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This modern looking Masjid was built in the mid 1980’s after waiting almost 20 years to get permission from the local authorities.
The Central Mosque of Lisbon is one of the largest Masjids in Portugal, located approximately 10 minutes drive from the city centre. The permission to build the Masjid was requested in 1966 and almost 20 years later the Masjid was finally opened for the public in 1985.
It has a capacity of around 2000 people. During the Magrib prayer, there were only a handful of people. Most of them were immigrants from different parts of the world.
The architectural style is very modern with a North African style minaret. It has a very impressive square tiled entrance. Inside was a courtyard. The interior is designed very tastefully. with intricate tiles and calligraphy. Suras with Portuguese translation are written around the walls.
Portugal has a rich Islamic history just like neighbouring Spain. Most of Portugal was under Moorish rulers for almost 5 centuries. After the fall of the Moorish era during 1249-1294 most Muslims there were killed, forced to leave the country, or converted to Christianity.
I was hoping to find some kind of ancient ruins from the Moorish era. But unfortunately all Islamic structures and Masjids were either destroyed or converted into Churches after the Portuguese Reconquista. Currently there are no historical Masjids in Lisbon.
Today, the Muslim population in Portugal is around 100,000.