When heading to Ganja, make sure to also set aside some time to visit another remarkable local landmark—the Juma Mosque (“Friday Mosque”). Located right in the heart of the city, this architectural gem boasts over 400 years of history.
The mosque is also known as the Shah Abbas Mosque, as it was constructed in 1606 under the orders of the reigning Safavid Shah Abbas I of Persia. The mosque’s design was entrusted to the talented architect Sheikh Baha ad-Din.
A century and a half later, in 1776, the mosque underwent significant expansion with the addition of two minarets. Constructed from fired red bricks, which have stood the test of time, the mosque still stands today as a testament to the enduring strength of its materials. Historically, a madrasa (religious school) was situated next to the mosque, and it was here that the renowned poet Mirza Shafi Vazeh once taught calligraphy, imparting the art of beautiful writing to his students.
The building, constructed in the style of the Arran architectural school, holds significant value for those studying the architectural traditions of the 17th century. The intricate carvings that decorate the oak mimbar (pulpit) of the mosque are rare examples of shebeke (geometric woodwork) craftsmanship in Azerbaijan. These exquisite details, almost as if painted by an artist, enhance the mosque’s beauty and grandeur.
The mosque’s structure is built in the form of a cube using the traditional red brick of Ganja. Some of the walls are so thick—reaching up to three meters—that they bear witness to the immense durability of the materials. The bricks used in construction were mixed with egg whites and ground limestone for added strength.
Inside, the mosque features a prayer hall, divided by a large screen into two sections—one for men and one for women—and several small adjoining rooms. The windows are adorned with patterned shebeke latticework, a hallmark of the region’s architectural elegance. A unique wooden mimbar stands within the mosque, crafted from various types of wood, yet remarkably, without a single nail. The mimbar is further decorated with intricate miniatures. The mosque is crowned by a dome with a diameter of 17 meters, and above the entrance arch, two stone tablets remain—one inscribed in Arabic, the other in Persian.
In addition to the mosque, Sheikh Baha ad-Din also built the Chokyak Hammams (public baths) and one of the finest caravanserais in Azerbaijan. In front of the massive gates of the mosque, there was once a bustling market square, surrounded by shops and ancient plane trees.
It is well known that Sheikh Baha ad-Din was an exceptional astronomer. His knowledge was put to practical use in the design of the mosque. At exactly noon, the shadow cast on the western wall of the building disappears, providing a natural indication of the time for the midday prayer (Dhuhr). To this day, the people of Ganja rely on this disappearing shadow to check the time with incredible precision. In addition to his astronomical and architectural achievements, Sheikh Baha ad-Din was also a philosopher and natural scientist. His theological writings and works of moral instruction have survived to the present day, and he was one of the first to formulate the theory of atoms.
The construction of the mosque itself was an impressive feat of engineering, with careful calculations and a deep understanding of physics. The Juma Mosque, thanks to its sophisticated network of air channels and room layouts, could be heated by a single small stove—a unique heating system that remained functional until the early 20th century.
In 1776, the mosque’s two minarets were added, further enhancing its grandeur. On the mosque grounds lies the tomb of the last ruler of the Ganja Khanate, the Mausoleum of Javad Khan.
For many years, a madrasa operated alongside the mosque. It was destroyed during the Soviet era but has since been restored. Notably, the famous Azerbaijani poet and scholar, Mirza Shafi Vazeh, once taught calligraphy there. One of his students was Mirza Fatali Akhundov, an influential writer, philosopher, and one of the founding figures of Azerbaijani drama and literary criticism.
The mosque and madrasa have been lovingly restored and are still in operation today. In 2008, the mosque underwent significant restoration work. During this process, banknotes from the era of the Russian Empire were discovered, revealing that the last major reconstruction took place in 1910, rather than the 18th century as previously believed by archaeologists.