Mehrabad Jame’ Mosque of Bonab

The presence of an inscription that describes the founders and the exact date of construction of the Mehrabad Mosque is one of the greatest features of this historical building.

A Glance at the History of Bonab

Mehrabad Mosque, which is also called the “Mehrabad Jame’ Mosque”, is located in Bonab City in East Azarbaijan Province. The name Bonab is reminiscent of the “Kebab of Bonab”, a delicious Iranian kebab that can be a pleasant and memorable experience for every tourist. Besides, this ancient and historical city has many historical and natural attractions for tourists. With a population of more than 100 thousand people, this city is located in the south of East Azarbaijan province and 120 km southwest of Tabriz city. According to the discoveries made in the hills around Bonab, the history of human habitation in these areas dates back to prehistoric times. The excavations of the southern heights of the Qarah Qoshun cemeteries show that Bonab was very prosperous in the Safavid era (16th century AD). The existence of several historical monuments such as the Mehrabad Mosque and Bathhouse in Bonab City, left from the same era, is also proof of this fact.

According to what is stated in Persian dictionaries, Bonab is derived from two words “Bon” (bottom) and “Aab” (water), which means the city at the “bottom of water”. This city has a mild climate in summer, but its winters are very cold. Sahand mountain range near Bonab city is one of its attractive sights. This city borders Urmia Lake from the northwest.

History and Features of Mehrabad Mosque

According to a marble inscription written in the Thuluth script, the exact date of construction of the Mehrabad Mosque is 951 AH (1544 AD). This date coincided with the reign of the Safavid king, Tahmasp I, who ruled Iran from 1524 to 1576 AD (930 to 984 AH), and with 52 years, he recorded the longest period of rule in Iran after the advent of Islam. During this time, he was involved in a long war with the Ottoman Empire, and with his actions, he left a powerful and religious image of himself. It is said that he was also good at painting and calligraphy. According to this inscription, a person named “Bibijan Khanom Mansur Beig” was the founder of Mehrabad Mosque. It seems that the historical Mehrabad Bathhouse, which is located in front of this mosque, was also founded at the same time. In addition to this, several other mosques were also built in Bonab and its surrounding areas during the same era, of which the Bonab Square Mosque can be considered the most outstanding one. The interior of this mosque is quite similar to the Mehrabad Mosque, although no inscriptions or documents have been found that accurately determine the date of its construction.

The Architecture of the Mehrabad Mosque of Bonab

The rectangular nave of the mosque is located in the southern part of the main courtyard. An important point about the construction of the mosque is the creation of a balcony in it, which was probably used for the presence of women. 36 wooden columns in six rows of six stone columns with their capitals carved with muqarnas design support the wooden roof of the building. Six stone pillars are responsible for distributing the weight of the roof on the columns. These columns are a commendable example of the art of the Safavid era, and the order in which they have been arranged manifests the highest accuracy and elegance of the architecture of this era. The ceiling of the nave has been decorated with designs of blue, green, yellow, red, and orange colors, which stand out well against the brown background of the ceiling wood. It is interesting that after the passing of centuries, these motifs have still retained their freshness. Each of the columns has been created in a separate way and their role and shape cannot be considered the same. There is a mihrab (niche) in the south of the nave. There are also two windows with colored panes on both sides of the mihrab, which are newer than the age of the mosque. There are five windows in each of the western and eastern parts of the balcony.

The exterior of the mosque is relatively simple. A tall minaret whose blue tiles stand out from a distance is the most important part of the exterior. The minaret is 14 meters high and two meters in diameter. There is a staircase with 33 steps leading to the top of the minaret. The main entrance of the mosque is located in the east. This entrance leads to the main courtyard. A staircase can also be seen that facilitates access to the balcony.

National Register of Mehrabad Mosque, Bonab

The Mehrabad Mosque of Bonab, which is located on the Motahhari Street of this city was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in the year 1968 AD.