Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque
| Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque | |
|---|---|
 Mosque of the Prophet Jirjis before it was destroyed by ISIL in 2014. | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque and shrine |
| Status | Destroyed (under reconstruction) |
| Location | |
| Geographic coordinates | 36°20′40″N 43°7′50″E / 36.34444°N 43.13056°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Islamic Architecture Timurid Architecture |
| Founder | Tamerlane |
| Date established | 1393 |
| Destroyed | 2014 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | 2 |
| Minaret(s) | 1 |
| Shrine(s) | 1 |
Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque (Arabic: مسجد نبي الله جرجس, romanized: Mosque of the Prophet of Allah, Jirjis) was a historic religious complex consisting of a mosque and mausoleum located in Mosul, Iraq. The person buried in the mausoleum is believed to be that of Saint George, known by Muslim locals as Jirjis.
History
[edit]The alleged tomb of Jirjis was located inside a Quraysh cemetery in Mosul.[1][2]
In 1393, Tamerlane commissioned a mosque to be built at the site, and a dome over the alleged tomb of Jirjis.[2] Several endowments, or waqf, were also organized to maintain the building.
In 1910, the structure was rebuilt after a major earthquake destroyed it completely.[2]
Construction
[edit]The mausoleum of Prophet Jirjis is a small square measuring 4.7 on each side. It is topped by a conical ribbed dome.[2] The walls of the mausoleum are covered with green and yellow glazed brick tiles to the height of two meters, surmounted by a Quranic inscription band. Next to the mausoleum is a room measuring 4.17 by 4.46 meters with a central column to support the ceiling.[2]
South of the mausoleum lies the mosque that was built by Tamerlane. A circular dome topped the mosque and the mihrab was transplanted from the original tomb into the mosque during construction.[2] There are two prayer halls inside the shrine, one for the Sunni Hanafi rite and another for followers of the Sunni Shafi'i rite.[2]
The minaret was added in 1853 and it is made out of stone. It features a muqarnas balcony topped with a pointed spire.[2]
2014 demolition
[edit]The Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque was demolished by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on 27 July 2014.[1] The militants responsible claimed that the mosques had become places for apostasy and not prayer.[1]