THE FRIDAY MOSQUE, OR MASJID-I-DJAMI..

It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful monuments in Afghanistan and one of the most perfect examples of Islamic art and architecture in Central Asia. Seen at Sunset, the mosque of Hérât has the appearance of a jewel out of its landscape. She is sublime, proud and imposing.

History. The current mosque was built on the site of a more ancient mosque, high under the Ghôrides, in the th century. According to the Persian legend of Hérât (1491), it was founded in 1200 by the sultan ghôride Ghiyat ad-Din Sam, who decided to establish his capital in Hérât after the collapse of the Ghaznavide Empire. Its finely ouvragée architecture makes it one of Afghanistan's largest mosques, renowned for its mosaics and interior ornamentations.

At the end of the th century, under the mongol emperors, the mosque was reworked and enlarged, and stripped of most of its ghôrides decorations.

Most of the mosque was restored under the reign of Sultan Hussein of Baïqara, the mosque was once again restored in 1943, while respecting the timurid spirit.

Visit. To better appreciate the majestic beauty of the mosque, it is advisable to enter the large garden. This is the main entrance, the west face. In the garden, men pray, others beg, children play. The pilgrims, covered by patou, large brown cover, sleep in the niches, waiting for the next prayer. The main portal lies along the northern side of the mosque. When you arrive, you must take left along this north side, then right, to enter the main portal.

Left to south of the main entrance, one of the few vestiges of the 1200 ghôride mosque: a splendid brick porch with a very rich ornamentation where floral motifs and geometric shapes are engraved. In addition, a timurid arch was built, with enamelled tiles. The marble courtyard consists of four iwan (large large porches) and is approximately 100 m long. They enter the right of the main entrance to the garden. It's sunny and beautifully light. In the middle of this courtyard, an imposing bronze cauldron, decorated with arabesques and inscriptions (verses of the Koran), was made in relief, dated 1375. It is more than 1,50 m in diameter. Originally, it contained a very flavoured and sweet drink, served to the faithful during the holidays. Today, it serves as a tronc of offerings to the faithful. The arches surrounding the courtyard were restored in 1944. They form a dark and cool passage. All are covered with mongol mosaics. The mosque is also decorated with two minarets and inside it is a madrasas. In the northern part of the mosque, the tomb room of Sultan Ghiyasuddin (died in 1202) welcomes a simple tomb. This 17 m long mausoleum is in a square shape. It is now in poor condition since it was destroyed in the 1960 s and rebuilt, but in a timurid style. The whole is decorated with turquoise blue ceramics, which makes the splendour of the splendour of the monument. In 1962, UNESCO took over the restoration of the mosque.