Molla Hasan Mosque, Khoy

🕰️When was it built?

The mosque is credited to 1216 AH (1801–02) and to Haji Agha Hasani, son of Molla Hasan, the Friday prayer leader of Khoy. The name of Molla Hasan Sheikh al-Islam stayed on the building, and the mosque was added to Iran's National Heritage List in early 1997. Part of the mihrab's tilework is from later periods.

🏛️What was it built for?

The mosque was built in the heart of the bazaar, and one of its entrances opens onto the old bazaar. That put the place of worship right beside the coming and going of daily work. The main entrance has no courtyard; you pass from a vestibule into the prayer hall, one space after another.

👀What you will see

• Cut stone columns stand in two rows and divide the prayer hall into three long aisles.
• Inside the brick domes, diamonds, circles and eighteen-petalled flowers are made by the way the bricks are laid.
• The brick minaret beside the east entrance has a fairly wide body with windowed rooms inside it.
• The entrance vestibule has a brick dome and pointed blind arches; look up before you step into the prayer hall.
• Notice the light openings around the base of the northern domes; each of these domes has three.

🎒Good to know before you go

• Pair the mosque with a walk in the Khoy bazaar; one of its entrances opens straight onto it.