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Dr Ahad Nejadebrahimi, Mrs Hanieh Mohammadzadeh Jamlian, Dr Hosein Esmaeilisangari,
Volume 13, Issue 4 (1-2026)
Volume 13, Issue 4 (1-2026)
Abstract
The Jameh Kabir Mosque of Tabriz stands as one of the most prominent architectural monuments in Iran, representing a central node in the city’s social, political, and religious life. Throughout its extensive history, this mosque has served as a primary venue for the proclamation of public decrees, political events, and the issuance of religious fatwas under successive major Islamic governments, including the Ilkhanids, the Jalayirids, the Turkmens, the Safavids—during the period when Tabriz functioned as the capital—and the Qajars, during the era when Tabriz held the status of Dar al-Saltaneh (royal residency).
Historically situated within the ancient citadel of Tabriz, the mosque, in conjunction with the surrounding bazaar, has constituted one of the most vibrant and continuously inhabited areas of the city. Historical geographers emphasize that, in traditional Islamic cities of the Eastern world, the central market (bazaar) and the Friday mosque (Masjid-e Jameh) functioned as the pulsating heart of the urban fabric, representing both the economic core and the spiritual center of the city. This dual function underlines the mosque’s centrality not only in religious practices but also in the socio-economic life of Tabriz.
Early historical texts, dating back to the early 7th century AH, consistently refer to this mosque as the Jameh Kabir, a designation that it retained even during periods when other monumental mosques were constructed in Tabriz by influential rulers and high-ranking viziers, including the Ali Shah Mosque, Rashidiyeh Mosque, the Mozaffariyeh Complex (which includes the Blue Mosque), and the Nasriyeh Mosque. The sustained use of this title for the main Friday mosque reflects its enduring historical primacy and cultural prominence within the city.
During the Safavid and Qajar periods, significant royal and municipal decrees were meticulously inscribed in exquisite calligraphy by the city’s master scribes on large stone tablets, which were then prominently displayed within the mosque to ensure maximum public visibility. Consequently, numerous inscriptions from various political eras remain extant, providing invaluable documentary evidence for historians and architectural researchers alike.
Although the exact date of the mosque’s original foundation remains uncertain, available historical and architectural evidence confirms that its origins extend back to the early centuries of Islam. Over the centuries, the mosque has undergone numerous transformations due to historical events, political fluctuations, natural disasters—particularly seismic activity—and successive campaigns of renovation and expansion. These interventions have significantly altered its original structural and formal characteristics. The mosque has, over time, assimilated diverse architectural features that reflect the prevailing cultural and structural tendencies of each period, demonstrating a continuous process of architectural adaptation.
The principal aim of this study is to examine and systematically document the architectural and spatial transformations of one of the oldest mosques in the Islamic world, tracing its development from its initial formation to the Qajar era. The research is predicated upon the hypothesis that, despite repeated reconstructions and successive additions, fundamental structural and spatial elements from different historical periods remain identifiable and can be critically analyzed. Comparative analysis with contemporaneous Islamic mosques and historical architectural styles facilitates a reconstruction of the mosque’s evolutionary trajectory.
Despite its architectural and historical significance, scholarly research on the mosque’s spatial and formal transformations has been very limited. This study seeks to fill this gap by providing a detailed analysis of the mosque’s architectural evolution and by proposing a reconstruction of its formal configuration within various historical contexts. Such research is particularly vital for advancing understanding of Islamic architectural development in Iran, especially given the scarcity of surviving early Islamic edifices and the limited availability of comprehensive historical documentation.
The methodology employed is primarily descriptive-analytical, integrating historical document analysis, field surveys, and comparative case studies of similar mosques. Comparisons were drawn with structures that have either preserved their original configurations or for which reliable historical documentation exists. This approach enables a historically and culturally consistent reconstruction of the mosque’s layout and architectural configuration across multiple periods.
The central research questions guiding this study are:
Historically situated within the ancient citadel of Tabriz, the mosque, in conjunction with the surrounding bazaar, has constituted one of the most vibrant and continuously inhabited areas of the city. Historical geographers emphasize that, in traditional Islamic cities of the Eastern world, the central market (bazaar) and the Friday mosque (Masjid-e Jameh) functioned as the pulsating heart of the urban fabric, representing both the economic core and the spiritual center of the city. This dual function underlines the mosque’s centrality not only in religious practices but also in the socio-economic life of Tabriz.
Early historical texts, dating back to the early 7th century AH, consistently refer to this mosque as the Jameh Kabir, a designation that it retained even during periods when other monumental mosques were constructed in Tabriz by influential rulers and high-ranking viziers, including the Ali Shah Mosque, Rashidiyeh Mosque, the Mozaffariyeh Complex (which includes the Blue Mosque), and the Nasriyeh Mosque. The sustained use of this title for the main Friday mosque reflects its enduring historical primacy and cultural prominence within the city.
During the Safavid and Qajar periods, significant royal and municipal decrees were meticulously inscribed in exquisite calligraphy by the city’s master scribes on large stone tablets, which were then prominently displayed within the mosque to ensure maximum public visibility. Consequently, numerous inscriptions from various political eras remain extant, providing invaluable documentary evidence for historians and architectural researchers alike.
Although the exact date of the mosque’s original foundation remains uncertain, available historical and architectural evidence confirms that its origins extend back to the early centuries of Islam. Over the centuries, the mosque has undergone numerous transformations due to historical events, political fluctuations, natural disasters—particularly seismic activity—and successive campaigns of renovation and expansion. These interventions have significantly altered its original structural and formal characteristics. The mosque has, over time, assimilated diverse architectural features that reflect the prevailing cultural and structural tendencies of each period, demonstrating a continuous process of architectural adaptation.
The principal aim of this study is to examine and systematically document the architectural and spatial transformations of one of the oldest mosques in the Islamic world, tracing its development from its initial formation to the Qajar era. The research is predicated upon the hypothesis that, despite repeated reconstructions and successive additions, fundamental structural and spatial elements from different historical periods remain identifiable and can be critically analyzed. Comparative analysis with contemporaneous Islamic mosques and historical architectural styles facilitates a reconstruction of the mosque’s evolutionary trajectory.
Despite its architectural and historical significance, scholarly research on the mosque’s spatial and formal transformations has been very limited. This study seeks to fill this gap by providing a detailed analysis of the mosque’s architectural evolution and by proposing a reconstruction of its formal configuration within various historical contexts. Such research is particularly vital for advancing understanding of Islamic architectural development in Iran, especially given the scarcity of surviving early Islamic edifices and the limited availability of comprehensive historical documentation.
The methodology employed is primarily descriptive-analytical, integrating historical document analysis, field surveys, and comparative case studies of similar mosques. Comparisons were drawn with structures that have either preserved their original configurations or for which reliable historical documentation exists. This approach enables a historically and culturally consistent reconstruction of the mosque’s layout and architectural configuration across multiple periods.
The central research questions guiding this study are:
- What architectural and spatial transformations has the Jameh Kabir Mosque of Tabriz undergone from its original construction to the Qajar period?
- How can these transformations be plausibly reconstructed based on comparative architectural and historical analyses?
The findings indicate that the mosque’s current structure rests upon foundations originating in both early Islamic and post-Islamic architecture. Numerous phases of construction, expansion, and restoration have occurred over the centuries. Key architectural interventions include:
- The construction of a richly ornamented stucco mihrab during the Ilkhanid period,
- The northern expansion of the mosque under the Turkmen dynasty, and
- The transformation of the dual-dome system into a vault-and-arch (taq-o-cheshmeh) covering during the Qajar period.
Additionally, throughout various historical periods, several educational and cultural annexes—including smaller mosques, madrasas, and libraries—were added to the mosque’s original core, resulting in the establishment of a larger integrated religious and civic complex.
In conclusion, the Jameh Kabir Mosque of Tabriz is not only a pivotal religious and architectural landmark but also a layered historical document, inscribed in stone and brick. Its enduring presence exemplifies the continuity, adaptability, and resilience of Islamic architecture in the face of socio-political, natural, and cultural transformations. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of mosque architecture in the Islamic world and provides a methodological foundation for future research in architectural reconstruction and Islamic heritage studies.
In conclusion, the Jameh Kabir Mosque of Tabriz is not only a pivotal religious and architectural landmark but also a layered historical document, inscribed in stone and brick. Its enduring presence exemplifies the continuity, adaptability, and resilience of Islamic architecture in the face of socio-political, natural, and cultural transformations. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of mosque architecture in the Islamic world and provides a methodological foundation for future research in architectural reconstruction and Islamic heritage studies.
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