The Shah Mosque by Isabella Laura

History of the Shah Mosque

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The Shah Mosque was constructed during the Safavid dynasty under the rule of Shah Abbas I. Construction began in 1611 CE and was largely completed in 1629, the year Shah Abbas died. It is a masterpiece of Persian Islamic architecture, representing the zenith of the Safavid architectural style. The mosque was part of Shah Abbas’s grand project to move the capital of Persia to Isfahan and transform it into a hub of culture and religion. Notable improvements over the years included restorations during the Qajar dynasty and ongoing preservation efforts by the Iranian government and UNESCO.

Location of the Shah Mosque

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Isfahan, Iran

Language Spoken

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The language spoken in the country of Iran is Persian also known as Farsi.

Form of government

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Islamic Republic. Iran is governed by a theocratic republic with both elected and religious leaders. The Supreme Leader holds the highest authority.

Branch of Islam

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Shia Islam (also known as Twelver Shia)

Number of Muslims in Iran

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Approximately 99.4% of Iran’s population is Muslim. Of those, about 90–95% are Shia Muslims and 5–10% are Sunni.

Festivals

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Nowruz (Persian New Year, not religious but culturally significant)
Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)
Ashura (Commemoration of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom — particularly important in Shia Islam)
Ramadan (month of fasting and spiritual devotion)

Islamic History

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Islam entered Iran following the Arab conquest of Persia in the 7th century CE, after the fall of the Sassanid Empire. Initially, Sunni Islam spread through the region. However, with the rise of the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century, Shia Islam was declared the state religion. Shah Ismail I enforced this conversion as part of his effort to unify the region and distinguish Persia from its Sunni Ottoman and Uzbek neighbors. Today, Iran remains the largest Shia-majority country in the world.

PHOTOS

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Blair, Sheila S., and Jonathan M. Bloom. The Art and Architecture of Islam 1250–1800. Yale University Press, 1994.
Canby, Sheila R. Shah 'Abbas: The Remaking of Iran. British Museum Press, 2009.
Hillenbrand, Robert. Islamic Architecture: Form, Function, and Meaning. Columbia University Press, 1994.

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