THE KUl SHARIF MOSQUE

The Kul Sharif mosque in Kazan is the main mosque of the republic of Tatarstan, one of the largest Muslim temple in Europe, it is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin.

This beautiful architectural complex was built in place of the legendary mosque of the Kazan Khanate, which was destroyed during the assault of Kazan by troops of Ivan the Terrible in 1552. Kul Sharif mosque had eight minarets (more than any other Mosque in the world).

A memorial sign at the site of the future mosque Kul Sharif was solemnly laid on February 21, 1996 in the former Cadet School. The text of the decree is available on the rock. The area in front of the mosque and the stone intended for religious rituals during major Muslim holidays.

Kul Sharif Mosque is a complex of three buildings: the mosque and two pavilions. The mosque can accommodate 1,500 people and the area in front of it – 10 thousand people more. The mosque complex includes the building of the mosque, a museum of history of spreading Islam in the territory of the Middle Volga, a room for the grand wedding ceremony (nikah) and the imam's office.

The building of the Kul Sharif mosque in a plan is 2 intersected at an angle of 45 ° squares in a well-known mark in the Muslim world which means « the blessing of Allah ».

The walls are the eight overlapping lancet arches, carved in marble framed verses from the Quran and ornamental braids. The high arched windows filled with stained-glass windows are inscribed in the formed parts of the walls.

The formed eight pointed space covered with a roof. The space in the middle of the volume of the centre is overlapped by a dome with a vertex at an altitude of 36 m. The dome is cut by windows in the shape of tulips.
Associatively it is connected with Kazan cap.

The Kul Sharif mosque is in the UNESCO World Heritage List.