Explore the 700-year-Old Larabanga Masjid of Ghana!

In the early 1400s, the Larabanga mosque in Ghana was founded by Ibrahim Ayuba al-Ansari. He was sent here from al-Madinah al-Munawwara by his Shaykh. According to Locals, he was from Banu al-Najjar, which was the same tribe as of the mother of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Located in the ‎Northern Region in Ghana, the Larabanga mosque was built in the Sudanese architectural style. Referred to as being the “Mecca of West Africa". The mosque is said to be the oldest in West Africa. Built with mud and reeds, the Larabanga masjid has two tall towers in a pyramidal shape; one for the mihrab (Qibla wall) which faces towards Makkah, forming the facade on the east, and the other as a minaret (tower from which Muezzin calls to prayer) which is in the northeast corner. Each side of the building has a separate entrance; one for men, one for women, one for Larabanga’s chief, and one for the muezzin who calls the community to prayer.

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Despite highly hot temperatures of the Larabanga area, the mosque stays cool inside. This is because it has been constructed from mud. It is also said that Ayuba al-Ansari, the founder of this masjid, was buried in this place where the tree has grown. 

The mosque was badly deteriorated by the 1970s and was in great need of reconstruction. With the support from World Monuments Fund, the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, and American Express; the conservators employed local artisans to amend their mistakes. They carefully removed the cement and reapplied a mud paste much like Ayuba had used 550 years ago. The minaret was rebuilt, the walls were whitewashed, and the mosque was restored to its former glory.

The branches of wood, as apparent in all these pictures, serve as markers to indicate the levels and height of each part of the building during this process. A video showing the visit to this oldest mosque in Ghana was posted by IlmFeed Travel:

Today, the mosque is largely maintained by the local community itself. They still worship in the ancient building and also reap the profits of many tourists who come to pay a visit to the holy site.

Every year, after the rainy season, the local residents of Larabanga come together and renew the mud on the outside of the mosque and repaint it. We should make Dua for being Thankful to Allah (SWT) for bestowing such blessings, such that historical wonders like this masjid are there for us to go and visit today. Not many Muslims are aware of such monuments, so let them know about this mosque built of unique architecture!