Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It is popularly known as a land of nomads and vast landscapes. Population-wise, Mongolia is a smaller country with a population of 3.5 million people. While Mongolia is predominately Buddhist, Islam has made a significant presence in the country. This spread of Islam is due to the migration of Kazakh groups from central Asia and Russia.
Demographic statistics show that Islam is followed by 5.4% of the Mongolian population. The majority of Muslims in Mongolia are Kazakh, with significant communities also found among the smaller groups of Khotons and Uyghurs. The vast majority of Muslims are Sunni, following the Hanafi school of thought. Many mosques and Islamic organizations are working in Mongolia to cater to the needs of the Muslims residing there. Bayan-Ölgii and Khovd are the two provinces in Mongolia with the highest concentration of Muslims.
Access to authentic Islamic prayer times is a prerequisite for such a large and widely dispersed Muslim community in Mongolia. Muslims are obliged to pray five times a day, correct prayer times pave the path to fulfill this duty.
For Muslims, prayers signify their relationship with Allah and Islam. Praying on time doesn’t only bring mental satisfaction, it also brings peace and eternal blessings. However, if you’re living in an area where the Muslim population is scarce, then finding a mosque is a task on a whole other level. Thus, many Muslims opt to pray in their homes. But the struggle doesn’t end here because to pray at home, getting information about accurate prayer times is essential.
Therefore, an app and website like ‘Muslim and Quran’ can become your friend in need. Here, you get accurate and updated prayer times without any hassle. Once you are on MuslimandQuran.com or you’ve downloaded the app, click the sidebar option. There, you’ll see an option for ‘prayer times.’ Click it and search for your area. Just by following these simple steps, you’ll be able to get access to authentic Islamic prayer times in any place.
Mongolia is a diverse country, welcoming different religions and ethnicities. According to the National Census 2020, 3.2% of the population in Mongolia identifies as Muslim. Majorly this group consists of the Kazakh community who reside in the western regions of the country. Let’s go through some of the cities of Mongolia that have a high Muslim population:
Ulaanbaatar is the capital city of Mongolia and its largest city bearing a large population. Among the nine districts of Ulaanbaatar, Nalaikh düüreg is home to almost 90% of the Mongolian Muslim community.
Erdenet is the second largest city in Mongolia. Being located in Orkhan province, this city welcomes a lot of Muslim population. The Muslims that are found here are primarily Kazakhs.
Sharyngol is a city in the western province of Mongolia. As per the official 2022 report, almost 17.1% of the population of this city is Muslim.
Although the total population of Berkh is 10,000, there is a significant minority of the Muslim population. Berkh has a lot of cultural influence from the Kazakh community and Kazakh Muslims are majorly found here.
Mongolia is considered as a country of Buddhists. While that is true, there is also a significant presence of the Muslim population. Thus, the culture and heritage of Mongolia are very much inspired by the Muslims. From historical mosques to Islamic architecture, Islamic traditions have left some mark on Mongolian culture.
Mongolia has 17 mosques in total. Out of which Ulanbattar central mosque and Ulgii central mosque are quite famous. These mosques don’t only provide space for prayers. Rather, they serve as a communal hub for the Mongolian Muslims. From Iftar gatherings to food drives, these mosques are responsible for meeting the social and spiritual needs of the Muslims.
The Mongols have exalted Persian painting. During the Khanid and Timurid periods, Islamic art was everywhere. The scripts and paintings of those time periods can still be found in museums. The Muslim community, especially Kazakh, has played a pivotal role in promoting the Islamic culture in Mongolia. They assisted in growing the country’s economy, especially in the areas of herding and trade.
Understanding the Islamic Prayer Times in Mongolia is vital for Muslim minorities living across the country. MuslimandQuran aims to support the Muslim community by providing the correct prayer timings across all cities. With this smart app and website, Mongolian Muslims can get easy access to all the Islamic features. Fellow Muslims in Mongolia can connect with the Muslim community by joining various organizations and taking part in events and festivals. Praying on time in mosques is considered another way to connect with the community. Well, this app helps you in performing the obligatory duty. So, download the app now!