Lost Architectural Heritage: Haj Rajab-Ali Mosque

The Haj Rajab Ali Mosque is a historical structure in Tehran, constructed during the Qajar era over 180 years ago at a cost of 20,000 Tomans and taking more than 17 years to complete. Often referred to as the Iranian University of Architecture, the mosque is currently in a state of disrepair. From a complex that included a mosque, school, and takyeh, only a deserted and dilapidated shabestan (night prayer hall) and a portion of a courtyard remain today, which has unfortunately been repurposed as a storage area. However, currently, the only hope for this mosque is the Heritage Minister’s order to renovate it, to the extent that the Minister's advisor has announced that approximately 37 billion Tomans will be allocated for the restoration of this historical monument.