In 1878, at the initiative of the Mufti of Kazan, several Tatar families were sent to Central Asia, on the shores of Issyk-Kul. Among them were both Quran experts and mosque construction masters. Some of these families settled in Karakol, while others moved to nearby villages such as Tamga, Saruu, and Ak-Suu, where they began to teach the local residents the basics of Islam.
The construction of the mosque began in Karakol in the summer of 1878 under the guidance of Imam Mukhtarullo Bashirov. The foundation was built over nine years, and the fully completed mosque was opened in 1887 thanks to generous donations from local residents. The main building materials were wood and special bricks made from a clay mixture with added egg yolk, and the roof was covered with durable iron.
The wood for construction was delivered from a sawmill established by Tatar businessmen in the village of Zhargylchak. The mosque could accommodate over 1,000 worshippers at the same time and had spacious halls for men, women, and children, as well as classrooms. Two minarets were installed on either side of the main building: one 31 meters tall and the other 20 meters.
According to Islamic traditions, a madrasah operated at the mosque, which became a significant educational center where both Tatar children and representatives of other Muslim peoples, including Kyrgyz, Uighurs, and Uzbeks, were educated.
In 1901, the male maktab, established at the mosque in 1868, began to use a new teaching method that combined religious and secular education. Classes were conducted in the Tatar language. By 1906, students were divided into two classes with four divisions, and the education lasted four years.
However, after the 1917 revolution, the fate of the mosque changed drastically. In the 1930s, it was closed and repurposed for other needs. Eyewitnesses recall that in 1939, during a large gathering of people, two minarets were destroyed. The golden crescents disappeared, and building materials were plundered. Local residents recount that many of those who participated in the destruction suffered from paralysis and died in agony two years later.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the mosque was restored, the roof was replaced, and it reopened for worshippers. In 1999, the community named it after the first imam, Mukhtarullo Bashirov, who served in this mosque until 1935.
According to the mosque's manager Nasir Nakazbekov, previously, the second floor housed a madrasah where children were educated, while the first floor was used for prayers.
“The mosque accommodates about 2,000 people. Although during the Soviet period the building was used as a cinema and meeting hall, its original appearance has been preserved, which is a significant advantage,” he noted.
The mosque quickly became a key element of the cultural and social life of the Tatar diaspora in Karakol. It is located in the center of the city and, along with the madrasah and trading shops, symbolizes the traditional way of life of the Tatar community.
