Abu Darweesh Mosque, Black and white striped mosque in Jabal Ashrafieh, Amman, Jordan.
Abu Darweesh Mosque is a mosque in the Jabal Ashrafieh neighborhood of Amman, Jordan, instantly recognizable by its alternating bands of black and white stone that cover the entire exterior. The facade is decorated with geometric patterns, and the building includes prayer halls and rooms used for religious instruction.
The mosque was built in 1961 by Palestinian craftsmen from a village near Jerusalem, with funding from a man named Mustafa Hassan. Its construction was one of the first steps in the settlement of what had been a mostly empty stretch of land in Jabal Ashrafieh.
The mosque remains a familiar gathering point for many Palestinian families who settled in Jabal Ashrafieh over the decades. The black and white stone pattern gives the building an immediate visual identity that people in the neighborhood recognize from a distance.
Visitors are expected to dress modestly, and women should cover their hair before entering the building. Access to the interior is generally possible outside of prayer times, so it is worth finding out when those are before you arrive.
The black and white stone pattern used on the exterior echoes a building style found in parts of Palestine, reflecting the origins of the craftsmen who built it. This connection to a distant place is quietly embedded in the way the building looks.
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