Juma Mosque and Minaret
4 images 1 contributors Shoot with care
Nigel Shaw
Shoot with care
About this spot
Juma Mosque or Friday Mosque is located almost at the heart of the Ichan Kala (old city)—a fitting location as the name of the ruling Khan would have been read aloud here during Friday prayers.
The mosque was designed to house a large number of congregants as equals before the imam and Allah, and for this reason it differs substantially from the typical open-air courtyard-centric architecture that predominates in Khiva. Apart from two small lightwells and the small entrances on four sides of the hall, there were no windows or other openings to the outside world, creating a dim and secluded atmosphere that is even today a welcome respite from the unrelenting Khivan sun. The overall form is similar to archaic Arab-style mosques from the early days of Islam. However, it seems likely that the similarity in designs is nothing more than a functional conincidence as there is no indication that early Arab-style mosque design persisted into 18th century central Asia.
Apart from the prayer hall, the mosque's chief distinguishing feature is its 33 meter tall minaret that is physically connected to the north side of the prayer hall. An extra fee allows intrepid visitors the chance to climb the 81 steps to the top.
The mosque was designed to house a large number of congregants as equals before the imam and Allah, and for this reason it differs substantially from the typical open-air courtyard-centric architecture that predominates in Khiva. Apart from two small lightwells and the small entrances on four sides of the hall, there were no windows or other openings to the outside world, creating a dim and secluded atmosphere that is even today a welcome respite from the unrelenting Khivan sun. The overall form is similar to archaic Arab-style mosques from the early days of Islam. However, it seems likely that the similarity in designs is nothing more than a functional conincidence as there is no indication that early Arab-style mosque design persisted into 18th century central Asia.
Apart from the prayer hall, the mosque's chief distinguishing feature is its 33 meter tall minaret that is physically connected to the north side of the prayer hall. An extra fee allows intrepid visitors the chance to climb the 81 steps to the top.
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