Shaykh Dr. Abdalqadir As Sufi,
founder of the Granada Mosque

In the year 1981 the muslims of Granada purchased an unwanted piece of land in a popular area of city known as Albaicin, directly opposite the Alhambra, one of the worlds most famous monuments. The idea to build a mosque in Granada had been the initiative of Shaykh Abdalqadir As-Sufi, who had also been the founder of the first community of spanish muslims throughout various cities in Andalusia. His vision was that of the mosque forming a starting point, signifying the irreversible growth of Islam amongst the people of the land, and the return to the tradition of their ancestry, suppressed by the genocide of the Inquisition.

With his inspiration and persistence over a period of 23 years, Shaykh Abdalqadir was not only the strongest supporter towards completing the project, but also, during the whole process, provided an example of the highest spiritual qualities, of certainty and unwavering trust in Allah (glory be to Him), with the highest aspiration for the future of Islam.

Shortly after purchasing the site the process of obtaining the corresponding permits was under way. An architectural study to elaborate the project was commissioned and completed by the year 1983. The proposal to build a mosque during that early period seemed unreachable and almost too ambitious. The modest and limited resources of the community at that time seemed dwarfed by the scale of such a titanic undertaking.

From the very first moments, in 1981, a few ultra conservative groups with evident signs of religious intransigence, and due to their own manifest belief, would not tolerate the construction of a mosque in such a symbolic and visible site. They instigated a campaign between the local neighbours of the area which they presented before the municipal authorities to impede the project from materializing.

The allegations that they put forward managed to persuade the local authorities at Town Hall to reverse their initial approval and the original urban planning consent of the year 1984. The site of the mosque was re-qualified definitively for residential use only and with this act it seemed that the possibility of building a mosque was halted indefinitely.

The firm determination of Shaykh Abdalqadir was therefore fundamental, and proved so during the 20 years that followed. It was his valiant efforts that prevented others from throwing in the towel, - ¨The mosque is for Allah, He will make it a reality¨. Shaykh Abdalqadir moved the community to launch a campaign in all political spheres, municipal and national, aimed also at the royal family, appealing for them to respect the community’s right to complete the project. This took up the greater part of five years between 1985 and 1990.

During those years the Islamic Community in Spain received many pressures from diverse sources to abandon the project or to exchange the site, next to the Mirador de san NIcolás, for another less promising site on an industrial site at the edge of the city.

The perseverance and firmness of intention of Shaykh Abdalqadir was untiring. Despite the magnitude of the difficulty and the adverse and ever changing circumstances, he remained true to the original intention. At last, towards the end of 1990, the local authorities of Granada commissioned a team of experts in heritage and urban planning to come up with a special plan for the conservation and reformation of the Albaicin neighbourhood. The Muslim Community made contact with the team to put forward their arguments and reasons.

Finally, in the year 1991, approval was obtained for the new plans and the site was re-qualified, permitting the construction of the mosque. From that moment the difficulties and obstacles continued, but a more favourable atmosphere was beginning to develop amongst the local authorities, the press, and the general public.

The difficulties and negativity towards the project lessened as time passed. Some isolated and extreme groups continued with their campaign to muddy and defame the reputation of the muslims and consequently the mosque project, but their efforts became a blessing, only resulting in reinforcing the determination of the muslim community.

In the year 1993 Shaykh Abdalqadir personally intervened with the assistance of Muhammad Farid Bermejo, Amir of the community at that time. They chose a Granadinan architect, Renato Ramirez, respected and acknowledged by the urban development authorities for his professionalism, placing him in charge of the project. This decision was decisive and the new project with its new author overcame the obstacles step by step until, in the year 1994, the local authorities at last awarded the project with the awaited building permit.

Another 9 years of new difficulties would follow, principally that of an untimely and unnecessary archaeological dig, and some equally unsubstantial modification requirements to the design of the building, but these would do little more than fortify the now legendary patience of the muslims of Granada.

Patience, perseverance, relying in Allah when all help from men has failed, firmness of intention before adversities, in all this Shaykh Abdalqadir has been a great lesson and example during the long history of the project for a Mosque in Granada. His tenacity from the very beginning to the very end, has without doubt earned the gratitude and recognition of all the muslims and those who now enjoy the extraordinary blessing and evident benefit of the new Mosque of Granada, a great gift for the city of Granada and the People of Spain.