Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque

Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque
مسجد نصیرالملک
The mosque's southern iwan and sahn with turret-style minarets, in 2016
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mosque
Status	Active
Location
Location	Shiraz, Fars
Country	Iran
Location of the mosque in Iran
Administration	Endowment Foundation of Nasir-ol-Molk
Geographic coordinates	29°36′31″N 52°32′54″E
Architecture
Architect(s)	Mohammad Hasan-e-Memār Mohammad Hosseini Shirazi Mohammad Rezā Kāshi-Sāz-e-Širāzi
Type	Mosque architecture
Style	Iranian (including Panj Kāse) Qajar
Founder	Mirza Hasan Ali Nasir ol-Molk
Groundbreaking	1876 CE
Completed	1888 CE
Specifications
Interior area	2,414 m2 (25,980 sq ft)
Dome(s)	One (maybe more)
Minaret(s)	Two (subdued turrets)
Site area	2,980 m2 (32,100 sq ft)
Materials	Stained glass; ceramics; timber; marble
Website
nasiralmulk.ir
Iran National Heritage List
Official name	Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque
Type	Built
Designated	1955
Reference no.	396
Conservation organization	Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran

The Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque (Persian: مسجد نصیرالملک, romanized: Masjed-e Nasir ol-Molk; Arabic: مسجد نصير الملك), also known as the Pink Mosque (Persian: مسجد صورتی, romanized: Masjed-e Surati), is a mosque located in Shiraz, in the province of Fars, Iran. Completed in 1888 CE, the Qajar era mosque is located in the Gowd-e Araban district of Shiraz, south of Lotfali Khan Zand Street, next to the Shāh Chérāgh Mosque.

The mosque includes extensive stained glass in its façade, and displays other traditional elements such as the Panj Kāse ("five concaved") design.

The mosque was added to the Iran National Heritage List in 1955, administered by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran. The mosque is a major tourist attraction in Shiraz, especially when the light hits the stained glass at sunrise.

History

The mosque was constructed between 1876 and 1888 and is under use under the protection of the Endowment Foundation of Nasir-ol-Molk. Construction of the mosque was commissioned by Mirza Hasan Ali Nasir ol-Molk, one of the lords and aristocrats of Shiraz and the son of Ali Akbar Qavam ol-Molk, the kalantar of Shiraz.

Architecture

Exterior of the mosque

The mosque was completed in the Qajar style; designed by Mohammad Hasan-e-Memār, a Persian architect who had also built the noted Eram Garden before the Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque, Mohammad Hosseini Shirazi, and Mohammad Rezā Kāshi-Sāz-e-Širāzi. There is a poem inscribed on marble on entry to the mosque and the mosque contains extensive use of blue, yellow, pink, azure, and white tiles.

The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque has two Shabestans, and the interior decoration of the western (or winter) Shabestan consists of a series of arches and vaults and two rows of six columns that divide the interior into smaller sections. The western Shabestan is connected to the sahn by seven wooden doors, each decorated by Gereh Chini, with extensive use of stained glass. The passage of light through the stained glass in red, azure, yellow, orange, and green colors is a major tourist attraction. There is a shallow and wide pool in the middle of the sahn. The Nasir al-Molk Mosque has two north and south porches, each different from the other. The northern porch of the mosque has three half-arches on three sides, connected to the sahn by the fourth half-arch.

Orsi: Persian stained glass

Although stained glass is popular in churches, the earliest discovered was in Syria from the 7th century CE. There is evidence of techniques and recipes for obtaining stained glass by the Persian chemist Jabir ibn Hayyan in his book Kitab al-Durra al-maknuna (transl. The Book of the Hidden Pearl) published in the 8th century. Orsi windows are windows made of a mixture of wood and colorful glass during the Safavid and Qajar eras. Orsi differs from stained glass used in many churches and Ottoman mosques which serve as illuminated images rather than a source of light. Light is a major feature in many mosques considering it being a major symbol of God in Islam. This is mentioned in the Quran:

"Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth."

— The Qur'an 24:35

Gallery

• 
  The mosque ceiling
• 
  Winter prayer hall
• 
  Winter prayer hall
• 
  Exterior of the mosque
• 
  Exterior of the mosque at night
• 
  Muqarnas of the mosque
• 
  Ceiling of the winter prayer hall
• 
  Decoration of the mosque
• 
  Mosaic dome interior
• 
  Interior
• 
  Winter prayer hall interior
• 
  Winter prayer hall interior
• 
  Winter prayer hall interior
• 
  Winter prayer hall exterior
• 
  Turret-style minaret

Panoramic exterior view.

Panoramic interior view.

See also

• Islam in Iran
• List of mosques in Iran
• Architecture of Iran

External links

• Official website
• "Nasir ol Molk Mosque". Art-Days.com.
• "Nasir ol Molk Mosque". Albert-Videt.eu (in French). October 2006.
• "Nasir ol Molk". BBC Persian (in Persian). 8 November 2008.