The first minaret was constructed in 665 in Basra during the reign of the Umayyad caliph Muawiyah I. Muawiyah encouraged the construction of minarets, as they were supposed to bring mosques on par with Christian churches with their bell towers.
The first minaret was built in Basra, year 665, under Umayyad caliph Muawiyah I's rule. He urged their constructions to make mosques as good as Christian bell tower churches.