Sheikh Bastami Mosque

Sheikh Bastami Mosque
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Province	Semnan Province
Location
Location	Bastam, Iran
Architecture
Architect(s)	Muhammad ibn al-Husayn al-Damghani[1]
Type	mosque, mausoleum, madrasah
Style	Seljuk, Ilkhanid
Completed	14th century[2]
Specifications
Dome(s)	2
Minaret(s)	1
Minaret height	20 metres

Sheikh Bastami Mosque is a 14th-century religious complex located in downtown Semnan Province, Bastam. It is named after Abu Yazid al-Bastami, better known as Bayazid Bastami, who is buried in that place alongside Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq. The complex comprises a mosque, madrasah and the tombs of the aforementioned personalities.^[3]

History

Construction on the shrine of Bayazid Bastami is theorised to have predated the Seljuk era,^[4] but the oldest inscription extant on the building gives the date of construction as being in the year 1120.^[5] During the reign of the Ilkhanid ruler Mahmud Ghazan, the religious complex underwent restoration in 1299.^[6] After his death, his successor Öljeitü added an eastern entrance portal and a corridor, as well as an iwan across the courtyard of the mosque. Later on, the Timurid ruler Shah Rukh attached a madrasah to the religious complex.^[7]

Architecture

The main iwan leading into the religious complex is formed of a tall arch with a semi-dome of muqarnas, the walls covered with faience and unglazed terracotta.^[8] The mosque building is decorated with carved stucco, which dates back to the restoration under Mahmud Ghazan.^[9] Several design elements of the mosque building is Seljuk, such as the minaret and one of the walls. The minaret is 20 metres tall.^[10] This mosque also has two shabestan, the larger one is used for men and the smaller one is used for women.^[11]

The tomb of Bayazid Bastami is located directly next to one of the walls of the complex, in the courtyard. It is a simple structure and is not lavish at all, possibly to reflect the piety and asceticsm of the entombed saint.^[12]

The tomb of Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq is located on the southern side of the religious complex. It has a conical dome over it, and the tomb is located under the dome. The tomb is sometimes known as an Imamzadeh.^[13]

See also

List of Mosques in Iran

Imamzadeh

Bayazid Bastami

Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq

References

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This page was last edited on 22 January 2024, at 14:46