Great Mosque of Kufa, Islamic mosque in Kufa, Iraq
The Great Mosque of Kufa is an Islamic mosque in Kufa, Iraq, that spreads across a large area and includes several prayer halls as well as courtyards. The architecture shows traditional Islamic patterns with arches, columns, and geometric decorations on walls and ceilings.
The mosque was founded in the 7th century CE by Saad ibn Abi Waqqas and was the first building of the newly founded city of Kufa. Later it served as the central mosque during the caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Talib, who preached and governed from here.
Muslim worshippers regard this site as one of the oldest mosques in the Islamic world and visit it as a pilgrimage destination. Many visitors come specifically to the shrine of Muslim ibn Aqeel, an early follower of Ali ibn Abi Talib who is buried here.
The mosque has separate areas for men and women, each with their own entrances and prayer spaces. Visitors will find water fountains and facilities for ritual washing before prayer throughout the complex.
The boundaries of the sacred grounds were determined according to historical accounts by shooting four arrows in different directions. This method established the original shape and extent of the mosque grounds in early Islamic times.
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