Located within a family home in Titikaveka, on the southeastern side of Rarotonga, the Masjid Fatimah Rarotonga is the Cook Islands’ first and only mosque.
Established in 2018, it serves as a peaceful space for prayer and reflection for the small but diverse Muslim community in Rarotonga.
Masjid Fatimah Rarotonga has quietly become a place of gathering and spiritual growth for Muslims on the island.
In a conversation with Cook Islands News, Mohammed Azam, the leader of Rarotonga’s Muslim community, explained that the mosque primarily serves as a place for fellowship and worship, attracting both local Muslims and tourists.
The community is diverse, including members from Indonesia, the Philippines, Fiji, India, and even Cook Islanders themselves.
Azam, who is married to Etita Azam, a native Cook Islander, emphasizes that their presence is purely for religious and spiritual purposes. “We do prayers five times a day every day, and that’s the only purpose we have here,” he shared. “It’s open to anyone who wishes to pray, whether on Fridays or any other day.”
As the only known mosque in the Cook Islands, Masjid Fatimah also welcomes Muslim tourists visiting Rarotonga. Azam noted that many travelers stop by the mosque for prayers, highlighting the important role it plays in the lives of visiting Muslims as well.
Though unregistered, the mosque is listed on Google satellite maps and remains open to anyone seeking a place to pray. “We haven’t formally registered members; it’s just people coming in to offer prayers,” Azam said.
Despite challenges that Muslims often face globally, the community in Rarotonga finds comfort in the warm and accepting environment of the Cook Islands.
Following the 2019 Christchurch massacre, Muslim residents in Rarotonga expressed gratitude for the island’s safe and non-discriminatory environment.
Shamneez Nisha, a resident with family ties to Christchurch, expressed relief that none of her relatives were directly affected, though the incident was deeply saddening.
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