Al-Kawaz Mosque
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Al-Kawaz Mosque | |
|---|---|
جامع الكواز | |
 The mosque minaret in 2013 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Basra, Basra Governorate |
| Country | Iraq |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | Iraqi Islamic |
| Founder | Sheikh Sari al-Abbasi |
| Completed | 1514 CE |
| Specifications | |
| Dome | One |
| Minaret | One |
| Minaret height | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Site area | 1,000 m2 (11,000 sq ft) |
| Shrines | Two:
|
| Materials | Stone; bricks |
The Al-Kawaz Mosque (Arabic: جامع الكواز) is a mosque in Basra, in the Basra Governorate of Iraq. Established in 1514 CE, it was built by a branch of Banu al-Abbas and, along with the al-Sarraji Mosque, has one of the two remaining Islamic-style minarets in Basra.[1][2][3] The mosque is named in honour of Sheikh Muhammad Amin al-Kawaz, a Sufi mystic of the Shadhili order.
The mosque was founded in 1514 and built by Sheikh Sari al-Abbasi in three days. It was originally built from reeds as a simple structure, and was rebuilt in 1523 by his son, Abd al-Qadir, in stone.[1]
Sheikh Muhammad Amin al-Kawaz, the mystic Sheikh of the Shadhili order, used to teach the Qu'ran and religious sciences from the mosque. When al-Kawaz died in 1546, he was buried in the mosque.[4]
In 1602, a descendent of Sheikh Sari, Sheikh Abd al-Salam II al-Abbasi, built the current dome of the mosque and a minaret. The mosque is in the sledge[clarification needed] and is considered one of the rare minarets built in Islamic architecture and design at that time in Basra.[1] The dome was erected on top of the tomb of Sheikh al-Kawaz and was decorated in multi-colored Faience which was very popular with architecture at the time.[4] In the 18th century, the minaret of al-Kawaz Mosque was the highest point in all of Basra.[5] The mosque contains two tombs. One is the tomb of one of the sons of Musa al-Kazim, and the other is the circular tomb of Sheikh Muhammad Amin al-Kawaz, the mystic Sufi leader of Shadhili order in Basra whom the mosque is named after.[5]
During the Gulf War, al-Kawaz Mosque was one of the many archaeological sites in Iraq that were affected by looting.[6]
