Reconstruction of Mosul’s historic Nabi Yunus Mosque nears completion

MOSUL – The reconstruction of the historic Nabi Yunus Mosque in Mosul is now 70% complete, according to project director Ahmad Al-Omari. The mosque, which is a significant religious and historical landmark for Mosul residents, was destroyed by the Islamic State terror group on July 24, 2014. The rebuilding efforts are being led by the community organization “Faal Al-Khayrat,” which has gathered donations from Nineveh residents.

Once a bustling metropolis, Mosul was severely impacted during the ISIS occupation and the subsequent battle for liberation. The city fell to ISIS in June 2014 and was liberated in July 2017 by Iraqi forces supported by a U.S.-led coalition.

The mosque spans 5,000 square meters and sits atop “Tel al-Tawba,” an archaeological hill linked to the story of the people of Nineveh repenting to God, as told in the story of the prophet Yunus (known as Jonah in the Bible). The prophet holds significance in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. In Islamic tradition, Yunus was sent by God to guide the people of Nineveh, an ancient city in what is now Iraq.

According to Islamic tradition, Prophet Yunus was sent by God to call the people of Nineveh to repentance. After they initially rejected his message, he left without God’s command, was swallowed by a large fish, and prayed for forgiveness. God accepted his repentance, and he returned to Nineveh, where the people ultimately repented.

Al-Omari said all materials used in the reconstruction match the original structure, with some improvements, including correcting the qibla direction, which was previously inaccurate. The qibla is the direction Muslims face during prayers, aligned toward the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The project began a year and a half ago with the removal of debris, which Al-Omari described as the most challenging phase due to the discovery of unexploded ordnance. Structural work for all buildings within the mosque complex, including the minaret and the tomb of Prophet Yunus, has been completed.

The team is now installing Mosul limestone, marble, inscriptions, and Quranic verses, along with electrical, sewage, and surveillance systems. Verses from Surah Yunus adorn the interior and exterior walls.

Al-Omari noted that the reconstruction mirrors the original design, using limestone on the exterior and Mosul marble inside, while retaining traditional arches and motifs reflecting the city’s architectural heritage. The project also includes a Quranic science school that previously existed on the site.

“Changes were made to its design because the mosque had been built in a random and cumulative manner over time. This led to the qibla being misaligned and wasted space, with walls as wide as two meters,” he added.

Excavations beneath the mosque have uncovered Assyrian ruins, with ongoing work since 2018.

From 2014 to 2017, Mosul endured severe destruction under ISIS rule, with heritage sites and religious landmarks extensively vandalized. In response, UNESCO launched the “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative in February 2018, spearheaded by Director-General Audrey Azoulay, to rebuild these historic sites and revitalize the community through culture and education.

In late July, the Nineveh Antiquities and Heritage Office, in collaboration with UNESCO, began plans to restore Mosul’s oldest standing bathhouse, “Hammam Al-Qalaa”, Castle Bath, originally built in 1744. The historic site, located in the Maydan area, will be converted into a traditional restaurant as part of the third phase of UNESCO’s initiative, with the goal of transforming it into a tourist attraction highlighting Mosul’s rich history.

During its occupation, ISIS declared Mosul the capital of their self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq, imposing a regime of violence, cultural devastation, and repression. The battle to reclaim Mosul was one of the most intense urban conflicts since World War II, leaving much of the city’s infrastructure in ruins.

Though ISIS was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019, the group’s remnants still pose a security threat. Mosul residents continue to struggle with the long-term impact of the conflict and the slow pace of reconstruction.

On August 21, residents of the Al-Malain neighborhood protested over the lack of basic services, citing issues such as unpaved roads, missing sidewalks, and a malfunctioning water and sewage system. The neighborhood, home to about 5,000 families, remains in dire need of infrastructure improvements.