Imam Ali Mosque (Basra)

The Imam Ali Mosque (Arabic: جامع خطوة الإمام علي‎) or the Old Mosque of Basra (Arabic: مسجد البصرة القديم‎) is the first mosque built in Basra, Iraq and among the oldest mosques in the history of Islam.

Imam Ali Mosque
Arabic: جامع خطوة الإمام علي‎
The Imam Ali Mosque in Basra
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Rite	Shia Islam but sometimes Sunni Islam
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mosque
Status	Active
Location
Location	Basra, Iraq
Location in Iraq
Geographic coordinates	30.3997°N 47.7339°E / 30.3997; 47.7339
Architecture
Type	Islamic architecture
Date established	635 CE

History

The mosque was founded around 635 during the era of the second Caliph Umar, at the outskirt of Basra right before the conquest of the city. Initially, the building was built from the palm canes, but the original building was later burnt down by the great fire. Later the mosque was reconstructed from the mud during the era of the 3rd Umayyad Caliph Umar II. The reconstructed building however, was destroyed again during the Abbasid era due to the great flood which submerged the city of Basra. After the majority of the Basra citizens evacuated from the old Basra to the newer part of the city, the mosque became a cultural heritage and a site for the pilgrimage to Ali and Aisha. Due to the religious importance of the mosque, the site became a location of many massacres of Arab pilgrims, especially during the Zanj Rebellion. It is considered that the first madrasa for fiqh studies, hadith studies and philosophy was established within the mosque. Some important figures of the early Islamic history were educated here, including Abd Allah ibn Abbas and Wasil ibn Ata. The madrasa was among the first to call the adoption of mind as a way to devise legal problems.[1][2]

See also

• Islam in Iraq
• List of mosques in Iraq

References

1. "مسجد خطوة الإمام علي بالبصرة.. ارث إسلامي يتحدى طواغيت العصور]". Al Rsool (in Arabic). Retrieved January 5, 2018.
2. "جامع خطوة الامام علي عليه السلام في البصرة يحتاج الى التفاتة من الحكومة". Iraaq 18 (in Arabic). Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.