Abdul Rahman Mosque
Encyclopedia
The Haji Abdul Rahman Mosque (مسجد حاجی عبدالرحمان ), also known as the Grand Mosque of Kabul, is one of the largest mosques in Afghanistan
, located in the middle of downtown
area of Afghanistan
's capital
city, Kabul
. It sits in a busy commercial area of the city, near the Pashtunistan square and across from the deteriorating Plaza Hotel. The mosque has the capacity to serve 10,000 people at a time.
The building was initially designed by Afghan architect Mir Hafizullah Hashimi. Construction of the mosque began in late 1990s when the Taliban
were in power but was suspended for several years after the recent war in Afghanistan
began in late 2001. Work resumed in 2003 after Saudi Arabia
decided to pay for the remaining construction costs. The mosque, which was completed in late 2009, also has a large madrasah
school.
The mosque is named after an influential businessman named Haji Abdul Rahman who had laid the foundation stone back in 1990s but then died. His grandsons continued the project until it was finished.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, located in the middle of downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
area of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
's capital
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
city, Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
. It sits in a busy commercial area of the city, near the Pashtunistan square and across from the deteriorating Plaza Hotel. The mosque has the capacity to serve 10,000 people at a time.
The building was initially designed by Afghan architect Mir Hafizullah Hashimi. Construction of the mosque began in late 1990s when the Taliban
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was founded in 1996 when the Taliban began their rule of Afghanistan and ended with their fall from power in 2001...
were in power but was suspended for several years after the recent war in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
began in late 2001. Work resumed in 2003 after Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
decided to pay for the remaining construction costs. The mosque, which was completed in late 2009, also has a large madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
school.
The mosque is named after an influential businessman named Haji Abdul Rahman who had laid the foundation stone back in 1990s but then died. His grandsons continued the project until it was finished.