Kalon Mosque

 Hello everyone👋

Today is second practice day

We learn about Kalon Mosque. Let's start.

Po-i-Kalan, or Poi Kalan (Uzbek: Poi Kalon, Persian: Pā-i Kalān, which means "At the Foot of the Great One"), is an Islamic religious complex located in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. The complex consists of three parts, the Kalan Mosque (Masjid-i Kalan), the Kalan Minaret (Minâra-i Kalân) to which the name refers to, and the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah. The positioning of the three structures creates a square courtyard in its center, with the Mir-i-Arab and the Kalan Mosque standing on opposite ends. In addition, the square is enclosed by a bazaar and a set of baths connected to the Minaret on the northern and southern ends respectively

The congregational mosque in the complex is one of the largest mosques in Central Asia, behind the Bibi Khanum Mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and the Great Mosque of Herat in Afghanistan.

It is a part of the Poi-Kalon ensemble and is located on the Kosh* principle opposite the Miri-Arab Madrasah. Mosques started to be built in Bukhara soon after the Arab invasion in 709. The first mosque was built in 712, on the territory of the Ark citadel. With the subsequent Islamization of the population, this mosque became too small; a new, more prominent mosque was built outside the fortress in 770. In the 10th century, this mosque collapsed during Friday prayers: countless people died so that the streets of Bukhara seemed empty.

Therefore, in the 12th century, a new big mosque was built by the ruler Arslan-khan, next to it – the Kalon minaret. This mosque existed until the Mongol invasion in 1220 when the minaret was preserved, and conquerors burned down the mosque. It is rumoured that Genghis Khan considered the mosque a palace of the ruling family because of its size, which he ordered to destroy.

The external dimensions of the Kalon Mosque are about 127 by 78 metres, which is about by a quarter more minor than the Bibi-Khanum Mosque in Samarkand. Nevertheless, the mosque could accommodate up to 10,000 people. The inner courtyard is about 78 by 39 metres, built in a 2:1 ratio. The inner courtyard is surrounded by an arched gallery covered with a roof consisting of 288 saucer domes, only visible from above.

The mosque is still active for prayers: however, only part of the building is used for this purpose. You do not have to take off your shoes during your visit. More people participate in the prayers only on Fridays, so the mosque is closed to visitors for two hours 

 

Today's practice is over. I hope today's blg is interesting.