Moscow historical mosque: foundation, religious activity

The Moscow historical mosque is the oldest Muslim religious construction of the capital. This building is located on Bolshaya Tatarskaya street, 128, in the former territory of the Muslim community.

Ancient mosques of the capital

The history of this structure is quite unusual and saturated. The historical mosque of Moscow was built in 1823 at the request of the Muslim Tatar prayer society. Although Russia has been for many centuries an Orthodox country, according to the chronicles, similar structures in the capital existed before. The first mention of the mosque in Moscow dates back to 1712. The same ancient religious building also has information in the 1744 census. It was located on the site of Prince Sulmamid-Murza Shimenei. After his death, the heirs sold the land to the merchant Shchukin. Since the mosque was already very dilapidated by that time, the new owner ordered it to be demolished. According to other sources, this building was burned by soldiers of Napoleon in 1812.

Prayer house

In 1816, the capital merchants of the Muslim faith, Nadran Izmailov, Makai Abdulov, Mirza Navruzov and Mulla Uzbekov appealed to the emperor to allow the construction of a stone mosque in exchange for the lost. The existing cult Muslim buildings by that time existed both in St. Petersburg and Kazan.

The permission to build the mosque to the merchants and the mullah was given. However, the condition was set before the Muslims: this building will not be a real religious structure, but an ordinary chapel, no different from ordinary houses. The authorities feared that the erection of a real mosque with minarets in the capital of the Orthodox state would cause unnecessary misinterpretation.

In the fall of 1823 on the land of Khashalov, the Tatar prayer society, according to the plan approved by the authorities, began the construction of a one-storey prayer house. Later, the merchant transferred this territory to the Muslim community as a waqf. In this form, the historical mosque operated for several decades. In 1858, according to the chronicles, its repair was carried out.

Reconstruction

The image of the Moslem mosque was purchased only in 1882. The request for the reconstruction of the building was submitted to the authorities by the headmen of the Tatar Muslim prayer society Agiev and Khairov-Devishev. The project of the new construction was designed by architect DI Pevnitskiy. The building permit was given by the Governor-General, Prince VA 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 annexes. The pre-existing prayer house could not accommodate more than 300 people. In the new building, 1500 Muslims could freely pray at the same time.

It was the Moscow historical mosque throughout the entire 19th century that was considered Sobornaya. At the moment, this status is built in 1904 in Vypolzov Lane construction. Today the mosque, built in Tatar alley, is called Tatar in Al-Masjid at-Tarihi, which is translated into Russian as "historical". In 1915, the stone building of the madrasah 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 a while. In 1923-1925, the well-known Muslim religious figure Musa Bigiyev preached here. In 1937 the mosque was closed and placed in the building of the printing house, as well as the military enlistment office, DOSAAF and the civil defense headquarters. In 1967, minarets were demolished.

In the following years, the Muslims repeatedly petitioned for the return of the building to the community. So, in 1944-1947 the petition for this was submitted by General Yakub Chanyshev. In the 80s, the elders Abdullovich, Meriakubovich, Kikichev addressed the authorities with a similar petition.

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, the employees of the "Artistic Engraving" publishing house located at that time expressed a protest about this. As a result, the mosque was transferred to the community only in 1991.

In 1992, the faithful reconstructed the building. At the same time, money for repairs and transformations was allocated by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Russia. Again, before the believers, the Moscow Historical Mosque opened its doors in 1993. In 1998, another reconstruction of this building was carried out, this time with the funds of RT Bayatizov.

The Mosque in our day

Not only religious, but also charitable, as well as educational activities - this is what today's mosques in Moscow are engaged in. The historical mosque is not an exception in this respect. Prayers are performed here daily, without days off. Also in the mosque, Friday sermons are held, Muslim weddings are held , rituals are named after the naming. Any believer can order a funeral prayer here. Also, the mosque is renting a dining room for weddings and wake ceremonies.

From October to April each year, the building has a Sunday school. Classes are held absolutely free of charge for all comers. There are both Russian-speaking and Tatar classes. Teaching in the school imams of the mosque.