Jumah Mosque

History of Jumah Mosque

The Muslim population of Tbilisi appeared after the conquest of the city by the Arabs, in the second half of the 7th century.

During the Middle Ages, several mosques were built in the city. The largest among them was the Shiite Mosque standing south of Meidan near the Mtkvari River, which was built by Shah Ismail I of Iran in 1522-1524. Sadly, it was demolished in 1950 during the construction of the new Metekhi Bridge.

In 1723-35, the Ottomans, who occupied Tbilisi at that time, built a Sunni Mosque at the foot of Narikala Fortress. In the 1740s, this mosque was destroyed by the Persians. In 1846-51, it was restored as part of the project of the Italian architect Giovanni Scudieri, but at the end of the 19th century it was demolished and a new one was built again.

The Uniqueness of Jumah Mosque in Tbilisi

Tbilisi’s Jumah Mosque is the only mosque in the world where Shiite and Sunni Muslims have been praying together for more than 150 years.

In addition, the Jumah Mosque has two mihrabs (the place where the imam stands and leads prayers).

In this mosque, in addition to the traditional Friday (Jumah) prayer, Eid prayers are performed, and all Islamic festivals are celebrated.