The New Mosque Opened in Sarajevo

Ilidza finally got its first mosque.

Sarajevo has over 120 mosques, more than 60 of which are older than 400 years. Ilidza was the only part of the city without a mosque. It is located near the airport and is well known for its natural surroundings and healing thermal waters.

While Ilidza has several old buildings from the Ottoman period, according to the available data, a mosque was never built. With regard to the religious needs of the local population in 2008, an initiative was launched. The mosque construction started with setting the cornerstone of the first Ilidza mosque. The construction was financed by voluntary contributions and the help of the local community. It was finally completed in May 2016 and now is open for prayers.

The new Ilidza mosque is one of the largest mosques in Sarajevo. The project has a contemporary design with a large dome covering the entire prayer space. In this way, the effect of spaciousness is achieved, as the light in the mosque comes from side windows. The mosque is adorned with decorative details on the exterior, while the interior is decorated with calligraphic inscriptions.

Ilidza Mosque / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine