The focal point for every Muslim and the biggest mosque in the world, Al Masjid Al Haram can host a million worshippers and covers an area of 356,800 sq meters. At its epicenter is the Holy Kaaba, covered in black and gold cloth, around which Muslims can be found circumnavigating night and day (known as tawaf). It's the holiest structure in all of Islam and is at the heart of the Islamic pilgrimages (hajj and umrah).
The Kaaba predates the Prophet Muhammad's lifetime; Muslims believe it was built by the Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ishmael. The foundations of the mosque around the Kaaba date to at least the 7th century, when the second caliph, Omar Bin Al Khattab, built a structure to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims each year.
Set into the Kaaba's eastern corner is the Black Stone, a relic Muslims believe fell from the heavens and was placed into the corner by the Prophet Ibrahim. The stone came away from the Kaaba during the Prophet's lifetime, and it is said he then personally placed it back into the corner, where it sits today. At the Kaaba's northwestern edge, a curved area known as the Hatem or Hijr Ishmael represents the area believed to have been part of the Kaaba's original boundary when it was built by the Prophet Ibrahim. The mosque is in the midst of the Third Saudi Expansion, which will increase the mosque's area to 400,000 sq meters and allow 2.5 million people to pray inside it.
Al-Aqṣā Mosque, mosque in Jerusalem, located in the Old City at the terminal point of the Prophet Muhammad’s Isrāʾ journey. According to Islamic sources, the Qurān (17:1) indicates that Muhammad was miraculously transported one night from Mecca (al-masjid al-haram, or “the sacred place of worship”) to this site in Jerusalem (al-masjid al-aqṣā, “the farther place of worship”). On that spot he led Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other messengers (Rusul) of God in ritual prayer (ṣalāt). That same night he was taken up to heaven from the site of the Dome of the Rock for an encounter with God (see Miʿrāj). The term Al-Aqsa Mosque is often extended to denote the entirety of the plaza on which the mosque and the Dome of the Rock stand, although the plaza is known formally as Al-Haram al-Sharif (“the Noble Sanctuary”).
Muslims consider al-Aqsa to have been built first by Prophet Adam.
Surah al-Isra
Glory be to He Who did take His Servant for a Journey by night, from the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) to the Farthest Mosque (Masjid al-Aqsa), Whose precincts We did Bless, in order that We Might show him some Of Our Signs: for He Is the One Who heareth and seethe (all things). (Quran 17:1)
IT TOOK OVER SEVEN YEARS and 10,000 craftsmen to construct the Hassan II Mosque, but the result is a modern and massive tribute to the former King of Morocco that beautifully blends traditional Moorish architecture with 20th century innovation and equipment.
Although it is only the 7th largest mosque in the world, Hassan II claims the title of having the largest minaret in the world. Capped with a spotlight that shines east towards Mecca, the minaret is 700-feet tall, towering above the Atlantic Ocean. Almost lighthouse-like in its position, it is also built directly on the Atlantic Ocean on reclaimed land, which was done with intention by the architect to recall a verse of the Qur’an stating that “the throne of Allah was built on water.”
The final construction took 2,500 men working around the clock. Besides the mosque’s intricate beauty and incredible size, it was also built with modern concerns in mind. The mosque can withstand earthquakes and features a sliding roof and a heated floor.
The Pink Mosque is one of the structures of the Qajar era. This masterpiece of architecture built during the years 1293 to 1305 Ah. For the construction of this monument, 12 years spent. Pink Mosque in Iran, in Fars province, in Shiraz city, on Lotf Ali Khan Zand Street, in Nasir al-Mulk alley, on the alley of triacchi is located. The complex of Nasir al-Mulk includes the mosque, an old house that inhabited in the past, a bath, a canopy and a tub. This historical complex locates in the old town of Shiraz, the neighborhood of Isaac Bey.
The main hall, which remains from the House of Nasir al-Mulk, is known as the mirror Hall. The design of this hall has been flattened. On the two sides of this hall, two large sash is located throughout. These sashes are attached to the inner and outer courtyards with elegant Chinese knots and colored glass that resume intelligence and stare at themselves. Also, It is also seen on the other two sides of the Hall of a central King. The Shahs communicate from two sides through the sash to two rooms around them. These two side rooms are depicted by Iranian and European styles.
The Jāmeh Mosque of Isfahān or Jāme' Mosque of Isfahān (Persian: مسجد جامع اصفهان Masjid-e-Jāmeh Isfahān), also known as the Atiq Mosque, is a historic congregational mosque (Jāmeh) of Isfahan, Iran. The mosque is the result of continual construction, reconstruction, additions and renovations on the site from around 771 to the end of the 20th century. The Grand Bazaar of Isfahan can be found towards the southwest wing of the mosque. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012. It is one of the largest and most important monuments of Islamic architecture in Iran.
Al-Azhar Mosque (359 - 361 AH) / (970 - 972 CE), is the most important in Egypt and the most famous in the Muslim world. It has been a mosque and a university for more than a thousand years now. It was established for the purpose of spreading the Shiite Doctrine when Egypt was conquered by Jawhar Aṣ-Ṣiqilli, the army leader of Al-Mu‛izzulidīn Allah, the first Fatimid Caliph in Egypt. Currently, Al-Azhar teaches Islam according to the Sunni Doctrine. After founding the city of Cairo, Aṣ-Ṣiqilli started building Al-Azhar Mosque and completed it. The first Friday Prayer was held in it on the 7thRamadan 361 AH /972 CE. It is thus the first mosque to be established in the city of Cairo and the oldest Fatimid monument existing in Egypt.
Historians have disagreed on the origin of naming this mosque. It is most likely that the Fatimids named it Al-Azhar after Fatima Az-Zahrā᾿, daughter of Prophet Muḩammad (peace be upon him), out of love for her and in commemoration of her high esteem. The Mamluke Era is one of the brightest and best times Al-Azhar ever witnessed. The Mamluke rulers competed in their service of Al-Azhar, regarding its students, Sheikhs and architecture. They expanded their spending on it, cared about it, and added to its architectural structure.
In the Ottoman Era, the Sultans of the Othman family showed great respect for Al-Azhar Mosque and its staff, despite their resistance of them and their support of the Mamlukes during their war against the Ottomans. However, this respect was not translated practically into real service, attention to its architecture, or spending on its Sheikhs and students.During that period, Al-Azhar Mosque has yet become the favorite place for the Egyptian public and the most appropriate for them to receive knowledge and understand religion. It also became the center of the largest gathering of the scholars of Egypt and began to teach some secular disciplines, such as philosophy and logic for the first time.
During the French Campaign against Egypt, Al-Azhar was the center of resistance. In its courts, the scholars planned for the First Cairo Revolution and called for it. They suffered the agonies of war against it, particularly when the Mosque’s sanctity was violated. In the aftermath of the Second Cairo Revolution, Al-Azhar’s senior scholars endured the most severe torture and pain in defense of it. They were also subjected to heavy fines. Their possessions and their wives’ gold jewelries were sold to meet these expenses. After the killing of Kleber, Al-Azhar was distressed by the killing of some of its students, especially Suleiman Al-Ḥalaby. While the French Occupation was fading, a command was issued to arrest the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sharqāwi. Thus, a case of mistrust between Al-Azhar and the occupation authorities remained until their departure from the country.
The Mosque of Sultan Hasan Egypt is one of the largest and architecturally exquisite mosques in all of Egypt. It was commissioned by the Mamluk sultan Hasan ibn al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun sometime between 757 AH/1356 AD and 764 AH/1362 AD, and is located at the end of Muhammad Ali Street, opposite its nineteenth century neighbor al-Rifa’i mosque in Salah al-Din Square.The mosque consists of an open courtyard with fountain in its center. The courtyard is surrounded by four Iwans (a rectangular space that is open on one side). Doorways at the four corners of the courtyard allow access into four madrasas, educational institutions, where the four Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence were taught. Each consists of a court and Iwan, in addition to the rooms of the students and annexed service units. The mosque has two minarets built in the Mamluk style.
Its proximity to the citadel ultimately resulted in its use as a fort by enemies several times throughout its history, as it was used as a platform to launch attacks on the citadel. Like most Islamic monuments in Cairo, this one has also undergone several phases of reconstruction, up until the twentieth century. The mosque and madrasa are distinguished with the ornate domes, stone and plaster carved decorations, as well as the marble works of the mihrab.
India’s first mosque, the Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kodungallur, Kerala(1400 years old), has remained a source of fascination as well as an active place of worship for well over a thousand years. Built during Prophet Muhammad’s lifetime, this landmark building is among the most important of India’s historic, architecturally stunning mosques.
Malik Bin Dinar, one of the first Arab propagators of Islam to have come to the Indian subcontinent, built the Cheraman Juma Masjid in 629 CE. Among the many stories in circulation about the mosque’s origins, the most popular recounts how Cheraman Perumal, the region’s king, gave up his throne to embrace Islam and make a pilgrimage to Mecca. After years spent in Mecca, the king decided to return home but fell ill and died on the way. However, Malik Bin Dinar and his companions completed the king’s journey on his behalf. They carried with them a series of letters written by Cheraman Perumal asking local rulers of Kerala for their permission to build the area’s first mosques.
Huaisheng Mosque was built during the Tang Dynasty (619-907) when Muslim traders came to China through the silk route. The earliest contacts of Islam with China occurred in this area, subsequently spreading to other regions. As such Guangzhou can be called the cradle of Chinese Islam.
It is said that the mosque was built by Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqas, an uncle of Prophet Muhammad during the reign of Emperor Gaozong (649–683), the then Tang emperor.
Huaisheng Mosque remains one of the oldest mosques in China, and also one of the oldest surviving mosques in the world, though it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. It was rebuilt in 1350 and again in 1695 after being destroyed in a fire, and probably renovated or rebuilt at other times also. Now, it is an active mosque and an important place for Muslims in China. Many Muslims, both foreign and Chinese, come to visit it and say their prayers.
Al Mustafa Mosque is possibly the most striking building in Sharm el-Sheikh. In fact, at first glance, it seems more like a magical castle than a mosque.
Designed by Egyptian architect Fouad Tawfik Hafez, the building is a mixture of Ottoman and Mamluk architecture. Completed in 2008 at a reported cost of 31 million pounds, it can accommodate around 3000 worshippers. The imposing building features two 76-meter-long minarets and gleaming domes. Inside, the mosque is no less beautiful. When illuminated at night, the mosque truly is a divine spectacle. A truly captivating building, Al Mustafa Mosque should not be missed.
Putra Mosque faces the scenic Putrajaya Lake. It is one of the most visited landmarks in Putrajaya. The mosque has a mix of modern and traditional designs created with local craftsmanship and indigenous materials. The design is inspired by the design of Sheikh Omar Mosque in Baghdad. From there, the Putra Mosque’s design has a combination of Malaysia, Persian-Islamic and Arab-Islamic architectural details. With its 36-diameter main dome, the simple and elegant prayer hall is supported with 12 columns. The beautiful courtyard is right in front of the main hall.
It is Selangor’s state mosque located in Shah Alam. This mosque is known as the Blue Mosque due to its magnificent blue dome and blue-stained-glass panels on the windows. It is the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia with the biggest dome and tallest minarets. Its architecture has a magnificent combination of modern and traditional with Middle Eastern and Malay designs. Four minarets stand grandly at each corner. Detailed Arabic calligraphy, done by a well-known Egyptian calligrapher, can be seen on the main dome and walls. The wooden pulpit is carved by Kelanta
On a neighborhood of approximately three thousand meters, near the old market within the city of Peace, Sharm El-Sheikh, South Sinai Governorate, one in all the strangest and most impressive mosques was established on the land of Egypt, a mosque designed in a very way that mixes different architectural styles, all of which belong to a disordered Egyptian Islamic style.
The truth is that the Mosque of the Sahabah initially glance, may mistake the visitor in its architectural nature, as this mosque blends many architectural designs, from the Ottoman style shown within the copper domes of color, which are very like the domes of the Muhammad Ali Mosque within the Citadel in Cairo, to the Mamluk style.
As for the mosque itself, which is that the second largest mosque in Sharm El Sheikh after the Mustafa Mosque within the city of Sharm El Sheikh, we discover it overlooking the ocean, and it's located at the doorway to town of Sharm El Sheikh, and behind it's one amongst the mountains of South Sinai, and it includes two minarets each reaching a height of 67 meters , And an outsized number of domes, accommodate over three thousand worshipers, and its main nave reaches a height of about 37 meters, and also the nave accommodates about 800 chapels, reaching a vicinity of 1,800 meters, and inside there's a lower portico with two umbrellas to hope within the ground level and 36 bathrooms and toilets.
