Awwal Mosque (Palm Tree Mosque)
The oldest mosque in sub-Saharan Africa, founded in 1794 in the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood of Cape Town by Sheikh Yusuf of Macassar's followers — a testament to centuries of Islamic faith under Dutch and British colonial rule.
Cape Town Prayer Times Today
History of Awwal Mosque (Palm Tree Mosque)
Awwal Mosque — meaning 'the first' in Arabic — was founded in 1794 in the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood of Cape Town, making it the oldest mosque in sub-Saharan Africa. It was established by Imam Abdullah ibn Qadi Abdus Salam (Tuan Guru), who had been a political prisoner on Robben Island before being freed. The mosque served the enslaved Cape Malay Muslim community under Dutch and British colonial rule and was a centre of resistance, learning, and spiritual sustenance. The mosque is a national monument and symbol of Cape Town's Muslim heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Other Mosques in Cape Town
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