صوزة الامام (Imam's Image)

صوزة الامام, or the Imam Ali Mosque, is a historically significant mosque located approximately 12 kilometers west of Basra's city center. Founded in 635 CE, it is revered as one of the oldest mosques in the Islamic world and the first outside of Mecca and Medina. The mosque's origins trace back to the Rashidun Caliphate, serving as a place of worship for the Arab tribesmen who formed the armies of Caliph Umar. Throughout its history, صوزة الامام has undergone several transformations. Initially constructed from palm canes, it was later rebuilt with mud after a fire. However, a great flood during the Abbasid era led to its destruction. Despite these challenges, the mosque remained a significant cultural and religious site, attracting pilgrims and scholars alike. Today, visitors can witness remnants of the 7th-century structure, including a restored corner tower believed to date back to the same period as the Mustansariyya Madrasa in Baghdad. A modern mosque and shrine have also been erected on the site, serving as a place of worship and remembrance. Reciters from al-Azhar University in Cairo and pilgrims from across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond gather here, especially during Ramadan, to commemorate religious occasions.