Kipchak Mosque
Encyclopedia
Gypjak Mosque or Kipchak Mosque is a mosque
in the village of Gypjak
about 7 kilometres west of the centre of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
on the M37 highway.
The mosque was constructed by the French company Bouygues
, was built in the late Saparmurat Niyazov
's home town. It opened on October 22, 2004 and was built by Niyazov with a tomb in preparation for his death. He was laid to rest in the tomb on December 24, 2006.
The mosque has been at the center of controversy as scriptures from both the Ruhnama
(Book of Soul), Niyazov's 'pseudo-spiritual guide to life' are built into the walls. It has upset many Muslims who believe it is an insult to have the Ruhnama seemingly placed as equal to the Koran.
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in the village of Gypjak
Gypjak
Gypjak is a small village about 10 kilometers away from the Turkmen capital of Aşgabat. The village is known as the home village of the first President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov. Niyazov, while president, built the Kipchak Mosque and a tomb there for his family. It is in this tomb where...
about 7 kilometres west of the centre of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
on the M37 highway.
The mosque was constructed by the French company Bouygues
Bouygues
Bouygues S.A. is a French industrial group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France. Bouygues is listed on Euronext Paris exchange and is a blue chip in the CAC 40 stock market index. The company was founded in 1952 by Francis Bouygues and since 1989 has been led by his son Martin...
, was built in the late Saparmurat Niyazov
Saparmurat Niyazov
Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov; , was a Turkmen politician who served as President of Turkmenistan from 2 November 1990 until his death in 2006...
's home town. It opened on October 22, 2004 and was built by Niyazov with a tomb in preparation for his death. He was laid to rest in the tomb on December 24, 2006.
The mosque has been at the center of controversy as scriptures from both the Ruhnama
Ruhnama
Ruhnama , is a book written by Saparmurat Niyazov, late President for Life of Turkmenistan, combining spiritual/moral guidance, autobiography and revisionist history, much of it is of dubious or disputed factuality and accuracy. The text includes many stories and poems, including those by Sufi poet...
(Book of Soul), Niyazov's 'pseudo-spiritual guide to life' are built into the walls. It has upset many Muslims who believe it is an insult to have the Ruhnama seemingly placed as equal to the Koran.