It also holds teachings, wedding ceremonies, funeral services, exegesis, exhibitions, conventions, and other events, despite being located in an area with relatively few Muslims.

The mosque was jointly founded by the exiled Prince Muhammad Hasan of Afghanistan and his wife, Princess Razia[3] and was financed by Fahad of Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as well as by some other states of the Muslim world, including Bangladesh ruled by President Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

Its planning took more than ten years: the Roman City Council donated the land in 1974, but the first stone was laid only in 1984, in the presence of then President of the Italian Republic Sandro Pertini, with its inauguration on 21 June 1995.

In the end, the issue was resolved by shortening the height of the minaret slightly to be below that of the dome of St Peter's by approximately one meter (3.3 ft).

Lights and shades are blended in a manner intended to create a meditative climate, and the choice of materials, like travertino and cotto, evoke traditional Roman architectural styles.

The interiors are decorated with mosaics creating more optical effects and the floor is covered by a Persian carpet with geometrical patterns as well.

Other Muslim countries played a vital role in terms of moral support and helped financed the mosque itself.

Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.

[citation needed] The current Imam of the mosque is the Sheikh Salah Ramadan Elsayed, Al-Azhar University graduate and former Democratic Party.