Quetta’s largest mosque, a place of comfort for worshippers in holy month
With its pristine white dome and four smaller domes, constructed above towering minarets, Jamia Masjid in the Pakistani city of Quetta has been drawing hundreds of worshippers every day during the holy month of Ramadan.
Located in Jinnah Town and covering 60,000 square feet of land, it is Quetta’s largest mosque. Attending weekly Friday prayers, Syed Bahadur, a resident of the Killi Barat neighborhood of Quetta, told Arab News: “Thousands of people from across the city, even Kuchlak, (an area on Quetta’s outskirts) come here to pray and remember Allah Almighty. But in Ramadan, the mosque remains full of devotees.” Construction work on Jamia Masjid began in 2006, with contributions from residents of Jinnah Town, and it was completed in 2008. The five-domed mosque attracts people from all over the city who not only offer prayers in its expansive halls and courtyard but also marvel at its imposing structure.
Visitors entering its prayer hall are greeted with a giant, glistening chandelier hanging from its huge domed ceiling. A colorful glass artwork depicting the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, also dominates the hall, that can accommodate 1,500 people.
Bahadur noted that the mosque attracted more worshippers toward the end of Ramadan when many Muslims took part in itikaf, the practice of secluding oneself in a mosque during the last 10 days of the holy month to dedicate time to worship, prayer, reflection, and seeking closeness to God.
On the mosque’s design, Hassan Sheikh, a member of its organizing committee, told Arab News: “We did seek inspiration from some impressive mosques from around the world, including some from the Gulf countries.”
Bahadur pointed out that Jamia Masjid was originally a small place of worship made from mud. Sheikh said: “Now, the mosque can accommodate more than 4,500 devotees for regular prayers.”