Al-Nabi Mosque, Qazvin

Al-Nabi Mosque of Qazvīn

مسجد النبی قزوین

Basic information
Location Qazvīn, Iran
Affiliation Shia Islam
Province Qazvīn Province
Municipality Qazvīn County
Architectural description
Architectural type Mosque
Completed 16th century

The al-Nabi Mosque (Persian: مسجد النبی قزوینMasjed al-Nabi, also known as: Persian: مسجد سلطانىMasjed-e Soltani) is a famous mosque in Qazvīn. The mosque has an area of about 14,000m², and bears inscriptions indicating that Fath Ali Shah of the Qajar dynasty was the founder of the mosque. Other sources however indicate that the mosque has been in existence since the Safavid period. It is now believed that the architect of the structure was Ustad Mirza Shirazi with the date of construction being 1787.

Specifications

Its double layered dome measures 15m in inner-diameter, with the top of the inner layer positioned at 20.83m above ground level, while the external apex is 23.25m high.

There was formerly an elevated minaret flanking the dome, of which the French explorer Madame Jane Dieulafoy had written. The mosque has four iwans in its courtyard.

The portal contains an inscription in nastaliq calligraphy dated 1787 CE. Similar to Qazvin's Masjed e Jame (Congregation Mosque), this mosque has a shabestan that is now used as a library.

See also

References