Bibi-Heybat Mosque

The Bibi-Heybat Mosque is a Shia mosque complex on the southern edge of Baku, on the Caspian shore. The site dates to the medieval period and is associated with a historic mausoleum and pilgrimage site.

The complex includes a domed prayer hall and an attached mausoleum containing the tomb attributed to Ukeyma Khanum. The present structure was rebuilt in the late 20th century to reproduce elements of the original medieval mosque, and it is used for worship and as a cultural landmark.

Originally founded in the medieval era, the original mosque and mausoleum were demolished in the 20th century during Soviet anti-religious campaigns; the current mosque was reconstructed and reopened in the 1990s. The site combines religious function with a role as a memorial to the earlier structure.

The mosque stands in Baku, Azerbaijan, close to the Caspian Sea on the southern side of the city. It is accessible from central Baku by road and is a well-known landmark within the city.

• Visiting practicalities: Non-Muslim visitors are generally able to view the exterior and some interior areas outside of formal prayer times; check local opening hours before visiting.
• Reconstruction history: The present building is a modern reconstruction completed in the 1990s after the original 13th-century mosque was demolished in the Soviet period.

What to See #

• Mausoleum (tomb): Contains the tomb traditionally attributed to Ukeyma Khanum, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad; the mausoleum is incorporated into the mosque complex.
• Main prayer hall and courtyard: The mosque complex includes a main prayer hall with a central dome and adjacent courtyard, rebuilt to replicate the original 13th-century layout.