques in Weligama and Poruwa. The mosque is named in honour of Meeran Saheb of South India who is buried in Nagore Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India, and was widely regarded as the patron saint of sailors to and from Sri Lanka. Jumma Mosque literally means "Friday Mosque" or commonly the principal mosque.

Architecture

The mosque was constructed in a mixture of Victorian/Baroque architecture styles, with Islamic detailing.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Meeran Jumma Mosque. Truly Sri Lanka. 26 August 2021.
  2. Web site: 15 Beautiful Mosques of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Museum of Muslims: History, Culture & Religion. 26 August 2021.