This is a list of Islamic structures in Mosul. Islam is the majority religion in Mosul. Muslims of Mosul are predominantly followers of Sunni Islam, with a minority of Shi'ites.
Mosul Grand Mosque: Situated in the Taqafah district bordering the Tigris river near the Nineveh archaeological site. Its construction started during the rule of Saddam Hussein, but just like the Al-Rahman Mosque, the construction was interrupted because of the political instability in the country. The mosque remains incomplete to this day.
| Building | Image | District/Quarter | Denomination | First built | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Mosque of Al-Nuri |  | Old City of Mosul | Sunni | 1172–1173 | Zengid | First built by Nur al-Din Zangi in 1172-1173. It is best known for its leaning minaret, known as "Al-Hadba" (the hunchback). The prayer hall was rebuilt in the mid 20th century, between 1940 and 1950. Destroyed in 2017 during the Battle of Mosul and is currently undergoing extensive restorations. |
| Al-Nabi Yunus Mosque |  | An Nabi Yunus | Sunni | 1365 | Seljuk | Built over an old Assyrian Christian church. It is believe to contain the remains of Jonah. Demolished in 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. |
| Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque | Old City of Mosul | Sunni | 1393 | Timurid | Construction was ordered by Tamerlane in 1393. Contains a tomb believed to be that of Saint George. Features two prayer halls for the Shafi'i and Hanafi adherents. Demolished in 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. | |
| Al-Nabi Shith Mosque |  | Ar Rafidayn | Shi'ite | 1815 | Ottoman | Believed to contain the tomb of Seth, son of Adam. Formerly part of a large cemetery and surrounded by mausoleums which are not present anymore. A completely new structure was built between the 1970s to 1980s. Demolished in 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant but undergoing reconstruction. |
| Imam al-Baher Mosque |  | Mahallat al-Imam al-Bahir | Sunni | 1259 | Zengid | Built in the Zengid era by Badr al-Din Lu'lu. Entombs the remains of Imam al-Bahir, a descendant of Muhammad. Demolished in 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but was reconstructed in 2022. |
| Mausoleum of Yahya Abu al-Qasim |  | Shafaa | Shi'ite | 1239 | Zengid | Built in the Zengid era by Badr al-Din Lu'lu. Entombs the remains of Yahya Abu al-Qasim ibn Hasan, a descendant of Muhammad. Demolished in 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. |
| Al-Imam Muhsin Mosque |  | Shafaa | Sunni and Shi'ite | 12th century | Seljuk (mosque and madrasah), Zengid (shrine) | Formerly a mosque and madrasah complex built during the Seljuk era, the madrasah was converted into a shrine for Muhsin ibn Ali by Badr al-Din Lu'lu in the Zengid era. Demolished in 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. |
| Mausoleum of Imam Awn Al-Din |  | Bab at-Tub | Shi'ite | 1248 | Zengid | Built by Badr al-Din Lu'lu, the structure survived the Mongol invasions of the 13th century. It entombs the remains of Awn al-Din ibn Hasan. Demolished in 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. [1] [2] |
| Hamu al-Qadu Mosque | Al Midan | Sunni | 1881 | Ottoman | Built in the Ottoman era by Abdullah Chalabi, a wealthy merchant. Contains the tomb of Ala al-Din, who is a descendant of Abdul Qadir al-Jilani. Demolished in 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. [3] [4] | |
| Shrine of Shaykh Fathi al-Mawsili |  | Bab Sinjar | Sunni | 835 | Seljuk | A religious complex, it includes a mosque as well as the tomb of Al-Fath al-Mawsili, a revered ascetic who lived in Mosul. |
| Building | Image | Location | Denomination | First built | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque |  | Sinjar | Shi'ite | 1239 | Zengid | Built by Badr al-Din Lu'lu, destroyed by the Mongols but later rebuilt in the later Ilkhanid era. Contains the tomb of Zaynab, a daughter of Ali ibn Husayn. [5] [6] Demolished in 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but restored in 2019.group. [7] |
Qara Saray (Black Palace): Built in the 13th century by Badr al-Din Lu'lu. Damaged during the Mongol invasions via burning. [8]
Tomb of the Girl: A small domed memorial believed to be built over the grave of a female mystic, located in the middle of a street near Bab Sinjar. Historical research proves that it was built over the grave of the historian Ibn al-Athir, which the government has officially stated, with a stele built on the tombstone to indicate his burial there. Bulldozed in 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Mosul is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. The city is considered the second-largest city in Iraq in terms of population and area after the capital Baghdad. Mosul is approximately 400 km (250 mi) north of Baghdad on the Tigris river. The Mosul metropolitan area has grown from the old city on the western side to encompass substantial areas on both the "Left Bank" and the "Right Bank", as locals call the two riverbanks. Mosul encloses the ruins of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh – once the largest city in the world – on its east side.
The Sanctuary of Imām 'Alī, also known as the Mosque of 'Alī, located in Najaf, Iraq, is a mausoleum which many Shia Muslims believe contains the tomb of 'Alī ibn Abī Tālib, a cousin, son-in-law and companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The Shī'as consider 'Alī as their first Imām, and the Sunnis regard him as the fourth Sunni Rashid Caliph. According to Shī'ite belief, buried next to 'Alī within this mosque are the remains of Adam and Nuh (Noah). Each year, millions of pilgrims visit the Shrine and pay tribute to Imām 'Alī.
Sinjar is a town in the Sinjar District of the Nineveh Governorate in northern Iraq. It is located about five kilometers south of the Sinjar Mountains. Its population in 2013 was estimated at 88,023, and is predominantly Yazidi.
The Great Mosque of al-Nuri was a mosque in Mosul, Iraq. It was famous for its leaning minaret, which gave the city its nickname "the hunchback". Tradition holds that the mosque was first built in the late 12th century, although it underwent many renovations over the years. The mosque withstood various hostile invading forces over its 850-year history until it was destroyed, along with its distinctive minaret, in the Battle of Mosul in 2017.
Yunus ibn Matta is a prophet of God in Islam corresponding to Jonah son of Amittai in the Hebrew Bible. Jonah is the only one of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible to be named in the Quran. The tenth chapter of the Quran, Yunus, is named after him.
Deliberate destruction and theft of cultural heritage have been conducted by the Islamic State (IS) since 2014 in Iraq, Syria, and to a lesser extent in Libya. The destruction targets various places of worship under IS control and ancient historical artifacts. In Iraq, between the fall of Mosul in June 2014 and February 2015, IS had plundered and destroyed at least 28 historical religious buildings. Valuable items from some buildings were looted in order to smuggle and sell them to foreigners to finance the running of the Islamic State.
Mausoleum of Yahya Abu al-Qasim was a historic shrine and mosque located in Mosul, Iraq. In 2014 the mosque and shrine were destroyed by an explosive device claimed by soldiers of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.
An-Nukhailah Mosque is an historic Shi'ite mosque in the town of Al Kifl, Iraq. The mosque is a large complex built over a former Jewish site. The building contains the Dhu'l Kifl Shrine, which is believed to be the tomb of the prophet Dhul-Kifl, who is traditionally considered to be Ezekiel.
The Imam al-Bahir Mosque was a historic mosque located in the city of Mosul, Iraq. The mosque was commissioned by the Zangid ruler Badr al-Din Lu'lu' in 1259 CE. The building has been restored several times, the last reconstruction in 2022.
The Imam Saad bin Aqil' Shrine is located at Tal Afar, Iraq. The 12th-century shrine contains the tomb of Saad ibn Aqil, a descendant of Aqeel ibn Abi Talib and the governor of Upper Mesopotamia.
The Mosque of Sayyid Ar-Mahmoud is a former Shia Islamic mosque and shrine complex that was located in Tal Afar, Iraq. The complex was founded in 1998 and destroyed in 2014.
The Hamu Al-Qadu Mosque, also known as Hamou Qado Mosque, was a historic mosque located in the city of Mosul, Iraq. The modern mosque was founded by Al-Hajj Abdallah Chalabi in the Ottoman period.
Al-Arba'een Mosque was a historic mosque in the city of Tikrit, Iraq. It contained a shrine for Amr ibn Jundab Al-Ghafari, and another shrine for Sitt Nafisa.
Qubbat Sitnā Zaynab is a mosque and mausoleum located in Sinjar, in the Ninawa Governorate. The original mausoleum building was built in 1239 CE by Badr al-Din Lu'lu' as part of a ruling strategy to promote Shia Islam by sponsoring the erection of shrines and tombs dedicated to Imams throughout the Ninawa Governorate.
Al-Nabi Yunus Mosque was a historic mosque located in Mosul, Iraq. It contained a tomb believed to be that of the Biblical prophet Jonah, known as Yunus by Muslims.
Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque 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.
Al-Nabi Shith Mosque was a historic Shi'ite Muslim mosque and shrine in Mosul, Iraq. The shrine is believed to contain the tomb of Seth, third son of Adam, known by Muslims as Sheth or simply Shith.
The Mausoleum of Imam Awn al-Din was a historic shrine that was located in Mosul, Iraq. In 2014 the shrine was destroyed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.
Qara Saray, meaning “The Black Palace,” was a palace complex in Mosul located on the west bank of the Tigris River. It was built by Badr al-Din Lu’lu, mamluk emir of the Zengid dynasty, who ruled what is now northern Iraq during the thirteenth century, and who had a significant long-term impact on the history of Mosul. Significant parts of the structure of Qara Saray remained by the 1980s, although it suffered damage during the Iran-Iraq War. Unlike many other historic sites in Mosul, such as al-Nuri Mosque and Mar Girgis Church, Qara Saray did not experience further destruction during the period of occupation by the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL) from 2014 to 2017. However, like many other structures damaged in Mosul during ISIL's occupation, Qara Saray became a focus of heritage conservation efforts supported by NGO’s in partnership with Iraqi government agencies and institutions after 2017.
The Iraqi Turkmen genocide refers to the series of killings, rapes, executions, expulsions, and sexual slavery of Iraqi Turkmen by the Islamic State. It began when ISIS captured Iraqi Turkmen lands in 2014 and it continued until ISIS lost all of their land in Iraq. In 2017, ISIS's persecution of Iraqi Turkmen was officially recognized as a genocide by the Parliament of Iraq, and in 2018, the sexual slavery of Iraqi Turkmen girls and women was recognized by the United Nations.