Friday Mosque of Herat, Islamic worship complex in Herat, Afghanistan
The Friday Mosque of Herat is a large Islamic complex of courtyards and prayer halls in the center of Herat, Afghanistan. The structure includes a wide inner courtyard with tall portal niches facing the four cardinal directions, numerous domed buildings, and slender towers.
The current structure arose from 1200 under Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, replacing an earlier wooden building from the 11th century that no longer sufficed. Later rulers added portals and ornament, especially after the Timurid reign in the 15th century.
The building takes its name from the Muslim day of congregational prayer and continues to welcome believers from across the province for weekly gatherings. Local artisans renew and maintain the tilework using traditional methods, preserving centuries-old knowledge of ceramic craftsmanship.
The worship complex opens daily at prayer times for men and women in separate sections, while travelers require permission from local authorities. A visit works best outside main prayer times, when the compound is less crowded and the interior is more calmly accessible.
A large bronze fountain from 1375 still stands in the courtyard and bears inscriptions of the Kart dynasty. The lapis lazuli used in the wall tiles comes from mines northeast of the city and gives the surfaces a deep blue coloring.
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