Grand Al-Husseini Mosque, Amman

The Grand Al-Husseini Mosque, the oldest in Amman, holds a special place in the hearts of the city's residents and serves as a focal point for people from all walks of life.

With a legacy spanning over eight decades, the Grand Al-Husseini Mosque holds the distinction of being the capital's first major architectural endeavor. It predates the city's bustling markets, the elegant villas of Jabal Amman, and even the historic Raghadan Palace, making it a venerable testament to Amman's rich heritage.

The mosque's history reaches back to an earlier era, with its foundations dating to the reign of Caliph Omar Ben Al Khattab during the years 634-644 AD. It underwent significant renovations during the Umayyad era, which spanned from 661 to 750 AD. The original mosque consisted of a prayer hall and a courtyard where worshippers gathered. A single minaret, which summoned the faithful to their daily prayers, completed the original structure.

In 1921, as His Majesty the late King Abdullah I declared Amman as the capital of the Kingdom, he made the historic decision to reconstruct the old mosque. This ambitious project reached its culmination in 1924 when the new mosque was completed. In honor of his late father Sharif Hussein, the esteemed leader of the Great Arab Revolt, King Abdullah I chose to name the newly constructed mosque the Grand Al-Husseini Mosque.

The mosque's architectural splendor included a prayer hall, a courtyard, and a domed fountain designated for ablutions, adorned with intricate Koranic verses fashioned in mosaics. While the original ablution area later saw relocation, the mosque retained its distinctive character. In 1924, a 13-meter tall minaret was erected, and its twin counterpart joined it in 1952. In 1987, during the reign of His Majesty the late King Hussein, further renovations were undertaken to maintain the mosque's grandeur.