Sardar Mosque

Sardar Mosque is a historic building from the Qajar period in Urmia, the capital of West Azerbaijan Province. It stands on Imam Khomeini Street, along the Gholam Khan Bazaar passage, within the old quarter of the city. The mosque was built on the orders of Abdolsamad Khan, the great-grandfather of Azim al-Saltaneh Sardar, and was later restored by Azim al-Saltaneh Sardar in 1330 AH (lunar Hijri). A year after this restoration, in 1331 AH, a large clock was installed above the entrance, and from then on the building also became known among locals as the Clock Mosque (Masjed-e Sa'at) and Sa'atlu Mosque. Sardar Mosque lies roughly 400 to 500 metres from the Jame Mosque of Urmia, and its location in the historic fabric of the city makes it possible to visit several cultural and architectural attractions along a single route.

The Sardar Mosque consists of two prayer halls, one large and one small, of which the large hall is the most important part of the building. This hall has a rectangular plan measuring about 22 by 18 metres and contains 12 octagonal stone columns, whose capitals are decorated with muqarnas-style carving. The lower part of the large hall's walls, up to a height of about one metre, is covered with green tiles, and bands of haft-rangi (seven-colour) tiles with floral motifs can also be seen in various parts of the building. The small hall is located at the far end of the large hall; although similar in overall form, it has simpler decoration and a brick mihrab built into its southern side. In the western part of the building there is also a wooden balcony for women, parts of which are decorated with paintings and inscriptions. Apart from the stone columns, most of the building's elements are made of brick with gypsum and clay mortar, and the arches and roof covering are also of brick construction. The combination of stone columns, brickwork, seven-colour tiles and the historic clock above the entrance is among the most distinctive architectural features of Sardar Mosque.

Sardar Mosque stands on one of the old thoroughfares of Urmia and can be reached via Imam Khomeini Street and the Gholam Khan Bazaar passage. Its proximity to the Jame Mosque and other historic buildings in the city centre offers a good opportunity for a walk and some cultural sightseeing in Urmia's old quarter. Spring and early autumn, with their more pleasant weather, are good times to visit the mosque and the attractions around it. However, since the mosque is still in religious use, it is best to visit at times that do not coincide with prayers and religious ceremonies. Dressing appropriately, keeping the quiet and calm of the place of worship, refraining from touching the tiles and architectural elements, and taking care to protect the building's historic decoration are important principles of a responsible visit to Sardar Mosque.