The foundation stone for two mosques were laid in East Sitra Housing Town, marking the first houses of worship to be built in the newly-established community.
The move comes as part of the implementation of directives issued by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to open, renovate and rehabilitate 60 mosques under the Sunni and Jaffari Waqf (Endowments) directorates across Bahrain, as part of a comprehensive plan.
The ceremony was attended by Jaffari Waqf Directorate board chairman Yousif Al Saleh, Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah, MPs Mohsin Al Asbool and Jalila Al Sayed, director-general of the Jaafari Waqf Directorate Abduljalil Al Hayaki, members of the board and residents.
Mr Al Saleh said the two projects represented a significant milestone for East Sitra. “Today, in this blessed month, we proudly lay the foundation stone for Al Buraq Mosque and Kumail Bin Ziyad Mosque, which are the first mosques under the supervision of the Jaffari Waqf Directorate in East Sitra,” he said.
“These projects reflect the kingdom’s ongoing civilisational achievements under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad and the directives of HRH Prince Salman, affirming the central role of mosques in building society, religious rites and strengthening noble values.”
Mr Al Saleh stressed that continuous directives to develop mosques across the kingdom were reinforcing Bahrain’s Islamic identity and meeting the needs of residents in newly-developed urban areas.
“The establishment of these mosques in modern housing projects such as East Sitra ensures that residents have access to suitable places of worship and community engagement from the earliest stages of settlement,” he added. “Mosques are not only for prayer, but also centres that foster social cohesion and co-operation among members of the community.”
He also highlighted the continued support extended to places of worship by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, chaired by Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, and the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry, headed by Minister Nawaf Al Maawda, in co-ordination with relevant government bodies and community partners.
Residents of East Sitra expressed their appreciation for the projects, describing the two mosques as spiritual and social landmarks that would serve families in the growing neighbourhood.
Al Buraq Mosque will be built on a total area of 2,003sqm. The two-storey structure will include a ground-floor men’s prayer hall with associated facilities and services, while the first floor will be dedicated to a women’s prayer hall and related amenities.
The mosque will accommodate up to 750 worshippers and will feature four endowment-funded commercial outlets, with revenues allocated to support the project, in addition to integrated service facilities and car parking.
Kumail Bin Ziyad Mosque will cover 2,118sqm and will also consist of two floors. The ground floor will house the men’s prayer area and service facilities, while the first floor will be allocated for women. The mosque will have a capacity of 600 worshippers and will include five endowment shops, along with comprehensive service facilities and parking spaces.
The projects form part of broader efforts to ensure that religious infrastructure keeps pace with Bahrain’s urban expansion and the needs of its growing communities.
Sunni Waqf Directorate board chairman Dr Shaikh Rashid Al Hajri also opened the new Aysha Al Mizaal Mosque in Sanad.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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