Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Nurul Islam / Star of Islam Mosque Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, Western Cape A BELL: Architect 1913 addition

Date: 1844 : 1895 : 1913 Type: Mosque Style: Eclecticism : Islamic Traditionalist Status: Extant Street: Buitengracht Street   Click to view map Coordinates: Alt: 43m

Often referred to as the Star of Islam, this mosque is regarded by some as being the oldest in Cape Town, certainly the oldest established by a congregation. However, it is not in its original form, having been altered and rebuilt over the years. It is in fact the third oldest mosque in South Africa, preceded by the Auwal Mosque and the Palm Tree Mosque. It was founded in 1844 by Imam Abdol Rauf, the younger of Tuan Guru's sons and served the Shafee congregation of the Bo-Kaap. In 1895 a rebuild of the street facade was undertaken, despite court cases as to mortgage rights on the property. The lower floor was intended as rental space for shops while the upper floor would serve as a madrassa (school) and residence for the Imam. Difficulties with mortgage repayments led to the sale of the property in 1905. Since 1912 it has served the local Nurul Islam congregation. Additions were made in 1913. References: Cohen, Ronald & van Graan, Andre. 2015. Cape Town : a study in watercolours. Cape Town: Fernwood Press. pg [4] CPIA Committee. 1983. The Buildings of Cape Town 1983 : Phase Two. Volume Three : Catalogue and Classification. Cape Town: Cape Provincial Institute of Architects. pg 339 item 47.23 Davids, Achmat. 1980. The Mosques of Bo-Kaap - A social history of Islam at the Cape. Athlone, Cape: The South African Institute of Arabic and Islamic Research. pg 55, 106 108, 127-137, 138, 142, 188