Masjid Jauharatul-Islam

Masjid Jauharatul-Islam, the oldest mosque in the Phoenix metropolitan area, began its history as the Phoenix Mosque and Islamic Institute Project. In 1978, in an effort to move the mosque out of rented storefront buildings and into a permanent home, a member of the Phoenix Muslim community purchased four acres in South Phoenix and donated it to the Muslim community. The community purchased an additional four acres of land and broke ground on the Masjid Jauharatul-Islam in November 1980.Architectural services for the mosque were donated by Baseem Hakim and structural engineer Kamal Amin, and landscaping was performed by Malik Abdullah. Ummil-Kheer Shamsid-Deen, the wife of the Imam at the time, designed the women’s bath, library, offices and inside of the masjid. Contractor Lamar Hasan, of Hasan & Sons Construction Inc., supervised the construction with American and Mexican workers. A dedication ceremony was held for the mosque on June 19, 1981.The mosque is built in what Omar Khalidi calls an "imported style," or one that embodies traditional elements of Islamic architecture. It is a low stucco-faced building with a square minaret flanking the entrance. The mosque is entered through a square courtyard, surrounded by arcades of stucco arches outlined with blue and white hand-swirled tiles donated from families in Turkey. Oak doors lead from the courtyard to the prayer hall, which features stucco columns, a mihrab with window above, and six chandeliers donated by a family in China.Sources:Ettenborough, Kelly. Arizona's sanctuaries, retreats, and sacred places, 54. Englewood, CO: Westcliffe Publishers, 2003.Shamsid-Deen, Mahasin. "Historical Mosque in Phoenix, Arizona Commemorates 25 Years." Article in Latino American Dawah Organization (LADO) Newsletter, October-December 2006. Accessed February 13, 2015. http://www.latinodawah.org/newsletter/oct-dec2k6.html#5