History

The original inspiration for Masjid Al Rayan originated from the need to provide a location for worshipers who were forced to leave their native neighborhood in the capital's historic area. However, the project's breadth has only grown as a result of personal involvement and substantial funding from businessman and philanthropist Mohamed Said Guedi.

The bulk of those who had to start over in Nassib in 2017 had lost their homes in a large fire that ravaged more than 200 properties in the city's historic center. They deserved a larger, cooler space where they could not only worship but also restructure their communal life because they were dislocated and distressed. There was no better place to find the answers to their prayers than a stunning mosque with contemporary amenities.

Urban and Architectural

The Ministry of Welfare WAQF donated a plot of land measuring 5,000 square meters for the project, which also involved building a 1,460 square meter mezzanine that can house 400 women on the mezzanine level and 1,000 males in the main hall.

The large Fatimid mosques of Cairo Al Azhar and Al- Hakim served as inspiration for the double-domed structure, which also features enormous chandeliers and a 21.5-meter-tall tower.

Al-Rayan was created using an axial cupola and the conventional hypostyle plan.

Description

Al Rayan, however, offers more than just a place of prayer; it also has a school, lodging for the mosque's staff, and retail establishments. The donor wanted to make sure that the mosque became the center of this neighborhood.

References

https://www.facebook.com/338139363472748/posts/981554555797889/

https://allafrica.com/stories/201910290033.html

https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00070642.html

https://www.somalilandcurrent.com/djibouti-set-to-open-second-largest-mosque-in-the-country/