"Möhsin Səlim" məscidi

Səlim Mosque or Haji Mohsin Salimov Mosque — a historic-architectural monument located in the Binə settlement of the Khazar district of Baku city.

History

A person named Mohsin Salimov (a member of the Salimov family, oil millionaires of Emirjan) wants to restore the Khanim Zeynab Mosque located in the Zabrat settlement. However, the people of Zabrat state that the work should be stopped and they will renovate the mosque themselves. After this incident, Mohsin Salimov, in 1916, builds a mosque in the Binə village, now called Mohsin Salim, based on the same project of that mosque. During the Soviet period the mosque's activity is halted. After restoring Azerbaijan's independence it also does not operate for a long time because it is unsuitable. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation fundamentally restored the mosque in 2006 for the use of the population again.

A registered community operates in the mosque

Haji Mohsin Salimov Mosque

The Möhsin Salimov Mosque, located in the center of the Binə settlement, was built in the early 20th century, in 1916, by Möhsin Salimov, one of Baku’s millionaires. According to historical data, he initially intended to restore the Khanim Zeynab Mosque located in the Zabrat settlement. However, after the local community expressed that they wanted to undertake this work themselves, Möhsin Salimov, inspired by the architectural style of that mosque, built a new mosque in Binə on a similar project. During the military‑political events in the region in 1918, the mosque suffered serious damage. In particular, holes and cracks created by artillery fire in the dome area bore the marks of that tragic period for many years. During the Soviet era the mosque’s activity was halted, and, like other mosques, it was used as a warehouse at that time. Because the building remained in this use for a long period, it fell into an unusable condition. After the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence, worship was not possible there for a certain period. However, following the appeal of Binə residents, the mosque entered a new revival phase. At the initiative of Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, comprehensive restoration work began here. As a result of the restoration, both the mosque’s historic architectural features were preserved and the complex was modernized to meet contemporary needs. On 15 June 2006, President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva visited the mosque and inspected the work on site. Since that year the mosque has again been open to the public. Architecturally, the Möhsin Salim Mosque retains the characteristic features of the classic Eastern style. The entrance gate is constructed in a pointed arch shape. The overall plan dimensions of the mosque are approximately fourteen meters by fifteen meters. The interior area of the main prayer hall is two hundred ten square meters, and the prayer area on the second floor reserved for women is forty square meters. The mosque consists of two floors. The main prayer hall is on the first floor, while the second floor is intended for women’s use. Sixteen circular windows are placed in the lower part of the dome, which has a diameter of fourteen meters. These windows not only provide natural light to the interior but also give the mosque a special aesthetic beauty. The height from the floor to the dome is nineteen meters. The dome is built directly on the load‑bearing walls. These walls serve as the main load‑bearing elements of both the architectural composition and the structural system. The mihrab, made of carved stone, is decorated with stalactite‑type patterns. The windows, interior decorative elements, and overall interior solution clearly reflect the classic Eastern architectural tradition. During the comprehensive restoration, a hundred‑person hall, ablution rooms, separate cells for men and women, a council room for clergy, a kitchen, and an auxiliary building with permanent water supply were also constructed in the courtyard of the mosque complex. The complex was equipped with all necessary facilities. Today the Möhsin Salim Mosque is included in the list of historic monuments protected by the state due to its historical and architectural significance. It continues to exist not only as one of the vivid symbols of the religious life of Binə but also as a valuable heritage that preserves Azerbaijan’s rich architectural and spiritual legacy. The Möhsin Salim Mosque is a monument that embodies the traces of the past, the spirit of the present, and the legacy of the future.

Enter the link to view video footage of the Hacı Möhsin Səlimov mosque.