Jummah Mosque, Port Louis

The Jummah Mosque dates to 1852, when a group of Muslim merchants purchased two properties on Queen Street. A house on the site was initially used as a temporary prayer room while a purpose-built mosque was under construction. Completed and opened for worship in 1853, it became known as the “Mosque of the Arabs,” because local people mistakenly believed its Indian founders were Arabs.

As the Muslim community of Port Louis grew, a larger place of worship became necessary. Between 1857 and 1877, Muslim merchants purchased several adjoining plots and donated them to the mosque. Expansion began in 1878 under the supervision of Jackaria Jan Mahomed. Craftsmen and construction materials were brought from India, but illness among the workers and shortages of supplies delayed completion until 1895.

Today, the mosque occupies almost an entire city block and combines Indian, Creole, Moorish, and Mughal architectural influences. The original Mosque of the Arabs was incorporated into the enlarged complex and now forms its principal prayer hall, where glass chandeliers illuminate the interior.

One of the mosque’s most distinctive features is the Indian almond tree growing in the central courtyard. The complex also contains the marble tomb of Jamal Shah, a respected Muslim spiritual teacher, from Kutch in India. Located beside the mosque, the tomb attracts visitors who come to pay their respects and adds to the religious and historical importance of the site.