Imam Mosque

　　The word "Imam" originally means leader, model, example, paragon, or prayer leader in Arabic, and in Islam refers to the worshipper who leads the group prayer in front of others during collective prayers. The Imam Mosque is located in the south of Iran's famous tourist city Isfahan's Royal Square (Naghsh-i Jahan Square), and together with the square, it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The mosque was initially built in 1611 and took over twenty years to complete, finally finishing in 1638. The entire mosque is exquisitely constructed with exquisite craftsmanship, and is hailed as one of the most beautiful and astounding Islamic buildings in the world.

　　The interior and exterior of the Imam Mosque are adorned with beautiful tilework. One of the most astonishing features is several black bricks on the ground directly opposite the dome of the main prayer hall. It is said that if visitors clap their hands while standing on these black bricks, the sound can be clearly heard throughout the entire mosque. In addition, the flexible alignment between the orientation of the Imam Mosque and the main entrance of the square is another factor that continues to amaze people: since the mosque must face toward Mecca, and the square mandates that all building facades must face the square, this makes it impossible for the mosque’s main entrance (which lies to the north of the square) to align on the same axis. However, designers cleverly created an angle between the orientation of the mosque and the main entrance of the square, allowing the square to maintain its neat rectangular shape while still meeting the religious requirement for the mosque’s direction—achieving a perfect harmony.

　　The Imam Mosque represents the pinnacle of Iran’s millennia-long history of mosque construction and stands as a magnificent masterpiece in architecture, wood carving, and glazed tile engineering. It is not only the religious center of Iran but also one of the country's most renowned tourist attractions.

　　Imam Mosque Reason to visit: One of the most exquisite and breathtaking Islamic buildings in the world Continent: Asia Country/Region: Iran Province/State: Isfahan Province City: Isfahan