Right by the banks of the Kabul River, in the middle of the city’s hustle and bustle, there’s a golden-colored building with a beautiful blue dome and tall minarets that immediately catches your eye. This historical structure is the Shah Do Shamshira Mosque, known as the place where the first Muslim prayer in Kabul was performed.
According to the writings of Ali Akbar Khazad, a well-known Afghan historian and writer, it all goes back to the year 36 AH during the caliphate of Uthman (RA). After conquering Sistan, Muslim forces led by Laith ibn Qais, came through Ghazni and entered Kabul. A fierce battle broke out, and unfortunately, Laith ibn Qais was martyred. After their victory, the Muslim army performed their first prayer in Kabul at the exact spot where their commander fell. And that’s where the foundations of the first mosque in the city were laid.
In the beginning, this mosque was just a simple four-walled structure. But in 1927, the mother of King Amanullah Khan requested a new, more beautiful version to be built. So, Turkish engineers were brought in to design the mosque as we see it today. The king also asked builders from Chardehi to create a stunning blue dome using wood and iron.
The architecture of Shah Do Shamshira Mosque is truly one-of-a-kind—a mix of Islamic and European styles. Its interior decorations use rare stone and wood designs that you don’t see in many other places. You’ll also spot geometric patterns, and inscriptions in both Kufi and Naskh scripts carved into the mosque’s walls.
Ali Akbar Khazad also wrote that in 1747, when Ahmad Shah Durrani, the founder of the Durrani Empire, first came to Kabul, he performed his first prayer in this mosque.
Today, as you look up at its golden minarets and blue dome, you’ll often see hundreds of colorful pigeons flying around or resting on the rooftop—adding even more charm and life to this spiritual and historic place.
