The fame of the Flour and Date mosque is neither from the builders of this mosque nor from its architecture. The smallest historical mosque in Iran, with its unique simplicity, attracts people.
Among the small and large mosques of Iran, the “Flour and Date” mosque is an exception because it has neither a unique architecture nor a clear style of construction. What makes this mosque one of the most unique mosques in Iran is the close connection it has been able to establish with the people for more than a century.
The temperate climate of Yazd these days is the best option for your autumn trips. In this city with its historical and traditional texture, every time a new leaf opens for you and it shows you a corner of its architectural wonders. This time, if you wanted to visit Yazd, visit Ardakan and the historical context of Qala-e-Seif neighborhood to get acquainted with one of the smallest historical mosques in this city. A mosque called Flour and Date that hearing its strange name, is undoubtedly the main motivation for tourists to visit Imam Khomeini Ardakan Street!
Flour and Date Mosque is located in Ardakan city of Yazd. Imam Khomeini Street (RA) of this city has a famous alley called “Mir Mohammad Saleh Gate” which has the smallest historical mosque in Iran.
Oral histories of the people of Yazd in this regard indicate that a businessman from Shahroud lived in Ardakan for some time due to the death of his camel; People suggest that he build a mosque on the site. “I have no money, but I am willing to spend flour and date instead of money and pay the workers instead of wages,” he said. Later, after its construction, this mosque became known as the “Flour and Date Mosque”.
But the people of Yazd believe in another quote, too. In the past, there was a mill behind the mosque, but now there is no trace of it. The people of Ardakan used to bring date kernels to this mill and turn them into flour at a time when they were not in a good economic situation; For this reason, the mosque was called “Flour and Date” mosque.
The architectural style of the Flour and Date Mosque is similar to the style of the Safavid period; However, what has been obtained from its endowment letters so far indicates the life of Qajar and its sign is a Zillow that was installed on the head of this mosque until a few years ago. The same Zillow that was suddenly stolen one night and it is still unknown who the thief of this piece of Zillow was. One of these endowment letters is related to the recitation of the Quran and the other related to the lamp oil, both of which were recorded in the 13th century AH.
The architecture of the “Flour and Date Mosque”, like other small local mosques, lacks special decorations. The roof of the building has been covered with arches, and a quarter of the whole complex has been built with a living room, entrance and entrance section. The entrance section is two and a half meters long and one meter and sixty centimeters wide, with a simple framing, a seating area and a separate entrance.
The mosque was built west, east, and three meters wide and five and a half meters long; For this reason, on the north or right side of the building, three niches have been installed to place the Qurans. The niches are embedded in the style of an altar and are one meter and sixty centimeters wide, but one of the niches is smaller than the other two niches, which is designed to be one meter and ten centimeters wide and seventy-five centimeters high. But on the south side of the building, a simple altar is combined with a windbreak.
The altar and the windbreak are both designed for air conditioning, the width of the altar is one meter and sixty centimeters, and it is two meters and ten centimeters high, and it is eighty-five centimeters deep. Its facade is simple and symmetrical with niches, but the triple-eyed windbreak of the mosque is two meters and seventy centimeters long and its total mouth is one meter and ninety centimeters wide. The altar of the mosque is located in the southern part of it, where a small windbreak can be seen. Recently, by dedicating a 100-meter house next to the mosque, Yazd cultural heritage officials promised to expand the mosque, and now it is reported that the restoration of this mosque has been completed.
Flour and Date Mosque is the smallest mosque in Iran with a length of five and a half and a width of three meters, so the addition of 100 square meters makes it no longer the title of the smallest mosque, but people still know the historical part of this mosque. And Flour and Date Mosque is still the host of those interested in visiting the smallest historical mosque in Iran.
