Omar Efendi mosque, 19th century mosque in Shaki, Azerbaijan

Omar Efendi Mosque is a 19th century brick structure with decorative patterns set between its windows and a 14-meter minaret showing intricate brickwork. The building has fourteen windows that allow natural light to enter the main prayer hall.

Built in the 19th century, the mosque kept its original appearance until the Soviet period, when the building was turned into a warehouse. It resumed religious use after 1950. A fire damaged it in 1986, and in 1987 it was rebuilt through the initiative of Haji Selim Efendi, imam of Shaki's Juma Mosque, with donations from local residents.

The mosque's name honours Omar Efendi, and its congregation is officially registered with Azerbaijan's State Committee for Religious Associations. Worshippers perform ablutions at the courtyard pool before entering the prayer hall, where a wooden minbar with hand-carved ornament and a three-metre mihrab with floral decoration remain in use.

Enter through the open balcony in front of the door; worshippers perform ablution at the pool in the 525-square-metre courtyard before passing into the main hall. The prayer space covers 105 square metres, with 14 windows in the main hall and a further 80-square-metre area opposite, 45 square metres of which is set aside for women. The floor and ceiling are wooden, so expect a different acoustic from stone mosques.

The minaret rises 14 metres and is built into the main body of the mosque rather than standing apart. Its round shaft of fired brick carries brick ornament that reflects the particular architectural style and skill of Shaki's craftsmen.