Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque
The Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque (Arabic: مسجد عبد الله بن سلام) is a mosque in Oran, Algeria. Formerly the Great Synagogue of Oran (French: Grande synagogue d'Oran), it was the largest synagogue in Africa. Also known as Temple Israélite, it was located on Boulevard Joffre, currently Boulevard Maata Mohamed El Habib.
History
Its construction began in 1879 at the initiative of Simon Kanoui, and took 38 years to complete. Once Algeria gained its independence in 1962, almost all Algerian Jews, who were considered French citizens since the Crémieux Decree of 1870, were expelled to France alongside the Pied-Noir settlers. In 1975, the synagogue was converted into a mosque and named after Abdullah ibn Salam, a seventh-century Jew from Medina and companion of Muhammad who converted to Islam.
Architecture
Its style shows Neo-Mudéjar and Moorish Revival influences.
See also
- History of the Jews in Algeria
- Djamaa Ben farès
- Conversion of non-Islamic places of worship into mosques
References
- ^ Mohamed Merit Heddi (2016). Les maires d'Oran de 1831 à 2016. Editions Publibook. p. 105. ISBN 978-2-342-05530-6. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
- ^ Mohamed Merit Heddi (2016). Les maires d'Oran de 1831 à 2016. Editions Publibook. p. 53. ISBN 978-2-342-05530-6. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abdallah Ibn Salam Mosque.
- The Jewish Community of Oran | The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot Archived 2018-06-12 at the Wayback Machine