Al-Nabi Yunus Mosque
| Al-Nabi Yunus Mosque | |
|---|---|
جَامِع ٱلنَّبِي يُوْنُس | |
The destroyed mosque and shrine in 2019 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status |
|
| Status | Destroyed (2014) (under reconstruction) |
| Location | |
| Location | Mosul, Mosul District, Nineveh Governorate |
| Country | Iraq |
Location of the destroyed mosque in Iraq | |
| Geographic coordinates | 36°20′53″N 43°9′34″E / 36.34806°N 43.15944°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Islamic architecture |
| Date established | 1365 CE |
| Destroyed | 24 July 2014 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | One: (destroyed) |
| Minaret(s) | One: (destroyed) |
| Shrine(s) | Two: |
| Materials | Alabaster |
The Al-Nabi Yunus Mosque (Arabic: جَامِع ٱلنَّبِي يُوْنُس, romanized: Jāmiʿ An-Nabī Yūnus), also known as the Mosque of the Prophet Jonah, the Mosque of the Prophet Yunus, and the Shrine of Nabi Yunis,[a] was a historic Sunni congregational mosque and shrine, partially destroyed in 2014, that was located in Mosul, in the Nineveh Governorate of Iraq. It contained a tomb believed to be that of the Biblical prophet Jonah, known as Yunus by Muslims.[b]
History
The alleged grave of the Prophet Yunus was discovered by Jalal al-Din Ibrahim al-Khatni during his reconstruction of the site as a congregational mosque in 1365 CE.[3] However, the mosque was also built over a demolished Assyrian Christian church that marked Jonah's grave.[4][5]
In 1924, the minaret was added to the mosque building by a Turkish architect. During Saddam Hussein's rule, the mosque was renovated and expanded.[1]
The mosque had one minaret and a conical ribbed dome. The floors of the mosque were built out of Alabaster and the prayer rooms had arched entrances that were inscribed with Quranic verses.[5]
The alleged tomb of Jonah[1] was located at a corner of the mosque. The sarcophagus believed to be that of Jonah had a wooden zarih built around it.
In addition to Jonah's tomb, a modern shrine which contains the tomb of Shaykh Rashid Lolan is present next to the mosque.[6] This shrine dates from the 1960s.[6]
2014 destruction
On 24 July 2014, the building was blown up by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,[7][8] damaging several nearby houses. ISIL stated that "the mosque had become a place for apostasy, not prayer."[7]
Archeological discovery
In March 2017, after ISIL was driven out, a system of tunnels, approximately one-kilometre-long (zero-point-six-two-mile) were found under the mosque. Although all moveable items had been removed, there were still Assyrian reliefs, structures and carvings along the walls.[1]
Gallery
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Mosque ruins in 2017
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The mosque and shrine in 2011, prior to its 2014 demolition by ISIL
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The mosque and shrine in 1999
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Steps leading to the mosque in 1999
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The mosque and shrine in 1932
See also
- Destruction of cultural heritage by the Islamic State
- Islam in Iraq
- List of mosques in Iraq
- List of Islamic structures in Mosul
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d "Jameh Nabi Yunus (Mosul)". madainproject.com. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- ^ al-Natsheh, Yusuf (2025). "Mosque of Nabi Yunus (Prophet Jonah)". Discover Islamic Art. Museum With No Frontiers. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ "I07: Mosque of al-Nabi Yunus". January 20, 2020. Archived from the original on January 20, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- ^ Lloyd, Anthony (March 20, 2017). "Inside the Assyrian palace revealed in fight for Mosul". The Times. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- ^ a b "Tomb of Jonah (now Nabi Yunis Mosque), Mosul, Iraq". archive.diarna.org. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- ^ a b "I67: Shaykh Rashid Lolan". January 26, 2020. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- ^ a b Tawfeeq, Mohammed; Ford, Dana (July 24, 2014). "Extremists destroy Jonah's tomb, officials say". CNN. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ "Mosul, Iraq: Destruction of Nebi Yunis (Tomb of the Prophet Jonah)" (Satellite imagery of the site during July and August 2014). American Association for the Advancement of Science. 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
External links
Media related to Shrine of Nabi Yunis at Wikimedia Commons