Imam Ali Mosque, Religious sanctuary in Basra, Iraq.

Imam Ali Mosque, also called the Old Mosque of Basra, stands about 12 km west of the modern city centre. The site preserves remnants of the 7th-century mosque, including a corner tower of pale tan brick with a band of raised geometric brickwork and narrow arched openings, set on a dark green tiled plinth. Nearby are composite sandstone columns made of thick round discs with central holes. A small modern mosque and shrine with a blue-and-white patterned dome occupy the grounds.

The building was founded in the 7th century and was the first Islamic structure in Basra, originally constructed with palm materials. It has undergone several renovations over time to meet the needs of the growing community.

Shi'ite pilgrims call it Jami Khatwa Ali, "the mosque of Ali's footstep", because Ali ibn Abi Talib prayed and preached here after the Battle of the Camel in 36 AH. During Ramadan the courtyard hosts Qur'an reading competitions and Islamic lectures, with reciters from al-Azhar in Cairo and visitors from Iran, Pakistan and India.

The mosque lies about 12 km west of central Basra, so allow for a drive out of the city. The 7th-century corner tower and the composite sandstone columns stand apart from the modern prayer hall and shrine. Ramadan brings Qur'an readings and lectures with reciters from al-Azhar.

The corner tower beside the modern mosque is often mistaken for a minaret, but it is a remnant of the 7th-century structure, restored in the 1980s. Its raised geometric brickwork led scholars to date it to the same period as the Mustansariyya Madrasa in Baghdad, built in 624 CE.