Blue Mosque, Tabriz

The Blue Mosque (Persian: مسجد کبود, romanized: Masjed-e Kabūd), also known as the Masjed-e Moẓaffariya and as the Kabood Mosque, is a former mosque and mausoleum complex, in a partial ruinous state, partially preserved as a museum, located in Tabriz, in the province of East Azerbaijan, Iran. The construction of the former mosque started during the Qarā Qoyunlu dynasty and was commenced in AH 870 (1465/1466 CE) during the reign of the Āq Qoyunlu, and completed during the 1480s CE.
The former Blue Mosque is widely recognized as the last remaining example of Turkmen architectural and decorative styles in the city. The features of the former mosque prompted the scholars to explore the innovative features of Tabriz's ceramic tile craftsmanship—highlighting its distinctive "blue-and-white" patterns, lusterware, and gilded cobalt tiles, which for a considerable time were recognized as the sole known example of their kind. The former mosque was added to the Iran National Heritage List in 1932, administered by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran.
The mosque was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1780, leaving only the iwan (entrance hall). Reconstruction began in 1973 by Reza Memaran Benam, under the supervision of Iranian Ministry of Culture. However, as of March 2025, the reconstruction was incomplete. In November 2024, it was reported that the Blue Mosque was one of several historical mosques that were submitted by the Iranian Government to UNESCO, for inclusion on the World Heritage List.
The Blue Mosque was a part of the Moẓaffariya architectural complex, which was established through the endowment of Ḵātun Jān Begom (d. 1469), the wife of Jahānšāh, who was the ruler of the Qarā Qoyunlu dynasty (1439–1467). The complex included various structures like a Sufi convent, an underground canal, gardens, a madrasa, bathhouses and mausoleum. Only the mosque and part of the mausoleum remain. A few years later, Jahānšāh and his Qarā Qoyunlu were toppled by Uzun Hassan of the Āq Qoyunlu, and Tabriz was taken. Construction of the Blue Mosque was still ongoing when the Āq Qoyunlu seized Tabriz. After the deaths of Jahānšāh and Ḵātun Jān Begom, their daughter Ṣāleha Ḵātun continued overseeing the work. Under the Āq Qoyunlu ruler Uzun Hasan, from 1478 to 1490, the mausoleum's cupola and main structures were completed.
Though the mausoleum was never completed, when the Safavids assumed control over Tabriz and made it their capital, the Blue Mosque itself served the new rulers as a mosque during the first half of the 16th century. In 1514, after the Safavids were defeated at the decisive Battle of Chaldiran, the Ottomans occupied and looted Tabriz, including the Blue Mosque. In 2011, Aube noted that at least eight carpets were looted by the Turks and taken to Istanbul. Aube notes that even though it is not known whether the Turks attacked the structure itself during the capture and occupation of the Blue Mosque, several earthquakes damaged the building between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was severely damaged by the earthquake of 1780. However, in the 17th century, the Blue Mosque was already reportedly "completely destroyed and abandoned". In the 19th century, the local people of Tabriz looted the building's ruins. In the 20th century, during the Pahlavi era, the mosque was finally rebuilt.
The mosque is one of the few completely covered mosques of Persia, built in the Timurid style.
The Blue Mosque is renowned for its exquisite tilework. The interior of the dome chamber facing the qibla is clad in dark-blue hexagonal tiles with stenciled gilding, a decorative richness unmatched until the later construction of the mosque of Shaikh Loṭf-Allāh in Isfahan.
The mosque features a rich array of building materials and decorative techniques, including a foundation of stone supporting structures of fired bricks, entirely adorned with tiles and decorated fired brick panels The use of alabaster for the mausoleum's dado and the meḥrābs adds to the mosque's aesthetic grandeur. Its unique T-shaped floor plan and towering minarets reflect Ottoman architectural styles, hinting at the exchange of artistic techniques between the Ottoman Empire and the Qara Qoyunlu dynasty. The architectural brilliance of the Blue Mosque influenced many buildings from the same era. This influence is reflected in the Uzun Hasan Mosque, built by the succeeding ruler Uzun Hasan after he took control of the region. Both the Blue Mosque and the Uzun Hasan Mosque share distinctive decorative features, such as elegant mihrabs adorned with alabaster slabs, sculpted stone inscriptions above the dadoes, and extensive use of hexagonal cobalt and gilded tiles covering the walls and inner cupolas.
The mosque was a multipurpose complex with a large dome surrounded by passageways and a smaller domed mosque, possibly with a vault underneath. Its design is similar to famous mausoleums like the ʿIs̲h̲rat-k̲h̲āna in Samarqand, showing a style of detailed mausoleum architecture common in places like Ḳumm and Māzandarān.
The Kufic, and Thuluth scripts, the arabesque patterns, and the choramatic compositions of these façades, were created by Nematollah-ben-Mohammad-ol-Bavab, the calligrapher.