Prince Hashim attends opening of fourth Hashemite reconstruction project

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, HRH Prince Hashim Bin Al Hussein on Sunday attended the opening of the fourth Hashemite reconstruction project of the Grand Husseini Mosque in downtown Amman.

In 2021, His Majesty ordered the construction of a glass dome to cover the mosque's inner courtyard after the external portico's canopy was damaged by accumulated snow, where this project aimed to expand the space allocated for worshippers and protect them from various weather conditions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Prince Hashim listened to a briefing by Executive Director of the Engineering Department at the Greater Amman Municipality Nimeh Qatanani, who said that the project includes covering the mosque's inner courtyard with a 50 tonne glass roof, Islamic geometric decoration, glass sides with movable vents for ventilation, safety and security installations, and an aesthetic appearance that preserves the mosque's identity.

The scheme also involved refurbishing the courtyard floor and the surrounding interior facades, standardising the shapes and dimensions of the arches, retaining the small pool and green dome above it in the courtyard after their refurbishment, and rehabilitating the 16 stone columns supporting the glass roof.

The Grand Husseini Mosque has seen various restoration and reconstruction works, beginning with the first Hashemite reconstruction in 1923 when it was built on the ruins of the old Omari Mosque, followed by the second in 1952 and the third in 1987 during the reign of the late King Hussein.

During King Abdullah's reign, the reconstruction of the mosque continued. His Majesty in 2019 ordered the installation of a new pulpit and mihrab, wooden facades, and covering the mosque's columns with hand-cut mosaic after a fire broke out in the mosque.