Moscow historical mosque is the oldest Muslim religious building in the capital today. This building is located on 128 Bolshaya Tatarskaya Street, on the former territory of the Muslim community.
Ancient mosques of the capital
The history of this building is quite unusual and rich. The historical mosque of Moscow was built in 1823 at the request of the Muslim Tatar Prayer Society. Although Russia has been an Orthodox country for many centuries, according to the annals, similar structures existed in the capital before. The first mention of a mosque in Moscow dates back to 1712. Information on the same old religious building is also available in the census of 1744. It was located on the site of Prince Sulmamid-Murza Simeney. After his death, the heirs sold the land to the merchant Schukin. Since the mosque was already in a very dilapidated condition, the new owner ordered it to be demolished. According to other sources, this building was burned by Napoleon's soldiers in 1812.
House of worship
In 1816, the capital’s Muslim merchants, Nadran Izmailov, Makai Abdulov, Mirza Navruzov and Mullah Uzbekov, turned to the emperor with a request to allow the construction of a stone mosque in return for the lost one. The existing Muslim religious buildings by that time already existed in St. Petersburg and Kazan.
Permission to build a mosque was given to merchants and mullahs. However, the condition was set for the Muslims: this building will not be a real religious building, but an ordinary chapel, no different from ordinary houses. The authorities were afraid that the construction of a real mosque with minarets in the capital of the Orthodox state would cause unnecessary rumors.
In the autumn of 1823, on the land of Khashalov, the Tatar Prayer Society, according to a plan approved by the authorities, began the construction of a one-story prayer house. Later, the merchant transferred this territory to the Muslim community as a waqf. In this form, the historical mosque has been operating for several decades. In 1858, according to the annals, it was repaired.
Reconstruction
The prayer house acquired the appearance of a real Muslim mosque only in 1882. The authorities filed a petition for the reconstruction of the building with the headmen of the Tatar Muslim Prayer Society Agiev and Khairov-Devishev. The project of the new construction was made by the architect D. I. Pevnitsky. The building permit was given by Governor-General Prince V. A. Dolgoruky.
During the reconstruction, the Moscow historical mosque was expanded along the western and eastern facades. At the same time, minarets were erected over both extensions. The prayer house that existed before could not accommodate more than 300 people. In the new building, 1,500 Muslims were free to pray simultaneously.
It was the Moscow Historical Mosque throughout the 19th century that was considered Cathedral. At the moment, this status has the building built in 1904 in Vypolzovy Lane. Today, the mosque built in Tatar Lane is called Al-Masjid at-Tarihi in Tatar, which is translated into Russian as “historical”. In 1915, a stone madrasah building was attached to it. Today it serves as an administrative building.
In the Soviet years
After the revolution, the historical mosque in Moscow still operated for some time. In 1923-1925, the famous Muslim religious leader Musa Bigiyev preached here. In 1937, the mosque was closed and a printing house was placed in the building, as well as a military registration and enlistment office, DOSAAF and the headquarters of civil defense. In 1967, the minarets were demolished.
In subsequent years, Muslims have repeatedly requested the return of the building to the community. So, in 1944-1947, a petition for this was submitted by General Yakub Chanyshev. In the 80s, the elders Abdullovich, Meryakubovich, Kikichev made a similar request to the authorities.
Transfer of the building to the community
The decision to return the mosque to believers was made only in the 90th year of the last century. However, employees of the Artistic Engraving printing workshop located at that time expressed protest. As a result, the mosque was transferred to the community only in 1991.
In 1992, believers reconstructed the building. At the same time, money for repairs and conversions was allocated by the Saudi Embassy in Russia. The Moscow Historical Mosque opened its doors again to believers in 1993. In 1998, another reconstruction of this building was carried out, this time at the expense of R. T. Bayatizov.
Mosque today
Not only religious, but also charity, as well as educational activities - this is what Moscow mosques do today. The historical mosque in this regard is no exception. Prayers are performed here daily, seven days a week. Also, Friday’s sermons are held in the mosque, Muslim weddings and rituals are held. Any believer can order a funeral prayer here. The mosque also rents out a dining room for weddings and commemoration.
From October to April of each year, a Sunday school operates in the building. Classes are held absolutely free for everyone. There are both Russian-speaking and Tatar classes. They are taught at the school by the imams of the mosque.