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 constructed during the reign of Muawiyah I. Muawiya encouraged the construction of minarets because they would make mosques equal to Christian churches.