Juma Mosque

Quba Juma Mosque (Azerbaijani: Quba Cümə məscidi) — a historic mosque from the 19th century located in the Quba district of Azerbaijan.

History

The Juma Mosque was built in 1802. According to the inscription above the mihrab, the mosque was constructed in Hijri year 1217 by Haji Nosirulla, the son of Haji Ismail. Construction of the building began in 1792 and was completed within 10 years. This mosque is considered one of the ancient religious centers not only in Quba but also in the northeastern part of the country.

After the Soviet authorities were established in Azerbaijan in 1920, the Bolsheviks began their anti-religious campaign. Like other religious institutions, the Juma Mosque also ceased its activities. The mosque and the madrasa attached to it operated until 1924. In 1933 the madrasa, minarets and other buildings were destroyed. Residents of Quba district, learning that the mosque had been partially demolished, brought flour in millstones and sacks to the site so that the mosque would not be completely ruined. After a short time the building began to be used as a warehouse. Later the mosque building served as a carpet museum.

In the 1990s, after Azerbaijan gained independence, the mosque was returned to the faithful. The Turkish Ministry of Religious Affairs gifted a pulpit to the mosque. A minaret 41 meters high was also built.

Architectural features

The architecture of the historic Juma Mosque is characteristic of the Quba district. The plan of the historic building recalls a polygonal cylinder and has a simple octagonal shape covered with a large dome of 16 meters in diameter. Inside there is a single large hall. The absence of supporting columns in the central part of the mosque testifies to the architect's high skill.

The bricks for construction were prepared in the village of Igrik, located ten kilometers from Quba. The main materials used in the mosque construction are flour, egg tempera and limestone. The mosque's dome resembles the Al Quba mosque in Medina.