Mosques of Icherisheher

These mosques, religious monuments which are considered architectural pearls of “Icheri Sheher”, also play important role in Baku’s social life. There are 23 religious monuments in Icheri Sheher. 22 of them are mosques and the remaining one is church. In fact only five of these mosques still function (Muhammad, Jami, Gileyli, Seyid- Murtuza Yahya, Shaikh Ibrahim).

After the Arab invasion (VII century), mainly new type of buildings - mosques, "madrasahs" (Muslim religious schools), tombs, etc. - were started to be built in Azerbaijan related with the spread of Islam. It also led to the construction of numerous mosques in Icherisheher (Old City). Mosques built in Baku were constructed, as a tradition, on the foundation of ancient religious buildings. All this shows that religion plays an important role in the socio-political life of Baku. And this later made “Icherisheher” form as an architectural model.

“Icherisheher” mosques are divided into four types:

1. Jameh mosques (mosques with minarets) - are relatively bigger ones with minaret. These mosques intended for Friday praying, "Eid namaz" and gathering in religious ceremonies, besides daily worshipping.

2. Neighborhood mosques (mosques without minarets) - are typically without minaret, built on a similar plan. Rectangle, small cupola and single-hall mosques were usually constructed by residents and wealthy people of the quarter. At mosques that do not have minarets, the "adhan" is called instead, from inside the mosque or somewhere else on the ground and also residents performed daily "namaz" there and discussed certain issues of the quarter.

3. Madrasahs - mosques - was considered the place of religious education.

4. Takiyahs - is a place of one person’s worship. Basically, it concerns Sufis and dervishes to pray. It refers to small-scale structures in the neighborhood.

The height of a Shah Mosque’s minaret is 16 meters. It had been inscribed that this minaret was built by Shirvanshah Khalilullah in the XV century. Unfortunately, the stone sherefe of a minaret was destroyed by the russian tsar fleets’ cannonballs.

There are three entrances to the mosque and two separate prayer halls for women and men. In the opposite of a main entrance there is a mehrab showing the direction of Mecca.

A mosque with high minaret is located on the south of the Shah's family tomb. There is a small balcony at the top of the minaret, where the muezzin went up several times a day and called the devout for prayer. The XV century palace mosque has three gates. The main door on the north side differs for its portal. The portal of the middle courtyard door is more simplified; however, the door on the west has no portal. The mosque's decor is very simple; in the smooth wall, there are small windows of stone decorative patterns and niches to put a lamp.

The mosque was built during the reign of Shirvanshah I Fariburuz by master Muhammed Abubakr Oglu. Four lines of writing carved with Kufic inscription over limestone on the northern wall of the mosque confirm this: Merciful Allah, ordered to build the mosque. Master Muhammed Abubakr. One of the most ancient and magnificent monuments of medieval Azerbaijani architecture is Muhammedi Mosque or Siniqqala considered the pearl of Baku-Absheron architecture school. Broken tower "Sinıqqala" called so since it was destroyed (upper part of mosque minaret) as a result of the city’s cannonry due to order of general-major of Russian fleet Matyushkin, whom Peter I sent to Baku for intelligence.

There are fragments of conserved Key Gubad Mosque (XIV century) in the middle yard of the palace. The monument was destroyed by cannonballs shot by armenian dashnaks during the genocide of azerbaijanis on the 31st March 1918. Probably, the mosque was built by Shirvanshah Keygubad I who lived in the XIV century.

One of the mosques in Icherisheher is Sayyid Yahya Murtuza Mosque. The mosque located on the medieval caravan trade road was built in the early 17th century. Sayyid Yahya Murtuza acted as a religious figure “akhund” in the mosque.

Is located on the trade road changing its route to arrive in Salyan Gate. The main inscription on the facade indicates that the mosque was built during the reign of Sultan Sheikh Ibrahim in 1415-1416.

The monument was discovered by archaeologists in 1964. The mosque is located in 30-40m north from the Maiden Tower. It is believed that the mosque was of Baba Kuhi Bakuwi who was a prominent spiritual scholar and religiuos figure, and was from the X century.

Located near the Shirvanshahs Palace Complex. The short epigraphic inscription on the facade indicates that the mosque was built by the architect Haji Banu in the XVI century.