Heydar Mosque, Baku

The Heydar Mosque in Baku stands as a significant architectural and cultural landmark. Named after Heydar Aliyev, the former President of Azerbaijan, the mosque was officially opened on December 26, 2014. The sprawling complex encompasses a total area of 12,000 square meters, with the internal space of the building covering 4,200 square meters. This spacious interior is adorned with verses from the Quran written along the mosque's domes, enhancing its spiritual and aesthetic appeal.

As the largest religious architectural site in the South Caucasus, it surpasses the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque in Grozny and the Makhachkala Grand Mosque in Dagestan. Built in the Shirvan-Absheron style, it includes a façade of Shirvanshah stone, marble and wood interiors, and Quranic inscriptions on its domes. The mosque's 920 square meters of carpets are styled after the famous Sheikh Safi carpet. Recent expansions include new access roads, landscaped surroundings, and a ceremonial hall.

Constructed under the directive of President Ilham Aliyev in mid-2012, the building process commenced in September 2012 and concluded at the end of 2014. The mosque serves both Sunni and Shia congregations, with Imam Hafiz Abbasov and Akhund Rufet Garayev appointed to lead these sects, respectively, by the Caucasian Muslim Office.

Managed by the Executive Power of Baku City, the mosque operates under specific regulations and is part of a separate complex, as stated by Mubariz Gurbanli, Chairman of the State Committee on Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Heydar Mosque not only serves as a place of worship but also as a symbol of national pride and a testament to Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage.