This mosque is considered as one of the most important Islamic monuments and a worldwide architectural masterpiece. It was built by the founder of Kairouan, Okba Ibn Nafaa (670 A.D). It was reconstructed three times by:

Hassen Ibn Nooman (703A.D.)
Bishr Ibn Safouan (724-728 A.D)
Yazid Ibn Hatem (774 A.D.)

Bishr Ibn Safouan constructed the minaret (the oldest in the world with 31.5 m height and 10.5 m width). It is used to call for the prayer and as a watchtower overlooking the medina.

During the Aghlabite Dynasty reign (800-909 A.D.) the Great Mosque underwent important changes. Ziayadat Allah 1st (835A.D.) started its reconstruction then Abou Ibrahim Ahmed 863 A.D. completed it. The main changes include the lengthening of the seventeen naves of the two bays forming the gallery-narthex, and elevating the dome over the entrance of the axial nave and constructing porches framing the court).

Since then, Princes, Viziers and Men of State constantly modified the structure and embellished facades and the ornamental décor. The mosque was raised on five hundred columns of granite and precious, green, red and yellow marble.

The prayer room is composed of 17 naves and 8 bays. The court is tiled of white and yellow marble.

The Great Mosque is endowed with eight lateral doors of which "Bab Lella Rihana", "Bab-al-Gharbi" and "Bab-al Mâ" and a ninth door to the south called "Bab-Assoultan" (the Sultan’s Door), a private entrance to the "Maqsura" which enabled him not to mix with his supporters.

The "Maqsura" (private room reserved to the prince during prayer time) has been constructed by the Ziride Emir Moïz Ibn Badis in the XIth century.

The frieze that crowns it constitutes one of the most superb epigraphic headbands.

The "Mihrab" hangs out indicating the "qibla" (direction to Mecca) and is covered with 28 panels of marble and embellished with tiles having a metallic reflection.

The "Minbar" is an altar from which the Imam delivers his sermon named "el khotba" on Friday’s prayers. It is the oldest in the Moslem world and is composed of 300 pieces of Indian teak wood.

The Great mosque was restored many times by the Ziride Emir Al Moez Ibn Badis (New Maqsura, XIth century), under the Hafsid Dynasty (XIIIth to the XVth centuries), and after the Ottoman conquest by the Muradite Beys (XVIIIth century) and the Husseinites (XVIIIth and XIXth centuries)

Currently, its surface covers nearly 9000m2 in an isosceles trapezoid shape (125 and 124m X 74m and 70m).

Mohamed Rebai
info@kairouan.org