Makki Zahedan Grand Mosque

A Brief History of the Makki Mosque of Zahedan

• A Brief History of the Makki Mosque of Zahedan
• The architectural brilliance of the Mecca Mosque and the beauty of its reconstruction
• Exterior of the Makki Mosque: A Splendor of Ottoman Architecture
• Capturing Light: Dreamlike Lighting in Zahedan Grand Mosque
• Sightseeing near Makki Mosque of Zahedan

The Makki Mosque of Zahedan, also known as the Makki Grand Mosque, is the largest Sunni mosque in Sistan and Baluchestan province and one of the most visited places in Zahedan. This mosque serves as one of the main cultural and religious attractions of the region. Throughout the year, thousands of tourists from different parts of Iran travel to this area to get to know the Makki Mosque of Zahedan better. If you are looking for a rich experience of art, religion, and the beauty of this region, a visit to the Makki Mosque of Zahedan is highly recommended. In the rest of this article, we will examine the architecture and values of this mosque in detail.

The history of the Makki Mosque of Zahedan dates back to the early 1350s. When Abdul Aziz Mollazadeh (Maulana Abdul Aziz), a high-ranking cleric and prominent figure of the Sunnis of Iran, began the project to build this mosque on an area of ​​600 square meters. The project, located next to the Zahedan Islamic Science Center (Dar al-Uloom), created a combination of mosques and religious complexes with the aim of educating and promoting thoughts and philosophy.
The basic structure of the Mecca Mosque became a prominent Islamic center in Zahedan and Sistan and Baluchestan Province from the early years of its establishment. Of course, as time passed and the population increased, the need for more space, building expansion, and strengthening the mosque’s infrastructure forced its officials to decide to create a mosque beyond this structure. We will discuss the expansion plan for this mosque in more detail below.

The architectural brilliance of the Mecca Mosque and the beauty of its reconstruction

The Mecca Mosque of Zahedan has become one of the prominent tourist destinations in Sistan and Baluchestan Province with its unique architecture. This mosque, which covers all Muslim-populated areas of this region, has a significant difference from other large mosques in Iran with its beautiful and attractive design. It is interesting to know that in the process of developing and reconstructing this holy place, new designs have been implemented for the interior and exterior architecture of the mosque. In two stages of reconstruction, the Grand Mosque of Zahedan, as the largest mosque in the city, achieved remarkable changes. First, in 1370, the first stage of reconstruction began, which included the basement, ground floor, and first floor. This process was completed over 20 years. The second stage of reconstruction began in 1390, and by expanding the space of the mosque, it was able to meet the increasing needs of worshipers. The need to increase the prayer space initially led to the installation of metal awnings in the courtyard of the mosque, but with the increase in the number of worshipers, this space was still not enough. Finally, the decision was made to develop this religious place, and with the cooperation of the people and Sheikh Maulana Abdul Hamid, seven houses were purchased on the east side of the mosque and the development plan began. For the reconstruction, new plans were drawn up that give this mosque a new architecture. The expansion was carried out from the north and south sides, and the interior space of the mosque has increased to a width of about 32,000 square meters. Currently, some parts of the mosque are still being completed.

The overall result of these designs has brought about significant and fundamental changes in the appearance and atmosphere of the mosque. After more than decades of renovation and development, the Mecca Mosque of Zahedan has become a beautiful and shining jewel in the heart of this city that attracts all tourist tours. The exterior design of the mosque, inspired by the Ottoman architectural style and the interior decorations with the Iranian style, has implemented a combination of beauties in this work of art. This combination of elegance and splendor has made this mosque a landmark of art and architectural beauty in Zahedan.

Exterior of the Makki Mosque: A Splendor of Ottoman Architecture

A look at the exterior of the Mecca Grand Mosque of Zahedan takes you to a world of art and history that is inspired by the great mosques of the Ottoman era and the outstanding architecture of Turkey. By traveling to Zahedan and visiting this mosque, you will feel like you have booked a tour to Istanbul! In fact, this structure, with its minarets and Esfandiari buildings, evokes an image of the glory of Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque in the minds of tourists and researchers. But behind this unique appearance lies a new story. In the interior design of the Zahedan Grand Mosque, the concept of lighting and light-receiving has been newly invented. By embedding windows and skylights in the main ceiling, the interior space enhances the feeling of uniqueness by emphasizing light.

From an artistic point of view, the Zahedan Grand Mosque is also a prime example of the fusion of Iranian architecture with international principles. Every part of the mosque, from the nave and ceilings to the columns and altars, is decorated with inspiration from the authentic and pure beauties of Iranian architecture. These works of art are not only a glory of Iranian architecture, but also a representative of the history and art of the city of Zahedan. With a plane ticket to Zahedan, you can easily visit all this splendor and beauty, so don’t miss it.

Capturing Light: Dreamlike Lighting in Zahedan Grand Mosque

One of the architectural attractions of Zahedan’s Mecca Mosque, which we mentioned in the previous section, is the beauty of its interior and exterior lighting. These light encounters are designed to create an exceptional spiritual experience for visitors and have a unique effect on creating amazing and relaxing spaces within the mosque. The white buildings and minarets of the Mecca Mosque magnify and magnify the space, and we saw that this similarity brings to mind the image of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul. But upon entering the mosque, a beautiful and unique difference becomes apparent! The interior lighting of the Mecca Mosque offers a new experience of religious spaces. The focus on the intelligent use of natural and artificial light to create different effects is one of the most important features of this lighting. Various windows and skylights are placed in the roof of the mosque to allow sunlight to enter the interior in a proportionate and moderate manner. This approach has created a bright and luminous space that conveys a certain sense of peace and spirituality to visitors.

Another interesting feature of the lighting of the Mecca Grand Mosque is the use of decorations and stucco moldings in the style of Iranian art in the interior structure, which greatly help to diffuse the light. These decorations also emphasize local culture and identity and, considering the original works of Iranian architecture, make the interior beautiful and pleasant. The Mecca Mosque of Zahedan; An embodiment of the fusion of culture and art So far, we have become well acquainted with the Mecca Mosque and its interior and exterior architecture. But apart from architecture and history, there are other important things about this mosque. We should know that the Mecca Grand Mosque of Zahedan combines the coexistence of cultural authenticity and innovation in the field of architecture and art in a unique work! This experience combines the cultural beauties and authentic heritage of the region with contemporary ideas and technologies in a stunning way.

The authenticity of this mosque, as a representative of the history and culture of Sistan and Baluchestan, has a deep connection with the people, considering the civilization and identity of this region. Through architectural details, interior decorations and the use of local elements, this mosque offers its spectators an experience of local culture and history, which creates a deeper connection between visitors and the values of the region. At the same time, the Mecca Grand Mosque has been able to create a fresh and modern experience of the religious space by using architectural and lighting innovations. These innovations apparently help from the authentic culture of the region to invite visitors to interact with contemporary concepts. For example, the use of modern designs in the interior depicts a combination of Iranian art with modern technologies. You can purchase various types of plane tickets to travel to Zahedan and see these beauties. Finally, more than ten thousand tourists from all over the world travel to this unique place every year and enjoy the unique and relaxing atmosphere of the Zahedan Grand Mosque. This mosque is located on Khayyam Street in Zahedan, and as mentioned, prayer times and Friday prayers are the best times to visit this holy place. Of course, you can also visit this mosque at other times and enjoy the solitude and peace felt in this place. The Mecca Grand Mosque of Zahedan, with its unique history and architecture, is one of the outstanding and beautiful destinations of Sistan and Baluchestan in eastern Iran, depicting the wonders of this region.

Sightseeing near Makki Mosque of Zahedan

You can visit Shahr-e Sukhteh Museum, which is located 158 km from Makki Mosque of Zahedan.