Where is the Kul Sharif structure located, and why is it so popular with Muslim believers? You will find answers to these questions in the materials of the presented article.
Where is it located?
The Kul Sharif building (from the Tatar word “Kol Shurif mәcete” or “Qol Şərif məçete”) is the main jum mosque located in the city of Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan). To be more precise, this temple is located on the territory of the Kremlin (Kazan), where many Muslim people come on Muslim holidays .
The history of the Kazan mosque
In 1552 (or rather, on October 2), the Russian army, led by Ivan the Terrible, broke into the city of Kazan. Despite the desperate defense of the Tatar army under the command of the seid Kul Sharif, during fierce battles, the multi-minaret mosque was completely burnt out. After the assault, all its defenders, who became national heroes, died.
Mosque Features
A long time after the capture of Kazan, the Tatar philosopher, enlightener and scientist Mardzhani conducted his own research, during which he found out that once the cathedral church was located in the Kremlin. At the head of the mosque was Seyid Sharifkol, who enjoys great respect and respect among other religious figures.
More than four hundred years ago, a magnificent graceful mosque adorned the city of Kazan. Her beauty was indescribable, and thousands of unique writings were stored in the library. As you know, in his research S. Mardzhani noted that this cathedral was not only a center for the development of sciences, but also a center of religious initiation of the Middle Volga of the 16th century. Kazan mosque was named in honor of the seid Kul Sharif.
The decision to rebuild the mosque
After the destruction of the structure of Kul Sharif, many residents of Tatarstan dreamed of rebuilding. But this happened only after the onset of democracy, when the public began to sharply raise the question of the construction of the once lost building.
Thus, in 1995, President of the Republic Shamiev Sh. M. signed a decree on the reconstruction of the Kul Sharif mosque. In the winter of that year, a competition for the best project was announced. The place for this building was determined where the cadet school was once located.
In the spring of 1996, the competition was successfully completed, and in the summer, President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin arrived in Kazan, who approved the construction, and even promised to allocate funds for this.
Construction
The new mosque in Kazan Kul Sharif, or rather, its architectural design was carried out by a large team that won the republican competition. These included such specialists as Latypov Sh. Kh., Sattarov A.G. Safronov M.V. and Sayfullin I.F.
The construction of the new building was mainly carried out with donations, in which about 40 thousand ordinary citizens and organizations took part. The cost of this project was estimated at 400 million rubles (estimated at about 500 million rubles).
As a result of long and hard work, the new multi-minaret mosque was completely completed in 2005 (to the 1000th city of Kazan). Kul Sharif opened for visitors in the summer of June 24th.
New mosque
The newly built mosque is not just the most important mosque in Kazan, but it is also one of the largest in Europe. Today Kul Sharif is a symbol of the Republic of Tatarstan and its multi-million capital. The mosque is one of the national images and an attractive center for all Muslims in the world. One cannot ignore the fact that not so long ago it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Architecture
Architects completely restored the construction of the building, striving to convey the beauty and grandeur that the temple had before the Russian army attacked Kazan. The creators tried to return it to their native Tatar culture. The reconstruction of the building was of great cultural and historical significance. It symbolized the revival of Tatar statehood and the memory of the dead defenders of the city.
Kul Sharif Mosque (photo of the building is presented in this article) consists of 4 major minarets, the height of which reaches 58 meters. The dome of the building was decorated in such forms that are associated with decorative details and images of the “Kazan cap” (the so-called crown of Kazan khans, which was taken to Moscow after the fall of the city).
The architectural and artistic solution to the appearance of the new mosque was achieved by specialists thanks to the development of those semantic elements that bring the building’s appearance closer to local Tatar traditions. Marble and granite for the construction of the structure were brought from the Urals. As for the interior, it is as beautiful as the whole appearance of the mosque. The carpets were delivered and donated by the Iranian government, a crystal colored chandelier - up to five meters in diameter and about 2 tons in weight - was made in the Czech Republic. It is also worth noting that stucco molding, stained glass, gilding and mosaic add special grandeur and beauty to the temple.
Inside the mosque, or rather, left and right in relation to the main hall, there are two observation balconies, which are intended for excursion visits.
The Kul Sharif complex includes not only the religious building itself, but also a history museum, as well as a room for such a wedding ceremonial ceremony as nikah, and the imam’s office.
The whole structure and its surroundings have a rather spectacular night illumination. By the way, the interior of the mosque can accommodate about 1.5 thousand people. As for the square in front of the mosque, it is designed for another ten thousand believers.