Hakim Mosque, Isfahan
The Hakim Mosque, and also known as the Mosque Al-Hakim, is a mosque, located in Esfahan, in the province of Isfahan, Iran. The mosque is located adjacent to the Isfahan Bazaar. The mosque also serves as a public building, as a madrasa, as a community center for functions, and an emergency shelter for travellers.
Completed in, during the Safavid era, it is one of the oldest mosques in the region, and was built by and named in honour of Hakim Daud, a former Safavid court physician, who had funded the construction from India. The mosque was added to the Iran National Heritage List on 13 December 1934, administered by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran.
Overview
The Hakim Mosque was built over the ruins of a Deylamid mosque, known as Jorjir, that dates from the 10th century CE. Jorjir was commissioned by the Buyid minister, Sahib ibn Abbad, and portions can be seen on the northwestern part of the current mosque structure. The remaining portal of the ruined mosque was hidden for centuries and was accidentally discovered in 1957 when the wall of the Safavid mosque was washed away by rain.The portal is significant due to its intricate brickworks in the Razi architectural style, where small pieces of bricks are used to create geometrical, floral and vegetal patterns and Kufic inscriptions. These patterns consist of a combination of symbols; like five pairs of candlesticks, tulip, bird and scale patterns. The dated inscription on the northern portal recognizes Ali Beyk Banay Isfahani as the architect, and Mohammad Reza Imami as the calligrapher.
This mosque is constructed in a four-porch plan, and its northern and southern porches are bigger than the western and eastern ones. It holds a dome, a chamber, and two prayer halls. While the exterior view of the dome is simple brickwork, the inside area is decorated with delicate tilework. There is an intricate mihrab in the dome chamber which is ornamented with mosaic tiles and stalactite decoration in turquoise and yellow, symbolizing the tree of life. There are two other altars in two prayer halls around the courtyard.
The Hakim Mosque, located near the bazaar, was commenced in during the reign of Shah Abbas II. After making his fortune there under the grand Moghuls, Hakim Daud financed this mosque in his own name. The mosque has five different small entries and does not have a monumental entry. The mosque sahn is quite large.