Marand Grand Mosque

Marand Grand Mosque

The mihrab of Marand Grand Mosque (the tallest and best-preserved historic mihrab in Azerbaijan), notable for its architectural style, round stucco columns, Kufic inscriptions, and remarkable scale and measurements.

Marand Grand Mosque, having two mihrabs, is unique in Islamic architecture.

Marand Grand Mosque, with an age of 920 years, is one of the early 8th-century AH buildings. The mihrab of this mosque was built in 731 AH (1331 AD) by order of Sultan Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan Ilkhanid, crafted by a master stucco artist and craftsman from Tabriz, on 15th of Dey 1310 (Iranian calendar).

Apparently, it was originally one of the fire temples of the Sassanid era, which later became a church with the settlement of Armenians in the area. After the Arabs defeated Babak Khorramdin in the 3rd century AH and with the Islamization of the people of Azerbaijan, it was converted into a mosque. According to the inscription on the mihrab, this mosque was built in the early 8th century AH, in 731 AH during the reign of Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan and by his order. This mosque has neither a courtyard nor a portal, as it was originally a church and was converted into a mosque during the Mongol period.

Registered as a national heritage site under number 239.