Aghdam Juma Mosque- Our religious and cultural heritage

 

The territory of Aghdam is rich in hundreds of architectural monuments with ancient history. The historical architectural monuments here are unique examples of different historical periods. Aghdam Juma Mosque is one of these historical architectural monuments. Aghdam Juma Mosque was built in 1868-1870. The mosque designed by Karbalai Safikhan Garabaghi and it has two minarets and two floors. The beauty of the mosque is that it is built of special stones, and the minarets rising from the corners of the facades of the building are made of bricks.

In every detail of the mosque, one can find rectangular and circle elements, that are important for Islamic art. The prayer hall is illuminated by windows opening from the sides of the sanctuary and balconies. One of the interesting features is the engraving of the name of the master Mohammad Naqqash Tabrizi, who designed the building, and the year of its repair, 1331 on the sanctuary. Some parts of the mosque, especially the entrance, are inside a large arch portal typical of Safavid architecture. Aghdam city mosque belongs to "Karabakh mosque architecture" school.

The city of Aghdam was occupied by the Armenian armed forces in 1993 and the Aghdam Juma Mosque, considered one of the pearls of Azerbaijani architecture, also became a victim of Armenian aggression. The minarets of the mosque were demolished from the inside, the ceiling was blown down in several places, and the design and inscriptions were destroyed. The mosque's prayer hall and rooms were used by Armenians as stable, cattle and pigs were kept. Insulting expressions and words against the Azerbaijani people and nation were written in Armenian and Russian on the inner and outer walls of the mosque.

The monument was included in the list of immovable historical and cultural monuments of national importance by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated August 2, 2001 No. 132.

The condition of the Juma Mosque once again confirms the violation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict by Armenians.

The Juma Mosque is included in the list of monuments of national importance. As a result of the successful diplomacy of President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, Agdam was liberated from occupation on November 20 without any martyrs. A group of Azerbaijani religious figures visited the Juma Mosque on November 20. For the first time in 27 years, azan was performed in Aghdam, liberated from the Armenian occupation. Believers prayed in the mosque.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Aghdam Juma Mosque on November 23. Both the president and his wife entered the mosque without shoes as a sign of respect for our national and religious values.