The Islamic Community of Lisbon (Comunidade Islâmica de Lisboa - CIL) was established in 1968 (Government Gazette no. 83, Series III of 6 April 1968) by a group of young Muslim students from the former Portuguese colonies who were studying in Portugal, and in Lisbon in particular.
They felt that there was a need at that time to create an association and set up a space where they could meet, primarily in order to worship together.
Back in 1966, however, before the community was formed, a committee of 10 members (5 Muslim and 5 Catholic) asked Lisbon City Council for a plot to construct a mosque. But it was only after the Carnation Revolution of 25 April 1974, in September 1977 to be precise, that the proposal for the concession of a plot of land on the Avenida José Malhoa was approved.
The ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone took place in January 1979 and the rst phase of construction on the mosque began on 29 March 1985.
On 22 June 2001 Lisbon City Council assigned the name of Rua da Mesquita (Mosque Street) to the street in front of the mosque at the request of the Comunidade Islâmica. The ceremony was attended by His Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, now His Majesty King Salman of Saudi Arabia.
The construction of the mosque was only possible thanks to the help of certain Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Jordan, Iran, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Lebanon and Turkey, as well as generous contributions from lots of other Muslim and non-Muslim benefactors.
Moreover, we must not omit to mention the support given by the various presidents of Lisbon City Council in o ce over the last 50 years.
