Agha Bozorg Mosque

The Agha Bozorg Mosque and Madrasa is one of the most beautiful and magnificent religious and educational buildings of the Qajar era in Iran. It stands in the historic city of Kashan, in the Khajeh Taj al-Din neighbourhood. The complex was built in the mid-13th century AH (lunar Hijri) through the efforts of a benefactor named Mohammad-Taqi Khanban and his son, and is attributed to Molla Mohammad-Mehdi Naraqi, known as Agha Bozorg, one of the great Shia scholars. The mosque lies in the old fabric of the city, near Fazel Naraqi Street, and despite the passing of the years it still stands firm and well preserved.

This unique complex, which is both a mosque and a religious school, was built during the reign of Mohammad Shah Qajar and completed in the early reign of Naser al-Din Shah. The mosque was probably built over earlier historical remains, such as the Khajeh Taj al-Din khanqah (Sufi lodge) and madrasa from the 9th century AH (lunar Hijri). One of the most important architectural features of the building is the artful combination of the old prayer hall (shabestan) with the new mosque, which demonstrates the skill of Iranian architects in creating harmony between the different parts of historic structures.

The architecture of the Agha Bozorg Mosque combines ingenious traditional and climate-responsive elements. The overall plan follows the sunken-garden (goudal-baghcheh) style and includes a spacious courtyard, large iwans, numerous prayer halls, tall windcatchers, an entrance vestibule (hashti) and a beautiful maqsureh (a section of the prayer hall) beneath a double-shell dome. The use of local materials and the earth of the region itself not only saved resources but also produced a structure in harmony with Kashan's hot, dry climate. The building is considered one of the most important examples of Iranian religious architecture of the Qajar period, and a visit offers travellers a pure experience of Iranian beauty, art and identity.