Inside of Larabanga Mosque, the oldest Mosque in Ghana

Ghana which is officially known as the Republic of Ghana is located along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean towards the direction of sub-region of West Africa. Ghana occupies a land which is about 238,535 km². The border of Ghana is covered with the Togo towards the east, Ivory Coast in its west, Burkina Faso on its north, and the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea towards the south.

The literal meaning of Ghana is Warrior King. Mostly the followers in Ghana are Christians which consists of 74.1% population whereas the second main religion is Islam. Muslims living in Ghana makes about 17.5% of the population. The northern regions of Ghana are inhabited by the Muslims which holds great history in Ghana.[irp]

There is one of the oldest Mosques situated in Ghana which is known as the Larabanga Mosque. This mosque was built in the Sudanese architectural style which is located in the village of Larabanga, Ghana. It is considered as oldest mosque in the country and counted among one of the oldest mosques in West Africa.

Larabanga Mosque also has been called as Makkah of West Africa. Larabanga Mosque is one of the most important and amazing historical mosques which was built around in the 1400s by Ibrahim Ayub al-Ansari who was basically sent here from Al-Madinah Al-Munawwara by his Shaykh.

The purpose of mentioning this detailed information about the great masterpiece of amazing Islamic heritage is to just spread knowledge and awareness of the history of the mosque. The Imam of the mosque is Imam Osman Sulaiman who conducts the five daily prayers at the Larabanga mosque.

There is a small doorway to enter the mosque in which the bottom part is painted in black which is the original foundations as it is narrated that the founder of the mosque was Ibrahim Ayub al-Ansari, he was buried under the place where the tree has grown now.

According to the local information, Ibrahim Ayub al-Ansari was from Banu al-Najjar tribe which is the same tribe as of the mother of our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). The curvy black tree present inside the mosque which supports the roof of the mosque is from the nearest forest.

 

Annually the fruits and leaves are picked from the tree which is almost 500 years old and then shared among the different tribes. The purpose of sharing is to spread peace, harmony, and fraternity among them. However, after the rainy season, the local residents of Larabanga Mosque gather.

After the get-together, they renew the mud on the outer portion of the mosque and then redo painting. Although a hot temperature is observed in Ghana the mosque stays cool from inside and the reason for it staying cool is its construction which is completed from mud.

There is a small room available above the mihrab which has an easy access from the roof of the mosque. It is believed that this portion of the mosque is where the founder of the mosque, Ibrahim Ayub al-Ansari, mostly liked to spend time alone while doing recitation of the Holy Qur’an, offering prayers and contemplating.

Source: Ilm Feed