Al Kawaz Mosque
Al-Kawaz Mosque is one of Basra's most distinctive, famous for its richly tiled minaret patterned in turquoise and ochre brickwork. A beloved old mosque in the heart of the city, its decorated tower is among the most beautiful in southern Iraq.
3 stops to discover
- 1
The Tiled Tower
The glory of Al-Kawaz is its minaret, sheathed in interlocking turquoise and ochre tiles in dazzling geometric patterns. Look up as you enter to see the craftsmanship that makes it one of the most photographed mosques in Basra.
- 2
The Tomb of al-Kawaz
This mosque is named for Sheikh Muhammad Amin al-Kawaz, a Sufi mystic of the Shadhili order who taught the Qur'an and religious sciences here until his death in 1546. His circular tomb lies beneath the mosque's dome, and the multi-coloured faience dome raised in 1602 was built specifically over his resting place.
- 3
The 1602 Minaret
The mosque's minaret was built in 1602 by Sheikh Abd al-Salam II al-Abbasi, a descendant of the founder. It is noted as one of the rare classical Islamic-style minarets in Basra, and the mosque itself traces back to 1514, when it was first built of reeds before being rebuilt in stone.
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