Jamia Mosque is a mosque located on Banda Street, Nairobi, Kenya in the Central Business District. Jamia Mosque is an important center of Islamic practice in the East and Central African region. As a landmark and heritage site at the heart of Nairobi’s CBD, Jamia Mosque-Nairobi displays an iconic image and an architectural masterpiece. Founded by Syed Maulana Abdullah Shah in the year 1902 and constructed between 1925 and 1933, Jamia Mosque became the center of Muslim religious organization throughout the pre-independent and independent years.
The mosque plays a central role to Nairobi’s large Muslim population as a location of choice for Muslims for the Friday prayers. Throughout the 90s and the 21st century Jamia has become the place where Muslim religious, political and opinion leaders meet to discuss the affairs of the ummah. In many ways Jamia Mosque’s story echoes the story of Islam in Kenya; a story of determination for identity within a mosaic of multiplicity. Jamia Mosque was extended into a modern wing in 1998 and currently houses a large modern library facility, a Multi-Purpose Hall, a weekly newsletter (The Friday Bulletin) and a television station- Horizon TV. Our Vocational College –Jamia Training institute (JTI) previously situated at Jamia mosque complex was moved to Jamia Towers to provide additional office space for Jamia mosque and Horizon TV marketing.
The Jamia Mosque retains a classic Arabic Islamic architectural style with extensive use of marble and inscriptions from the Quran, and the traditional row of shops (including a clinic and pharmacy) down one side to provide rental income for its upkeep. It is recognisable by its three silver domes, and twin minarets. It contains a library and a training institute where one can learn Arabic, introductory computing and cloth making.
Sayyid Abdullah Shah
On October 11, 1898, a ship docked in the Swahili port city of Mombasa; on board was Sayyid Abdallah Shah, who hailed from an Afghan family, descended from the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).10 After a life of pursuing sacred knowledge, he like many others from his part of the world, ventured to East Africa, but with the purpose of dawah (proselytisation) in mind.
He ended up in Nairobi, where he set about debating the heterodox preachers of the new doctrine11 and helped bring many to Islam due to his knowledge, piety and charisma.
Numerous tales are also told about his gift of miracles. One such story, preserved through oral accounts, recall a time when Sayyid Abdullah Shah called the leaders of the heterodox movement to a public gathering in the city of Mombasa. He then made dua, praying that whoever of the two groups are on the rightful guidance, will not be harmed by poison. To the astonishment of the crowd, he then drank a vial of poison but remained unharmed, whilst the heterodox preachers cowered from the challenge.
A first-hand account from 1942 tells us of how one ‘Hakam Bibi’ (who was the eye-witnesses mother) from the city of Nairobi became ill and uncontrollably vomited blood. Her chances of survival were all but written off since two prominent physicians were unable to find a diagnosis for her malady. However, Sayyid Abdallah is reported to have given her a light prayer amulet and told her to sleep. Upon waking, all her symptoms had disappeared, but the amulet had increased in weight.12
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As his name began to spread, more and more Muslims started to frequent the new Jamiah Mosque where he served as imam to seek his aid. He would ascribe prayer amulets, as well as advice and reminders to the budding Muslim community.13 Thus, Islam in this young, blossoming town, found a safe anchor. Sayyid Abdallah was visited not only by the Indian Muslims of the new settlement, but by Muslims of other races also, and, during a time of racial segregation, treated all with respect and dignity. The Jamiah Mosque offered classes in Urdu, Arabic, Swahili, and Somali – a progressive step that won many new converts and adherents to the masjid and to religious learning. Sayyid Abdallah set up a large library, consisting of his own collection of Islamic literature that would become the first centre of religious learning in the city. Today, the mosque library has grown to offer computer classes to the very poor and disenfranchised of the city.
Both the mosque and Sayyid Abdallah became the locus of Islam in Nairobi. A writer, Mohammad A. Quraishy remarked in 1974 that “The Jamiah Mosque became a landmark in the heart of Nairobi; a living symbol of Islam in East Africa.”14
