Great Mosque of Sāmarrāʾ

The Great Mosque of Sāmmarrāʾ, located in Iraq, was constructed around 850 CE by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil. At the time of its completion, it was likely the largest mosque globally, covering nearly 42 acres. Built from baked brick, its interior was adorned with blue glass. Although much of the mosque was destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1258, its distinctive 170-foot (52-meter) conical minaret, featuring a spiraling ramp, still stands today. The mosque is situated in Sāmmarrāʾ, a town that served as the Abbasid capital in the 9th century and is now a significant pilgrimage site for Shiʿi Muslims.12