The Jalil Khayat Mosque: Erbil's Great Mosque

Mero Ranyayi
2 hours ago
4 min read

The Jalil Khayat Mosque in Erbil, the largest mosque in the city, with its domes and twin minarets

Introduction

The Jalil Khayat Mosque is the largest and most splendid mosque in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq — a magnificent modern house of prayer whose cascading domes and soaring twin minarets have become a landmark of the city skyline. Completed in 2007, its design recalls the great imperial mosques of Cairo and Istanbul, and its vast prayer hall can hold many thousands of worshippers. Built as a family memorial and gifted to the city, it is at once a place of worship and a work of grandeur — a striking symbol of the flourishing of Erbil in the modern age.

A grand modern mosque of domes and minarets crowning the skyline of Hewlêr, the Jalil Khayat Mosque is the great house of prayer of the Kurdish capital. This profile looks at the mosque, its building, and its design.

Key Takeaways

• The Jalil Khayat Mosque is the largest mosque in Erbil (Hewlêr).

• It was completed in 2007 as a family memorial gifted to the city.

• Its design recalls the great mosques of Cairo and Istanbul.

• It has a vast prayer hall, cascading domes, and twin minarets.

• It is a landmark of the modern skyline of the Kurdish capital.

Quick Facts

Name: Jalil Khayat Mosque (Mzgewtê Celîl Xeyat)

Type: Sunni congregational mosque

Country / Region: Kurdistan Region, Iraq (Başur)

City: Erbil (Hewlêr)

Completed: 2007

Capacity: Around 1,500–2,000 worshippers

Style: Inspired by Ottoman and Egyptian mosques

Minarets: Two; with many domes

Frequently Asked Questions

Related People, Places, and Topics

References and Further Reading

Where Is the Mosque?

The Jalil Khayat Mosque stands on a broad avenue in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth. It rises a short way from the city’s ancient heart, where the great Citadel of Erbil towers over the old town and the covered lanes of the Qaysari Bazaar. Where the citadel and bazaar speak of the city’s deep past, the gleaming mosque speaks of its modern flourishing, a new landmark amid a fast-growing capital.

A Memorial in Stone

The mosque bears the name of Jalil Khayat, a noted figure of the city, and its story is one of family devotion. The project was begun by Jalil Khayat himself, and after his death in 2005 it was completed by his sons in his memory, opening in 2007. Built and endowed privately and given for the use of the city, the mosque stands as a memorial to its founder and an act of generosity to the people of Erbil. Such grand religious endowments have a long history across the region, and the Jalil Khayat Mosque is the modern heir to that tradition.

Domes and Minarets

The mosque is celebrated for its beauty and scale. Its design draws on the great classical mosques of the Islamic world — observers have compared it to the Mosque of Muhammad Ali in Cairo and the famous Blue Mosque of Istanbul — with a central dome surrounded by a cascade of smaller domes and half-domes, and two tall, slender minarets rising on either side. The vast interior, richly decorated and lit by chandeliers, can hold thousands at prayer. The whole composition, gleaming above the avenue, makes the mosque one of the most photographed sights in the city.

A Landmark of Erbil

Among the hundreds of mosques in Erbil, the Jalil Khayat is by far the largest and grandest, and it has quickly become one of the defining landmarks of the modern capital. It serves as a major gathering place for the great festivals of the Islamic calendar, when crowds fill its halls and courtyards for the prayers of Eid. Its silhouette of domes and minarets has become emblematic of the city’s modern face, set against the backdrop of a capital that has grown swiftly in recent decades while keeping its ancient core.

The Mosque Today

Today the Jalil Khayat Mosque is both an active and important place of worship and one of the foremost sights of Erbil, welcoming worshippers and admiring visitors alike. It stands as a symbol of the modern flourishing of the Kurdish capital and of the enduring place of faith in the life of the city. A magnificent crown of domes and minarets above Hewlêr, the mosque takes its place among the great monuments — ancient and modern alike — that make Erbil one of the most storied cities of the Kurdish lands.

Timeline

early 2000s — Jalil Khayat begins the building of the great mosque.

2005 — Jalil Khayat dies; his sons continue the project in his memory.

2007 — The mosque is completed and opened, the largest in Erbil.

since — It becomes a landmark and a major gathering place for Eid.

today — The Jalil Khayat Mosque is a defining sight of the capital.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Jalil Khayat Mosque?

It is the largest mosque in Erbil, a grand modern mosque completed in 2007, famous for its cascading domes and twin minarets and its resemblance to the great mosques of Cairo and Istanbul.

Where is it?

It stands in Erbil (Hewlêr), the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, a short way from the ancient Citadel at the city’s heart.

Who built it and why?

It was begun by Jalil Khayat and completed by his sons in his memory after his death in 2005, opening in 2007 as a private endowment given for the use of the city.