King opens rebuilt Zarqa Jami' Al Arab Mosque

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday inaugurated the new building of Jami’ Al Arab (the Mosque of Arab) with a capacity of 4,500 worshippers in Zarqa, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The mosque, which was first built in 1920, was rebuilt with designs based on the Islamic architectural style, especially the minarets and the ornamentations, making it a "landmark" in central Zarqa, located 22km east of Amman.

During the inauguration ceremony, His Majesty took a first-hand look at the mosque facilities, in which solar power is used.

The facilities include praying areas for men and women, a cultural centre, a Koran school and a special praying area for deaf and mute worshippers where sign language is available during Friday ceremony.

His Majesty gave directives to provide the cultural centre with equipment including computers, according to Petra.

The four-storey mosque also houses health clinics for general medicine, women, dentistry and people with disabilities.

During the ceremony, Sheikh Ahmad Zu'bi, the mosque's imam, briefed the King on the phases of reconstruction of the mosque and the facilities that will provide cultural, educational and health services.

The reconstruction was funded by donations that reached JD3 million.

In an interview with Petra, Zu'bi voiced appreciation for the King's inauguration of the mosque, which will contribute to the provision of development services for the local community.

Several senior officials attended the ceremony.