The Malwiya of Samarra
Samarra, Iraq · The spiral minaret climbing toward the sky
A unique spiral minaret from the Abbasid era, once part of the largest congregational mosque in the world at the time.
Did you know?
- The Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil ala Allah built it as the minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra.
- It is about 52 meters tall, with an external spiral ramp winding up to the top.
- In its time, the Great Mosque of Samarra was the largest mosque in the world.
- The archaeological city of Samarra has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007 CE.
History and architecture
When the Abbasid caliphs moved their capital from Baghdad to Samarra, the city saw a great building boom. In the reign of Caliph al-Mutawakkil the Great Mosque was built, surrounded by massive brick walls, and beside it rose a unique minaret wrapped in a spiral ramp, like a tower climbing toward the sky. Nothing like this shape existed among Muslim minarets, and the Malwiya became a symbol of Samarra and of Iraq. When the caliphate returned to Baghdad, Samarra's star faded and most of the mosque disappeared, but the minaret has stood for more than eleven centuries, a witness to a golden age of Abbasid creativity. The mosque site is surrounded by a massive brick wall supported by semicircular towers, large parts of which still stand today.
Founded: 234–237 AH / 848–852 CE
Religious significance
It was the minaret of the largest mosque of its age, from which the call to prayer was raised for worshippers in the capital of the Abbasid caliphate.
It embodies the place of the adhan in Muslim life. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The muezzins will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection” (Muslim).
A witness to the flourishing of architecture and the sciences in the Abbasid age, when the cities of Islam were beacons for the world.
Visiting tips
- Best time: At sunrise or just before sunset to avoid the heat. Check the current situation and travel advice before visiting.
- Photography: From inside the walls of the old mosque, to capture the whole minaret with the wall in the foreground.
- Nearby: Ruins of the Great Mosque of Samarra, Abu Dulaf Mosque and its minaret, Qasr al-Ashiq
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Where is The Malwiya of Samarra?
The Malwiya of Samarra is in Samarra, Iraq.
When was The Malwiya of Samarra founded?
234–237 AH / 848–852 CE