Kazak Ulu Cami

Friday Mosque — a mosque built in the 19th century in the city of Qazax. By decision No. 132 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 2 August 2001, the mosque was included in the list of locally significant immovable historical and cultural monuments.

About

Qazax Friday Mosque was built in 1899 in the city of Qazax. Opinions differ about whose funds were used for its construction. In the book “Electronic Registration and Mapping of Archaeological Monuments of Various Periods in the Western Regions of Azerbaijan” and the book “Selected Islamic Monuments of Azerbaijan” it is noted that the mosque was built on the order of Israfil Agha Karbalayev. In the book “Encyclopedia of Mosques of the Republic of Azerbaijan” it is recorded that the mosque was built on the initiative of Haji Zeynalabdin Jafar oglu with the help of the residents of the district.

The mosque, built of red baked bricks, consists of a square hall measuring 17.2 m × 17.2 m. On the octagonal shape formed by pointed arches, a dome with an internal diameter of 13.4 m was constructed. The total height of the mosque is 15 m, and the wall thickness is 1.9 m. The entrance of the mosque is adorned with a main dome. Twin minarets rise on both sides of the main façade. On the 18‑metre minarets, an inscription confirming the province of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is engraved. It has three entrances and 12 windows.

After the Soviet occupation, in 1928 they officially began the struggle against religion in Azerbaijan. Many mosques, churches and synagogues were transferred to club balances for educational purposes. If there were 3,000 mosques in Azerbaijan in 1917, the number was 1,700 in 1927, 1,369 in 1928, and 17 in 1933. Qazax Friday Mosque also ceased its activity during this period. Over various years the mosque building was used as a canteen, warehouse, pharmacy and library.

After the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence, the mosque was given to the use of worshippers. On 2 August 2001, by decision No. 132 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the mosque was included in the list of locally significant immovable historical and cultural monuments. The religious community of the "Juma" mosque of the city of Qazax operates in the mosque.

In 2022, repair and restoration work was carried out in the mosque.