Umm Al-Tabbul Mosque: A Baghdad Landmark

Umm Al-Tabbul Mosque, also known as Jami’ Umm al-Tabul, is a prominent mosque in Baghdad, situated in the Yarmouk area. Its architecture, drawing inspiration from the Citadel of Saladin in Cairo, distinguishes it from other mosques in the region. The mosque was constructed to honor the officers who participated in the 1959 Mosul uprising. The foundation stone was laid in 1964, and the mosque was inaugurated in 1978. The construction cost approximately 700,000 dinars. Some believe that the wife of Iraqi Maqam singer, Muhammad al-Qubanchi, contributed to the construction costs. Three houses were also built next to the mosque for employees. The remains of Free Officers involved in the 1958 Mosul uprising were moved from al-Ghazali to tombs at Umm Al-Tabbul Mosque.The mosque spans approximately 15,000 square meters and can accommodate around 1,500 worshippers. The main entrance features marble columns and chandeliers inscribed with verses from Surat Ya-Sin. Two 40-meter-high minarets stand above the entrance. The sanctuary is rectangular, measuring 100 meters long and 50 meters wide. The ceiling features inscriptions by Egyptian workers who assisted in the construction. The interior includes a mihrab and pulpit made from Egyptian materials, topped by a large marble dome surrounded by smaller domes. Verses from Surat ar-Rahman and Ayat al-Kursi, calligraphed by Hashem Muhammad al-Baghdadi, adorn the interior. The mosque also includes chapels for summer use and for women, as well as rooms for the imam and preacher.Before the US-led invasion of Iraq, numerous delegations from Indonesia, Egypt, and Europe visited the mosque to study its modern Islamic architecture. In 1982, the Iraqi Tourist Guide highlighted the mosque as a notable landmark with significant architecture, referring to it as the "Martyr's Mosque".