Under Qatari funding, the largest mosque in Central Asia, the Imam Abu Hanifa Al-Nu'man Mosque, was inaugurated in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe.
The inauguration took place during the visit of the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to Tajikistan as part of a tour that also included Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
The construction of the mosque took nearly 14 years and cost approximately $100 million.
The mosque features four minarets, each measuring 74 meters in height, two smaller minarets at 21 meters, a large dome at 43 meters, and 17 smaller domes at 35 meters.
The exterior surface area of the building spans over 62,000 square meters, and the mosque can accommodate 133,000 worshippers simultaneously, with 43,000 inside the mosque and the remainder around it.
Suleiman Dultazade, the head of the Tajik Committee on Religious Affairs and Regulation of Rituals, Celebrations, and Traditions, commented, stating, "The opening of the Imam Abu Hanifa Al-Nu'man Mosque, the largest mosque in Central Asia, highlights the prominent role played by Qatar in the Islamic world and its distinguished position as a country that offers numerous services to humanity worldwide."
Dultazade emphasized that Qatar has achieved a high standing in the Islamic world in recent years due to its initiatives and charitable efforts.
He noted that this achievement reflects the success of Qatar's foreign policy and expressed pride in Qatar's participation in the development of Tajikistan through various projects, including the Imam Abu Hanifa Al-Nu'man Mosque in Dushanbe, which stands as an architectural masterpiece showcasing Qatar's continuous progress.
He affirmed that the mosque's opening would have a positive impact on the friendly relations between the two countries and peoples, serving Tajikistan's Muslims for decades to come and contributing to the enhancement of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
He added that this would further elevate bilateral relations to higher levels.
The head of the Committee on Religious Affairs also stated that the opening of the Imam Abu Hanifa Al-Nu'man Mosque, with the participation of the Amir of Qatar and the President of Tajikistan, Imam Ali Rahmon, serves as a positive sign for strengthening relations between the two countries and signing more cooperation agreements in various fields.
He emphasized that Qatar has unique expertise among Islamic countries in promoting Islamic values. Thus, studying its experience in the field of religious dialogue, promoting tolerance, and combating religious extremism and terrorism would be beneficial for the region.
Therefore, increasing cooperation between Qatar and Central Asian countries would be advantageous for the entire region.
The Tajik Ambassador to Qatar, Khusrav Safoevzoda, expressed his appreciation for the Abu Hanifa Al-Nu'man Mosque in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, describing it as a unique project in the Central Asian region. He noted that this mosque is considered a gift from Qatar to the Tajik people.
Safoevzoda added that the visit of the Amir of Qatar to Tajikistan aimed to enhance bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest.