Mosque near historic Sufi lodge continues to serve village after 300 years

BASRA — One of Basra’s oldest mosques, Jami’ Al-Tekiyya, has stood for more than 300 years in the village of Balad Sultan in Abu Al-Khasib, continuing to serve as a spiritual and communal anchor for the area.

Founded in 1700, the mosque is located next to a Naqshbandi Sufi lodge, or tekiyya, from which it takes its name. “It is often referred to as Jami’ Al-Tekiyya because it is located near a well-known ‘tekiyya’ behind the mosque, which belongs to the Naqshbandi order,” said Ahmed Samir, the mosque’s current imam.

The Naqshbandi is a major Sufi order in Sunni Islam. Originating in Central Asia in the 14th century, it was founded by Baha’al-Din Naqshband and later spread widely across the Islamic world.

The original structure of the mosque was built from palm fronds but was reconstructed in the late 18th century. Samir said it has undergone multiple renovations since and remains a cultural and spiritual mainstay in the village.

Balad Sultan itself was founded by emirs of the Bani Khalid tribe who migrated from the Hejaz region in present-day Saudi Arabia. The village is named after Sheikh Sultan Hamoud Al-Sultan. “He left the area of Mir Hamza in Aujat Abu Al-Khasib to avoid conflict with certain tribes,” Samir said.

“Many good preachers and respected families served this mosque,” he added. “It was always lit with good people and known families, like the Al Omar and descendants of Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Hassan.”

Samir also emphasized the mosque’s tradition of socially engaged preaching. “As for the sermons delivered in this mosque, they have always called for reform, were connected to the reality of the people, and aimed to offer solutions in simple and smooth language that brings goodness closer to hearts and calls for ethics and love,” he said.