Grand Mosalla mosque of Tehran

35°44′05″N 51°25′31″E / 35.7348404°N 51.425354°E / 35.7348404; 51.425354ArchitectureArchitect(s)Parviz Moayed AhdTypePersian-Islamic architectureDate established1982Groundbreaking1990CompletedUnder constructionCapacity500,000Websitewww.musalla.ir

The Grand Mosalla Mosque of Tehran, or The Mosalla of Imam Khomeini, is a Multipurpose complex in Tehran, Iran. It is used for hosting weekly Friday prayer, as well as cultural, political, educational, worship activities, exhibitions, and religious ceremonies. Under construction since the 1990s with an Persian-Islamic architecture, this gigantic complex will be the second-largest mosque in the world after the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, and it will have the world's biggest Iwan when completed.^[1][2][3]

History

The Grand Mosalla Mosque originated in a 1982 proposal to replace the University of Tehran as the primary location for weekly Friday prayer.^[4] A large section of land in Abbas Abad, the original site for the never-materialized pre-Revolution megaproject Shahestan Pahlavi, was allocated for the Grand Mosalla.^[5]

On 19 February 1985, a public announcement was issued, calling on talented and experienced designers to submit drafts for the mosque's design. The competition was held in 1986 with Mohammad Karim Pirnia, Mehdi Chamran, Bagher Ayatollahzadeh Shirazi, Ali Ghaffari, and Mehdi Hodjat as the jury members, and with the participation of 36 native and foreign individuals from such countries as Japan, Syria, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, as well as legal entities. On 1990, Dr. Parviz Moayed Ahd's design was confirmed for the Grand Mosalla. The design was based on the Islamic architecture of Iran, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, which were historically part of the Achaemenid Empire.^[6]

The finished sections of the Grand Mosalla are in use, with unfinished section still under construction.^[4] The Governor General of Tehran Province Hussein Hashemi urged Tehran City Council to prioritize the mosque's completion.^[4]

Architecture

The Grand Mosalla mosque of Tehran has an Persian-Islamic architecture. The central porch of the complex, located on the southern front, is a huge metal-concrete structure, whose overall appearance from above is designed like the helmt of ancient Persian soldiers, but at its core, it contains the elegance and designs of Islamic architecture with numerous Islamic motifs. Its garlands, on the other hand, besides being a Islamic symbol, is also a symbol of spears and weapons of Persian soldier. The height of the big porch is 72 meters (The number of Karbala's martyrs), and the height of the dome is 63 meters (The years of Muhammad's life).^[7]

Use

The Grand Mosalla Mosque is used for Friday prayer and Eid al-Fitr prayers. It is also used as a community center and a venue for local and national events, including the Tehran International Book Fair,^[8][9] International Holy Quran Exhibition,^[10] International Exhibition of Investment Opportunities in Iran's Mines and Mining Industries,^[11] International Handicrafts Exhibition,^[12] and the Tehran Game Exhibition, among other events.

The Grand Mosalla, which can accommodate up to 500,000 people, is not only used as a place for daily prayers and Friday prayers, but it is designed as a large Islamic complex that has various uses. In the design of the mosque, there are several halls for holding domestic and international gatherings and seminars, as well as the Islamic Revolution Museum, an amphitheater, the International Islamic Studies and Research Center, the Educational Institute of Islamic Sciences, the Educational Center for Islamic and Iranian Handicrafts and Arts, the Ummah Farewell Monument Imam, the market of handicrafts, culture, publications, etc. has been designed.

Access

The Grand Mosalla Mosque is served by the Mosalla Imam Khomeini Metro Station, a Tehran Metro station located in the Grand Mosalla, next to the Qasem Soleimani Expressway.^[13] It also has a bus rapid transit station in Line 5: Science & Tech Terminal to Argentina Square Beihaghi Terminal.^[14][15]

Specifications

The main axis of the mosque plan is in the direction of the Qibla, and all the buildings follow this axis. The mosque has 14 flowerbeds, 12 courtyards, 7 domes, and 5 entrances, which were designed under the influence of the architecture of Persian domes in different regions of the country. The main dome of Grand Mosalla is one of the largest domes in the Muslim World. The 5 main entrances are named after Rasulullah, Amir al-Mu'minin, Fatima al-Zahra, Imam Hassan, and Imam Hossein. There are two garlands, a porch and a dome with different architecture and buildings, in each entrance of the complex. There are 14 garlands in total, which the elevator passes.

There are many ponds and fountains, with the central pool having an area of ​​3000 square meters. Green space is also an important part of Grand Mosalla, and is considered to create a gentle and relaxing environment. The Grand Mosalla is completely built by the Iranian engineers. All the parts are connected to each other with bolts and nuts, with no use of welding.

Shabestan

There are five Shabestan at the Mosalla, located in the northern central courtyard of the complex. With an infrastructure of over 30,000 square meters on the main floor, it can accommodate 38,000 people for prayer. In the interior and exterior of Shabestan, there are inscriptions in maraq script, of the three types, nastaliq and naskh, with themes of Quranic chapters, supplications and hadiths.

Mihrab of the Shabestan

The Mihrab of Shabestan is on the south side of Shabestan 4, adjacent to Imam Juma's building with a height of approximately 10 meters. The architectural style of the mihrab is of the type of stanzas and the Islamic design, which is decorated with Quranic verses and supplications.

Western courtyard

The western courtyard can be accessed by the stairs located in the north and west of the coFmplex.

The Great Iwan

The structure of the porch is 110 meters wide and 110 meters long. It will be the world's biggest when completed.

Gallery

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See also

• Jamaran Hussainiya

References

External links