Description of the attraction
Bibi-Heybat Mosque is a Shiite mosque, which is one of the main cult sights of the Azerbaijani city of Baku. The mosque is located on the shores of the Baku Bay.
Unfortunately, the magnificent city landmark has not survived to this day in its original appearance. The mosque, which can be seen now, is only its recreated in the 90s. last century copy. The previous building of the mosque was erected in the XIII century.
According to legend, the mosque was built over the tomb of the daughter of Musa al-Qozim, who is the seventh Shiite imam. In addition, here is the burial place of the nanny Ukeima khanum and other noble people who bequeathed to bury them in the Bibi-Heybat mosque.
In the 20s. of the last century, after the establishment of Soviet power in the country, a fierce war with religion began here. As a result of all these events, several churches were destroyed: the Orthodox Church of Alexander Nevsky, the Catholic Polish Church and the Muslim mosque Bibi-Heybat, which was the main target for the newly formed government. By order of the Presidium of the Baku Council, the complex was blown up in 1936. Almost all buildings collapsed at once and only the minaret had to be blown up several times.
With the acquisition of state independence, many of the country's architectural monuments, including religious buildings, were restored. In 1998, construction work began on the construction of the mosque. For this, miraculously preserved old sketches were used. At the same time, the new complex turned out to be much larger than the original. The best architects worked on the construction of the mosque.
The Bibi-Heybat Mosque is a spiritual center for Muslims of the East and one of the main monuments of Islamic architecture in Azerbaijan.
