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.[1]: 105 Also known as Temple Israélite, it was located on Boulevard Joffre, currently Boulevard Maata Mohamed El Habib.
Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque | |
---|---|
مسجد عبدالله بن سلام | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Islam |
Ecclesiastical or organisational status | |
Year consecrated |
|
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | Boulevard Maata Mohamed El Habib, Oran |
Country | Algeria |
Location of the mosque in Oran | |
Geographic coordinates | 35°42′00″N 0°39′01″W / 35.70000°N 0.65028°W |
Architecture | |
Type | Synagogue architecture |
Style | Moorish Revival |
Completed |
|
History
editConstruction of the Orthodox Jewish synagogue began in 1879 at the initiative of Simon Kanoui, and took 38 years to complete.[1]: 53 The synagogue was completed in the Neo-Mudéjar and Moorish Revival styles. When 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[1]: 105 and named after Abdullah ibn Salam, a seventh-century Jew from Medina and companion of Muhammad who converted to Islam.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Heddi, Mohamed Merit (2016). Les maires d'Oran de 1831 à 2016 (in French). Editions Publibook. p. 53. ISBN 978-2-342-05530-6. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2018 – via Google Books.
External links
editMedia related to Abdallah Ibn Salam Mosque at Wikimedia Commons
- The Jewish Community of Oran | The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot Archived 2018-06-12 at the Wayback Machine