On July 13, 2026, La Poste (the French postal service) issued a stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Grand Mosque of Paris.
The Grand Mosque of Paris, inaugurated on July 15, 1926, reflects the presence of Islam and Muslims in France. Built as a tribute to the Muslim soldiers of the First World War, it emerged from a pivotal moment in French national history, when the Republic recognized the diversity of those who had defended its freedom. This foundational act imbued it with profound significance: today, it remains a haven of spirituality, peace, and human fraternity. Its architectural refinement, with its colonnades, mosaics, and gardens, underscores the convergence of a millennia-old heritage and modernity. Inspired by the art forged between the Maghreb and Andalusia, it offers a setting where every detail celebrates a Muslim culture that resonates with French culture, like its minaret, a symbol of rootedness and elevation, rising into the Parisian sky not far from the towers of Notre-Dame.
It embodies a certain idea of harmony traveling from stone to the hearts of humankind. For a century, the Great Mosque of Paris has nurtured the light of Islam in the City of Lights: a place that breathes devotion, transmission, and hospitality. A pioneer in interfaith dialogue, central to the organization of worship, and at the forefront of Muslim thought, its primary mission is to promote the citizenship of Muslims in France. Confident in its calling, it has stood the test of time, welcoming thousands of worshippers, intellectuals, and the curious, from the world's elite to ordinary citizens. It remains an open space for those who wish to discover a unique building of our shared heritage. They have only one door to pass through, on the pediment of which they will read this verse from the Quran: "Enter it in peace and security."
