For hundreds of years these structures stand with dignity and pride. Their hallways, domes and beautiful calligraphic inscriptions echo the hard work and architectural elegance of those who designed and built them. They symbolise the gracefulness of Islamic architecture and human skills with which they were constructed centuries ago. Here we look at some of the grandest mosques around the world that are architectural marvels.
Masjid al-Haram
Masjid al-Haram in Makkah is the largest mosque in the world. It was first extended and renovated under the leadership of Caliph Omar Ibn al-Khattab. Later, the walls, columns and arches were decorated with marbles and the columns were painted with gold.
Currently the fourth extension is under way which started in 2007. It will be completed in 2020 and will increase the capacity of the mosque by 35 per cent, accommodating nearly 11 million worshippers. Currently, it is spread over an area of nearly 400,800 square metres and can accommodate four million worshippers. During the expansion between 1988 and1992, three domes were also constructed measuring 30 metres in height and 15 metres in diameter.
Masjid al-Nabawi
Masjid al-Nabawi or the Prophet’s Mosque is the final resting place of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in Medina. It is the second largest mosque in the world. The original mosque was built by Holy Prophet (PBUH) in 622AD with mud walls and palm trunks.
Since 1932, when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded, the mosque has undergone renovations and expansion several times on the orders of successive kings.
Today the mosque is hundred times larger than the original one and covers an area of 82,000 square metres. The mosque can accommodate nearly 600,000 worshippers. It has 10 minarets, each 344 feet in height. For the ease of worshippers, cold-air outlets and automatic sliding domes are also installed. The mosque is adorned with stones and polychrome marbles and the roof has 24 domes.
Imam Khomeini Mosque
Imam Khomeini Mosque/Shah Mosque or Masjid-e-Shah, that is now commonly known as Imam Mosque, is a great work of Persian architecture in Isfahan, Iran, built during the Safavid’s period.
The mosque is built with seven-colour mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions, which are a special feature of Muslimarchitecture. Its construction began in 1611 and it has the largest dome in the city of Isfahan, measuring at 171 feet. It has two minarets, 138 feet tall. The entire mosque is surrounded by four arcades and iwans.
Iwans are large spaces or halls which are enclosed from three sides and open from one end, while arcades are a series of arches supported by columns and pillars.
Faisal Mosque
Pakistan’s largest mosque is Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. It covers an area of 54,000 square feet and can accommodate nearly 300,000 worshippers. Its minarets are the tallest in South Asia, measuring 260 feet. The mosque is named after the late Saudi King, Faisal bin Abdul Aziz, and was completed in 1986. The mosque is different from other mosques as it doesn’t have a dome and also lacks pillars and arches.
Badshahi MosqueKing’s Mosque, also called Badshahi Mosque is located in Lahore. It is Pakistan’s second largest mosque, the fifth largest in the world and a famous landmark. It can accommodate nearly 110,000 worshippers.
The four minarets of the mosque measure at a height of 13.9 feet. The design of Badshahi Mosque was inspired by the Persian, Islamic and Central Asian architecture. The prayer chamber is divided into seven compartments, each having engraved arches.
Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor ordered its construction to begin in 1671. During the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the mosque was damaged in battles and the four domes were used for cannon practice before being restored as a mosque.
Alhambra
Alhambra, meaning ‘the red one’ in Arabic, or ‘the red fortress’, is a mid-fourteenth century Moorish architectural structure, a fortress complex and a palace, situated in Andalusia, Spain.
The red clay with which Alhambra was constructed gave it its literal name. It was constructed by the rulers of the Emirate of Granada in Andalusia. In 1492, Muslim rulers lost control of Alhambra and Granada after the invasion of King Ferdinand II of Argon. Three decades later, in 1527, after the Muslim rule ended completely in Spain, Alhambra was turned into a palace by Christian rulers. The inner columns and ceilings of Alhambra are decorated with arabesques and calligraphy, and it is constructed with fountains, gardens and also has a mosque and a palace. All these structures are built within the main fortress wall having 13 towers.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque
The Sultan Omar Ali Saif-ud-din Mosque is a royal Islamic mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is one of the most stunning mosques located in Asia Pacific, which was completed in 1958. The mosque is named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddin III, who ruled Brunei from 1950 to 1967.
The mosque is built alongside the Brunei river. Its minarets are made of marble and its central dome is made of pure gold. The mosque stands at a height of 171 feet and its architectural design blends Islamic, Mughal, Italian and Renaissance styles.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the world’s eighth largest mosque and the largest of Abu Dhabi, UAE. It is named after the founder and the first President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed-bin-Sultan al-Nahyan. The inspiration for the mosque’s design came from theMoorish and Mughal architecture. The floor plan and the dome structure were inspired by Badshahi mosque.
Almost 40,000 worshippers can be accommodated in the mosque, which has 82 domes of seven different sizes. These domes are decorated with marbles. The courtyard measures at 180,000 square feet and has marbles with floral designs. The carpet placed in the mosque is the largest in the world, measuring 60,570 square feet and weighing 47 tonnes. It also has the largest chandelier in the world, measuring 33 feet in diameter and 49 feet in height.