Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque

Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque
The Al-Nabi Jerjis Mosque in 2026.
Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque is located in Iraq
Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque
Location in Iraq
Religion
AffiliationSunni Islam
Location
Location84VJ+Q44, Mosul, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq
CountryIraq
Coordinates36°20′40″N 43°07′49″E / 36.3443192°N 43.1303099°E / 36.3443192; 43.1303099
Architecture
TypeMosque and mausoleum
StyleTimurid, Ottoman
FounderTamerlane (current mosque)
Completedc. 12th century (original structure)
1393 (current structure)
Specifications
Dome2
Minaret1
Shrine1
MaterialsSandstone

The Al-Nabi Jirjis Mosque (Arabic: جامع النبي جرجيس) is a mosque located in Mosul, Iraq. It is named after Saint George, known in Islamic tradition as Jirjis, who is believed by locals to be buried in the mausoleum attached to the mosque. While the date of construction of the mausoleum is unknown, the mosque was built by Tamerlane in the 14th century.

History

The origin of the mausoleum is unknown, with some believing that it was originally the shrine of Al-Hurr ibn Yusuf, but his name hidden and replaced with that of Saint George over time in order to ensure the mausoleum would be kept protected for generations.[1][2] The mausoleum is mentioned in the 12th-century writings of Ibn Jubayr as being part of a larger mosque complex.[3] Yaqut al-Hamawi, writing from the 13th century, reports that Mosul was known as the city of the Saint George due to the existence of his purported tomb.[4] After the Turco-Mongol conquerer Tamerlane entered Mosul, he demolished the older mosque and reconstructed it as a larger structure in 1393 after seizing the city from the Jalayirids.[2][5] The Timurids spared the city from complete destruction and instead focused on restoring older Islamic institutions for the benefit of the local Muslim community, which included maintenance of the mosque.[2][5] Then in the 18th century, the governor of Mosul under Ottoman suzerainty, Hajj Hussein Pasha al-Jalili, renovated the mosque and added a main prayer hall for the Shafi'i school of thought.[2] The minaret was also reconstructed in 1853 to replace the old one, which was dilapidating.[6] An earthquake damaged the mosque in 1910, which resulted in it being rebuilt completely out of sandstone in order to strengthen the structure, while a new main dome for the mosque was erected over the old Timurid-era dome.[1][2]

In 2014, the terrorist group Dawlah demolished the mosque, believing it to be a place of idolatry due to the presence of the mausoleum.[7][8] After Dawlah had been expelled from Mosul, the mosque was rebuilt into its original form and reopened for prayers in 2024, along with the nearby Al-Nabi Shith Mosque.[9][10]

Architecture

A view underneath the main dome of the mosque.

The mosque is built with Timurid architecture and has two main prayer halls, one belonging to the Shafi'i rite and the other belonging to the Hanafi rite, with the Shafi'i one more commonly used due to being larger.[2][11] The former is rectangular in layout, consisting of five bays resting on pointed arches. The latter is square in layout and is held up by four pillars.[11] Muqarnas detailing lines the main mihrab of the mosque, which is said to have been transplanted from the original mausoleum by Tamerlane after he had rebuilt the structure.[11]

The tomb room is located next to the main prayer halls. It is positioned in such a way that prevents the tomb from being located behind the main qibla wall of the mosque.[2][11] It is a square room, topped by a ribbed dome, while the grave purported to be that of Saint George lies in the centre of the floor under a simple sanduga.[2][11]

The minaret of the mosque is built in the Ottoman architectural style, dating back to 1853. It stands out from the rest of the mosque due to being built in the Turkish style, unlike the Timurid style of the mosque itself.[6]

Other locations of the tomb of Jirjis

In Palestine, a Mamluk mosque annexed to a Crusader-era cathedral contaning a purported tomb of St. George can be found. Located in the city of Lod, the mosque and church co-exist alongside each other, with Muslims being allowed to visit the church to pay their respects to Jirjis.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Hussain, Jalili. "جامع النبي جرجيس" [Mosque of the Prophet George]. Iraq Guide (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 al-Diwahji, Said (1961). "Jāmi' al-Nabī Jirjīs fī al-Mawşil" [The Mosque of the Prophet George in Mosul]. Majallat Sumer (in Arabic). 17. Baghdad, Iraq: Maṭbaʿat al-Rābiṭah.
  3. ↑ Broadhurst, Roland (2007). The Travels of Ibn Jubayr (1st ed.). New Delhi, India: Goodword Books. ISBN 8187570555.
  4. ↑ al-Hamawi, Yaqut (1995). Kitāb Mu'jam al-Buldān [The Dictionary of Countries] (in Arabic) (2nd ed.). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Sadr.
  5. 1 2 Strange, G.L. (1905). The Lands of the Eastern Caliphate: Mesopotamia, Persia, and Central Asia, from the Moslem Conquest to the Time of Timur (1st ed.). University Press. ISBN 1107600146. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  6. 1 2 Uluçam, Abdüsselam (1989). Irak'taki Türk Mimari Eserleri (in Turkish) (1st ed.). Ankara: Kültür Bakanligi. pp. 66–70.
  7. ↑ Barzni, Masud (2014-07-28). "Islamic militants destroy historic mosque in Mosul". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  8. ↑ "Islamic State destroys ancient Mosul mosque, the third in a week". The Guardian. 2014-07-28. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  9. ↑ "يضم "18 قبة" على عدد محافظات العراق.. افتتاح جامع النبي جرجيس (عليه السلام) في الموصل بعد إعادة إعماره" [Featuring 18 domes, one for each of Iraq's provinces, the Prophet Jirjis Mosque (peace be upon him) in Mosul was reopened after its reconstruction.]. Shia Waves (in Arabic). 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  10. ↑ "جامعا النبي شيت والنبي جرجيس.. بين التفجير والترميم" [The mosques of the prophets, George and Seth: Between bombings and restorations]. Al Sa'a Network (in Arabic). 2025-06-26. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Yusuf, Sharif (2014). Tārīkh fann al-'imārah al-'Irāqīyah fī mukhtalaf al-'uṣūr [A History of Iraqi Architecture throughout the Ages] (in Arabic) (2nd ed.). Beirut, Lebanon: al-Mu’assasah al-‘Arabīyah lil-Dirāsāt wa-al-Nashr. pp. 549–553. ISBN 9786144194508.
  12. ↑ Pringle, D. (1998). "Lydda (nos. 137-8)". The Churches of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. Vol. II: L-Z (excluding Tyre). Cambridge University Press. pp. 9-15. ISBN 0-521-39037-0. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
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