Muhammad Mosque, 11th-century mosque in Old City, Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Muhammad Mosque is an 11th-century place of worship in Baku's Old City with a rectangular prayer hall covered by a barrel vault. A minaret decorated with geometric patterns rises beside the main structure.
The building was constructed in 1079 by Ustad-rais Muhammad, the son of Abu Bakr. Russian naval bombardment in 1723 severely damaged the minaret.
The mosque displays Arabic inscriptions in Kufi script on its northern wall, preserving Quranic verses and construction details. These writings show the faith of those who built and used this space.
The building sits behind the Swiss Embassy in Baku's Old City and is easy to find while walking through the narrow lanes of the ancient quarter. The interior is typically not open to visitors, but the exterior shows its notable architecture clearly.
The minaret earned its name Siniggala, meaning damaged or ruined structure, after remaining partially destroyed for over a century. Its 19th-century restoration saved this notable part from complete loss.
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