Mosque Almjahd Muhammad Bd Allh Alzdam

Standing in the Libyan city of Zliten within the Misratah region, Masjid al Mujahid Muhammad Abdullah al Zaddam carries the name of a Libyan fighter remembered for his steadfastness in defence of his homeland. Zliten itself is one of the most honoured religious cities in Libya, home to the celebrated Asmariya mosque and madrasa complex founded by the sixteenth century scholar Abd al Salam al Asmar al Fituri, whose teaching shaped the Islamic character of north western Libya for many generations. Pilgrims from across the Maghreb have long travelled to Zliten, and the city's mosques, zawiyas, and schools form a dense and living tapestry of religious life.
The Arabic title al mujahid, meaning one who strives in the path of God, applies in the Islamic tradition both to the scholar who strives with knowledge and to the soldier who strives with arms in defence of the community. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, described the greater jihad as the struggle of the soul against its base desires, and the lesser jihad as the defence of the community and the faith. Libyan history in the twentieth century is filled with the names of mujahidin who resisted colonial occupation, and modern Libyan mosques often bear their names as a continuing memorial of their service and sacrifice.
Architecturally the mosque reflects the classic Libyan coastal style of the twentieth century. Whitewashed walls, a single square minaret crowned with a small arcaded balcony, a central dome of green tile, and arched windows frame the exterior of the prayer hall. Inside, the floor is covered with woven mats and patterned carpets, the carved plaster mihrab points precisely toward Makkah, and a wooden minbar stands beside it. A modest library of Qur'ans, hadith collections, and books on Libyan history occupies a corner near the main entrance. Ramadan brings nightly tarawih and iftars of bazin, harira, and cheese filled bureek, shared by neighbours and local families. Accurate daily prayer times for Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha are published on this page for every resident of Zliten and every pilgrim visiting the Libyan city.