Grand Mosque Alshyshan ( Mosque Abw Bkr Alsdyq )

Known locally as the Chechen Mosque and formally dedicated to the first caliph Abu Bakr al Siddiq, may God be pleased with him, this Zarqa masjid carries the memory of the Circassian and Chechen refugees who arrived in Transjordan during the late nineteenth century after fleeing the Russian expansion into the northern Caucasus. Zarqa itself, once a dusty stop on the old Hijaz railway, grew rapidly through the twentieth century into Jordan's industrial second city, and its neighbourhoods preserve the layered heritage of Ottoman survey villages, Palestinian refugee arrivals of 1948 and 1967, Iraqi families who came later, and the original Chechen settlers whose descendants still speak Nokhchiin mott at home. The mosque honours Abu Bakr, may God be pleased with him, the closest companion of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, and the first to believe among grown men, by teaching his biography and his wise statecraft during evening halaqas throughout the year. The building itself combines an Ottoman inspired square plan with a single central dome, a slender pencil minaret of the kind introduced to Jordan by Turkish masons, and an interior adorned with blue and green tilework. The prayer hall accommodates several hundred worshippers, with a women's gallery reached by a side staircase. Jumu'ah brings a mixed congregation of Chechen, Circassian, Palestinian, and Jordanian families, and khutbahs are delivered in Arabic with occasional Chechen announcements afterwards. Ramadan programmes include nightly taraweeh, community iftar sponsored by local businessmen, and Qur'an completion gatherings. Eid prayers open onto the surrounding streets, where children receive sweets and elders exchange the traditional greeting of Eid Mubarak. The masjid also hosts marriage contracts, funeral prayers, and language classes that keep the Chechen tongue alive among the youth. Respectful attire and quiet conduct are expected, and visitors interested in Caucasian diaspora history will find warm welcomes from elders. Elders from the founding families still gather after fajr to sip strong black tea brewed in the Caucasian manner and to share news of relatives scattered between Jordan, Turkey, and the home republics, and the masjid preserves a small collection of old photographs showing Chechen wedding processions, military service, and early community gatherings in Zarqa's founding years. Classes in Chechen dance and craftwork are sometimes held in the adjoining community hall during school holidays for visiting children.