The biggest building attracting attention due to its architecture among Ganja monuments is Shah Abbas (Juma) mosque.  

The area of the mosque complex is of quadrangular shape. Currently, Shah Abbas mosque consists of an entrance room, two double minarets and a big mosque building. The mosque constructed in the Eastern architecture style was built from raw bricks. The mosque is covered with a dome. The carved ornaments on oak pulpits of Shah Abbas mosque are considered unique samples of the Azerbaijani shabaka art. The fact that the size of the pulpit is bigger than the mosque gates confirms that masters assembled it inside the mosque.

Two stone inscriptions on the entrance door of the mosque building have been preserved to our days. One of the inscriptions is in Arabic, and the other one is in Persian. Besides, a minaret and bath house are also situated in the mosque complex.

In different periods, Shah Abbas mosque was completely renovated several times.

When the restoration works were underway in one of the cells of Shah Abbas mosque in 2008, the letter dating back to 1910 was discovered under the plaster. During the investigation of the letter, it became known that a Ganja resident named mullah Gasid spent the halal money he earned throughout 25 years on the overhaul of the mosque.

The renovation works in Shah Abbas mosque were last carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in 2008 at the instruction of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The windows and doors of the temple were changed; shabakas were given an incredible apperance, and the walls were colored with special taste.

The constructions in the territory of Shah Abbas Mosque Complex, which were registered as the historical monuments, are preserved by the state.

Khalig Gurbanli