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 in 665 in Basra. This was during the reign of the Umayyad caliph Muawiyah I. Muawiyah encouraged the building of minarets to bring mosques on par with Christian churches with their bell towers.