The Zakabannaya Mosque (Kazan): photo, description

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

One of the many historical mosques in Kazan has several names - the Mosque of the 1000th Anniversary of the Adoption of Islam, the Zakabannaya Mosque and the Yubileinaya Mosque. It was built by the time of the 1000th anniversary of the adoption of Islam. Oddly enough, but it was erected during the Soviet Union, when atheism flourished throughout the country, but this corner just then became the place of the Tatars' unification.

General information

The unique Zakabannaya Mosque (Kazan) stands on the site of the historically famous Kulmametovskaya Mosque, one of the first structures of this type erected in Tatarstan.

This mosque is not only one of the places of pilgrimage for Muslims, but also an important historical site that interests many foreign tourists who come to Kazan. It was built in 1914 according to the design of the engineer-architect Pechnikov and is located on the eastern coast of Lake Kaban, from the name of which its name arose - Zakabannaya Mosque.

Address: Kazan, st. Hadi Taktasha, 26.

Brief historical information

The following historical fact is interesting: it was decided to build a Muslim temple on the right bank of the Kaban River, which was Russian land in those days. In addition, this is the only such structure built under the Soviet government.

How was the construction going? In 1912, representatives of the religion developed a historic plan for the transition to Islam. The mosque was designed by Yevgeny Pechnikov, a well-known engineer-architect. The three-level minaret of the Zakabannaya mosque became a reflection of 3 stages in the life of the Volga Bulgars: pre-Islamic, medieval and new.

The construction of a Muslim temple has become one of the parts of this project. By 1914, when only the madrasah had been built, the process was h alted by the events of the First World War. The mosque was opened only in 1926 after receiving the permission of Joseph Stalin (more details below in the article). However, after 4 years, the authorities of the country issued a decision to close the temple, after which the Muslim crescent was removed from the minaret, as well as from all similar religious buildings, and the Soviet flag was hoisted instead. Such was the policy of the state at that time.

After the end of the Second World War, the building was assigned to a school and a kindergarten. Then DOSAAF settled in it, and in 1991 the mosque was again returned to the Muslim community. There are suggestions that this became possible thanks to the fighter for the rights of the Tatars Iskhak Lutfullin. After returning the old name to the temple, it reopened its doors to visitors. At the mosque there is an eveningschool.

The building has barely changed since then.

The Zakaban Mosque: photo, description

The mosque is located in the most picturesque area, in the center of the city of Kazan, on the coast of Lake Kaban. Its official name is the Mosque of the 1000th Anniversary of the Adoption of Islam.

During the construction of the mosque, the style of romantic modernism was used, interspersed with oriental Muslim motifs. The mosque has one hall, the location of the minaret is angular. The building is two-story: on the first floor there is a prayer hall, study rooms are on the second floor.

The high quadrangle of the minaret has an octagonal shaft, which imperceptibly turns into a light cylinder. At the very top it is crowned with a pointed dome with an openwork carved cornice. The mosque is adorned with a minaret of a unique shape, perfectly combined with curvilinear and stepped architraves, window archivolts and unusually shaped portals.

Romantic style combined with Muslim oriental motifs gives the Zakabannaya Mosque a special national flavor. The combination of styles adds Arab-Moorish notes of the Middle Ages to the architecture of the building. The walls are made of red brick with green ceramic inserts.

Like many years ago, the main function is performed by the first floor, where the bright and spacious prayer hall is located. Classes are held on the second floor.

About an amazing historical fact

In 1922, a Muslim delegation from the city of Kazan finally got a meeting withJosef Stalin (at that time the People's Commissar for Nationalities) and convinced him - in some incomprehensible way! - give permission for the construction of the mosque.

This fact is still amazing to this day, given the attitude towards religion at that time.

Conclusion

It is known that the revival of the Zakabannaya mosque is connected with Iskhak Lotfullin, a former lieutenant colonel of artillery. In the period of the 80-90s of the XX century, he took an active part in the national Tatar movement and made a lot of efforts to return many mosques in Kazan to believers. Having finished his service in the army, the energetic hazrat Iskhak entered the Ufa madrasah with a simple shakird, but later became the imam of the Zakabannaya mosque. He died in 2007.

In conclusion, we note that the Muslim mosque is located almost next to the Catholic church, built for the 1000th anniversary of Kazan, and the Intercession Church of the Russian Old Believer Orthodox Church. And this is quite symbolic…