# Juma Mosque of Derbent

The Juma Mosque of Derbent is a Shi'ite Friday mosque and madrasa, located in the center of the old part of Derbent in the Republic of Dagestan, in what is modern-day Russia. The mosque was constructed by Iranians before the separation of Derbent from Iran as result of Treaty of Gulistan after the Russo-Persian War (Russian: Дербентская Джума-мечеть). Completed in c. 734 CE, it is the oldest mosque in Russia and the CIS. Despite its centuries-old history, the mosque is well preserved. It is an object of cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation of federal significance. The Juma Mosque forms part of the Old Derbent UNESCO World Heritage Site.

## History

In 733, one mosque was built in each of the 7 mahallahs of Derbent. Together with these mosques, a larger mosque was built for the common Friday prayer. The number of mosques increased from then on, and by 1796 there were 15 mosques in Derbent.
Above the entrance to the mosque there is an inscription stating that in 1368–1369 the mosque was restored after the earthquake by Tazhuddin from Baku. In 1815, the expansion and formation of the entire complex of the mosque was completed. In the 1930s, the mosque was closed during the atheist campaign that was launched throughout the USSR.
Sometime between 1474 and 1475, the construction of a madrasa began. Its expansion and the formation of the entire complex was completed only in 1815.
From 1938 to 1943, it was rebuilt into a city prison. In 1943, by a decree from Moscow, the mosque was returned to the clergy of the city with the right to further use it for its intended purpose. In the Soviet Union years, the Juma mosque was the largest in the North Caucasus, and until recent years it remained the only one in all of South Dagestan. For this reason, believers from different regions of South Dagestan came to Derbent for Friday prayers.
In the 1940s, the charter of the mosque was developed and the adherents elected a board of 20 people. The Sunni and Shi'ite communities of the city have their own imams.
In 2015, in preparation for the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of Derbent, restoration work was carried out at the mosque.

## Architecture

The Juma Mosque complex consists of the main mosque, madrasa and living quarters for the clergy. At the time of construction of the mosque from 733 to 734 CE it was the largest building in the city. The mosque measures 68 metres (223 ft) from west to east and 28 metres (92 ft) from south to north. The dome is 17 metres (56 ft) high.
The interior of the mosque consists of three naves, separated by square pillars with profiled capitals. The middle nave is 6.3 metres (21 ft) wide, and the side naves are 4 metres (13 ft) wide. Lancet arches are thrown between the pillars.
The courtyard of the mosque is 55 by 45 metres (180 by 148 ft); and is decorated with four old plane trees, by which the Juma Mosque can be recognized from anywhere in Derbent. In 2012, the plane trees of the Juma Mosque were recognized as natural monuments of all-Russian significance and taken under the protection of the Council for the Preservation of the Natural Heritage of the Nation in the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

## Gallery

* Courtyard of the mosque
* Mosque gate
* Courtyard of the mosque
* Mosque from the inside
* Inside the mosque
* Excursion to the mosque