Fahraj Jame Mosque

The Fahraj Jame Mosque, also known as the Imam Hassan Mosque, is a valuable historic building in Yazd Province. It is located in the village of Fahraj, about 30 kilometres southeast of the city of Yazd. The mosque is attributed to the first century AH, and some researchers regard it as one of the oldest mosques in Iran, although experts disagree about the exact date of construction. It is said that the original building was shaped by Sasanian-era architecture and was converted into a mosque after the arrival of Islam. The Fahraj Jame Mosque was registered on Iran's National Heritage list on 30 Azar 1349 (21 December 1970) under number 906. With its simple adobe structure, it is a rare example of the continuity of Iranian architectural traditions in the first centuries of Islam, and unlike many historic mosques, it still serves as a place of worship.

The architecture of the Fahraj Jame Mosque differs from that of many historic mosques in Iran. It is a hypostyle (shabestan-style) building with no iwan and no dome, and its main parts are the central courtyard, the prayer hall, the portico, the entrances and the minaret. Straw-clay (kah-gel) walls, large adobe bricks, barrel vaults and elliptical arches give the mosque its simple yet distinctive look. The main prayer hall has eight large columns and three bays, of which the middle bay is slightly larger than the other two. In some parts of the building you can see delicate stucco work and motifs with the characteristics of pre-Islamic art. The mosque has two mihrabs, and the main one is made of stucco. The cylindrical adobe minaret stands in the northwest part of the building, and a spiral staircase gives access to its upper section. The minaret was probably added to the complex some time after the main part of the mosque was built, but the exact date of its construction is unknown. The simplicity of the decoration and the absence of the tilework common in the mosques of later periods are features that highlight the historical and architectural value of this monument.

To visit the Fahraj Jame Mosque, head from the city of Yazd toward the Yazd–Bafq highway, and after a while continue to the village of Fahraj. The mosque is within the village, and you can combine your visit with a walk through the old quarter of Fahraj and a look at the region's other historic attractions. Spring and autumn, with their usually milder weather, are better times to travel to this desert area; in summer it is best to visit during the cooler hours of the day. The suggested time for seeing the mosque is about one to two hours. Since the building is still used for worship, visitors should observe the dress code and etiquette of a mosque, avoid disturbing the people present, and refrain from damaging the adobe walls, the stucco work and the other historic parts of the building.