Jame Mosque of Yazd (Masjed-e Jameh)

About Jame Mosque of Yazd

Jameh Mosque of Yazd is an elevated mosque with very impressive and spectacular decorations which has made it one of the greatest works of Islamic architecture in Iran. It has an iwan and a pair of steady minarets which have credited it a great majesty which can be felt from long distances away.
The mosque is one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces of ninth century AH which was built in a period of one hundred years in different eras combining three old mosques. It has acquired its current form in Qajar era in an area of ten thousand squared meters and was built based on Azeri style in the center of Yazd. 
The picture of Jame Mosque of Yazd used to be printed on 200- Rial notes.

Architecture of Jame Mosque of Yazd

Building of the mosque arouses admiration of visitors due to its lodging dome, lofty façade, as well as its unique tile work.
Entering Masjed Jame Street, we can see this great mosque at the end of the street. Walking toward the mosque, we can see the lofty minarets connecting us to the sky. The minarets were built with the height of 52 m and diameter of 8 m . Surprisingly, the minarets are different. The minaret on the right has two independent stairways. You will be surprised observing the height of the minarets and their unique dazzling tile work, even at the top of the minarets where the minarets are thinner. 

An Interesting Tale about Minarets of Jameh Mosque of Yazd

Let’s hear the local tale about this pair of minarets: the architect of the mosque and his prentice decided to build these minarets individually without any supervising on each other’s work, and finally compare their minarets. When have built their minarets, they got to know that although both minarets were built with high excellency; the minaret on the right which was built by the prentice has two stairways; while, the other minaret built by the architect has only one stairway. The architect observing this fact was upset and fell himself down from the minaret.

To enter the mosque, we have to pass through the main door which is made of walnut wood with the height of 4.5 m and step into the vestibule. It’s not exaggerating to say that visiting the vestible is actually visiting an inscription museum; since there are several stone and tile inscriptions installed around it which show various government decrees and endowments.

Let’s enter the large rectangular courtyard of the mosque, among which there is a fairly large platform. This platform had been used by the worshipers who were willing to spend summer moonlit nights praying in the yard away from traffic of other worshipers, so it is known as " Moonlit Platform ".

Iwan of Masjed Jameh of Yazd

Let’s approach the high and lofty iwan of the mosque. Interestingly, ceiling of the iwan is decorated with 99 different names of God written in an angular Kufic. If you look up focusing at the ceiling, you can read all these 99 names.

Passing the iwan, we will go into the interior of the mosque which is covered by the double - layered dome of the mosque. Have a look on tile work on walls and ceiling. How elegant and artistic are written holy names and verses on dome bricks and tiles.

Mihrab of Jame Mosque of Yazd

Let’s step toward the most sacred place in the mosque, Mihrab, which is also one of the prettiest parts of the mosque. Pleasantly, the mihrab is entirely made of marble. It is said that the mihrab has been built of soil of Karbala and rose water. If you look up, you can see a globe in half which is believed by the researchers to enfold coloring patterns of tile work in the case of necessity of rebuilding. On both sides of the Mihrab, there are two small entries in form of narrow corridors leading to mihrab. These entries were specified for women to be able to ask their questions from imam without dealing with men praying in the mosque, i.e. the corridors connect the women's section to the mihrab.

Dome of Masjed Jame of Yazd

The double - layered dome of the mosque is elegantly decorated with flower design, on the shoot of which the word " Allah Al-Molk " meaning property of God is written in Kufic calligraphy. The dome has a solid and steady structure with outer diameter of 17 m. Noteably, the architect combined two arcs rather than a sharp bend to achieve a beautiful and stable composition in building the dome.

On both sides of the dome, there are eastern and western shabestans. Having visited the shabestans and their picturesque ceilings, let’s visit warmhouses located in east and west sides of the mosque. The eastern warmhouse is known as “ Shabestan -e- Shazdeh ” which means " Prince's chamber " and has 48 rectangular pilars with a plinth covered with hexagonal turquoise tiles. The eastern hothouse was recently built by the committee of mosque supporters. The mosque is located at the end of Masjed Jame Street, Imam Khomeini Street.

As there are mass prayers every set time, many of the townspeople and Muslim travelers also say their prayers here.
The mosque has seven doors, four of which are open; so we can exit from other doors of the mosque rather than the main gate in order to continue our visit to historical part and monuments of the city which are local architectural masterpieces. 

Treasure Museum in Masjed-e Jame

Masjed-e Jame in Yazd is loaded with valuable historical items which attract the attention of a large number of visitors. In order to keep and display these tems, a part of the western Shabestan of the mosque has been allocated as the Treasure Museum which homes 350 items and pieces of work from different historical eras from Ilkhanid to the contemporary. The museum was opened to public in 2014.

Shamseh of the Jameh Mosque of Yazd

It is unlikely that anyone will visit the Jameh Mosque of Yazd and not take a photo with the spectacular shamseh motif in this site. The turquoise mosaic tiles have formed a beautiful twelve-pointed Shamseh which refers to the 12 Shiite Imams or probably the 12th Imam.

Of course, the tilework of Masjed-e Jameh presents other designs and patterns, most of which include beautiful Shamseh and star motifs. Different parts of the mosque are decorated with stunning plaster designs, arch-shaped designs as well as some motifs similar to cypress tree, all of which have added to the glory of the mosque. It should be noted that most of the decorative elements in the Jameh Mosque of Yazd refer to special Shiite symbols and concepts; so that the numbers 5 - as a symbol of the Five Holy Ones or the 5th infallible Imam-  number 12 - as a symbol of the twelve Shiite Imams – and number 72 - as a sign related to the companions of Imam Hussein and the event of Ashura - are seen in abundance in this magnificent monument.

Where Is Jameh Mosque of Yazd located?

Great Jameh Mosque of Yazd was registered in the list of Iran National Monuments on July 21, 1952 with registration No. 206.
For more information about Jame Mosque of Yazd, please contact Raadina Support.