Islamophonic in Paris - La Grande Mosquée

Islamophonic is a Sony-award-winning UK Muslim podcast presented by The Guardian journalist Riazat Butt. Here, she visits the beautiful Grand Mosque of Paris (La Grande Mosquée de Paris - built 1922-1926), and asks about being French and Muslim. This was recorded in April 2008.

In Part 2 she visits the hi-tech Institut du Monde Arabe, also in Paris:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnM4clIP0lA


Dr Djelloul Seddiki, Director of the theological institute of the Grand Mosque of Paris:

"The Grand Mosque of Paris is an old idea from the time of the colonial French. Since 1533, at the time of King Francois I and Caliph Suleiman the Magnificent, they wanted to build a mosque for Muslim people. It's a long story but you have to wait until 1917 when they created an association in Algiers. Then, Algeria was part of French territory. They created this mosque, starting to build it in 1922, and it was opened in 1926, so it's an old mosque, more than 80 years, and it's a bit of a symbol of French Islam.

The mosque, following the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), has 3 functions: First, the cultural ritual function; Second, to teach; And third, as a place for discussion.

This mosque is on two floors, and that's around 15,000 sq metres. It's a little jewel in the Latin Quarter - a change from the Gothic or medieval architecture. Because it's in the image of Andalucian architecture and it's built of glass, it's a ball of oxygen for those in Paris who want to visit this oasis of peace, happiness and beauty.

And the mosque is open to both Muslim and non-Muslim people. And in truth, the mosque belongs to everybody - the mosque belongs to God, she belongs to you, me, and everybody ..."

The mosque was built as a symbol of France's gratitude to the Muslim soldiers who fought in the French army during World War I.

During World War II, the mosque's first Imam hid over 200 Jews in the mosque's basement, saving them from Hitler's advancing army.


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Islamophonic podcast from:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/audio

Photos of Paris and the Grand Mosque are from public internet sources, as are the images of graffiti by Aerosol Arabic.


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Category:

Education

Tags:

• Paris
• Grand
• Mosque
• French
• Muslims
• France
• Islam
• Islamic
• Architecture
• Islamophonic
• Guardian
• Riazat
• Butt
• Grande
• Mosquée

[wolon]

Thank you for this

[oclandestin]

I'm glad you liked it. All good is from Allah.

[salamtomuslims]

allah ho akbar (allah is the greatest)

allmighty allah bless all muslims ,ameen

[LeriaCossato]

This mosque looks absolutely beautiful. I cannot wait til I go back to Paris, I shall definitely make sure to visit it on my trip! :D

[osmantan1]

probably,this mosque takes your stress amon the noisy streets of Paris...

I think French needs to be built a new bigger mosque.. for new coming muslims