The first minaret was built in 665 in Basra during the reign of the Umayyad caliph Muawiyah I. Muawiyah encouraged the building of minarets , as they were supposed to be the same as bell towers on Christian churches . 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 .