The Kichik Bazar Mosque is a remarkable architectural monument of history and culture, located in the heart of Lankaran. Named after the nearby Small Bazaar Square (Kichik Bazar), the mosque was constructed over a span of 16 years, funded by donations from local residents, and was completed in 1906.
The mosque was built by master craftsman Ragim and his father. During its construction, it was adjacent to the renowned Guldeste Minaret. The mosque itself measures 26 meters in length, 10 meters in width, and stands 8 meters tall, with walls that are 1 meter thick. It has the capacity to accommodate up to 250 worshippers at a time.
The primary materials used in the construction include red fired bricks, local wood types, and ceramic tiles. The left door of the mosque was crafted by Muhammad Hasan Najjar, a member of the literary society “Fovjül Fusah” active in the 19th century, while the right door was made by master craftsman Muhammad Ali.
Following the Soviet occupation of Azerbaijan in 1928, the authorities officially began a campaign against religion. In December of that year, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan transferred a significant number of mosques, churches, and synagogues to community clubs for educational purposes. The number of mosques in Azerbaijan drastically declined from 3,000 in 1917 to 1,700 in 1927, and further down to just 17 by 1933. The Kichik Bazar Mosque was closed, and the Guldeste Minaret was destroyed, with the mosque building repurposed as a barn.
After Azerbaijan regained its independence, the mosque was recognized as a monument of local historical and cultural significance by a decree from the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan on August 2, 2001. In 2010, thanks to the initiative of local residents, the mosque’s 24-meter-tall minaret was restored. Today, the mosque serves both men and women, featuring a two-story women’s prayer area with a separate entrance.
