This Mosque is one of the oldest mosques of Shiraz located in the neighborhood of Goud Araban. It was built around 1914-1926 by the order of Hassan Ali Nasir Ol Molk, made by the master architect Mirza Mohammad Hassan. Master Mohammad Reza who was a renowned artist of Qajar time did the tile works. The Mosque has a vast courtyard with two Iwans on the northern and southern side of it. It has two Shabistan or Praying Hall and a striking portal entrance.
The Western Shabistan or Praying Hall has seven doors all made from wood with small panels that were filled with color glasses. The hall also has 12 massive round twisted columns that are all made of one-piece stones and placed in two rows of six, inspired by the 12 Shiite Imams. The ceiling is covered with floral patterns and arabesque lines displaying Sura from Holly Quran in Sols Style (a Style of Calligraphy.) Under the reflection of sun light, the many colored glasses of the place make the Shabistan look as if red beams are scattered everywhere. That is why the Mosque is also referred to as the Rose Mosque of Iran.
As it was mentioned the two Shabistan are located in the east and west, the eastern one was made to face the Kiblah (a place that shows the direction of Mecca where the Muslims say their prayers to) and used in the hot weather of summer. The magnificent western Shabistan is filled with tilework and bricks with patterns of roses and vases drawn on them. around 70 years ago, when the Mosque undergone a period of restoration, the tiles were covered with new one that were made in turquoise.
Under the reflection of sun light, the many colored glasses of the place make the Shabistan look as if red beams are scattered everywhere. That is why the Mosque is also referred to as the Rose Mosque of Iran.
The two Iwans of Nasir Mosque are not symmetrical, which is unusual in the Persian Architecture that is based on symmetry. The northern Iwan is surrounded by four rooms built on either side of the Iwan. There are two minarets in the south Iwan and there is a shallow pool in the middle of the square shaped courtyard. The lighting of this mosque has turned it to a popular tourist destination, a place you must see when visiting Shiraz.
