🕌 Auwal Mosque (Cape Town)
South Africa
About This Sacred Site
The Auwal Mosque, located in the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood of Cape Town, is the oldest mosque in South Africa. Founded in 1794 by Tuan Guru, an Indonesian-born Islamic scholar who was imprisoned on Robben Island, the mosque symbolizes the resilience of Islam in southern Africa. It was built during a period when enslaved Muslims were forbidden from practicing their religion openly. Today it remains a functioning mosque and a monument to the history of Islam at the Cape.
Key Facts
- •Founded in 1794 by Tuan Guru (Abdullah ibn Qadi Abdus Salaam)
- •The oldest mosque in South Africa
- •Located in the historic Bo-Kaap, known for its colorful houses
- •Tuan Guru wrote a copy of the Quran from memory while imprisoned on Robben Island
- •A cornerstone of the Cape Malay Muslim heritage in South Africa
Location
Coordinates: -33.9213, 18.4162
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