A mosque is a place of worship for the Muslim community. Islam is the world’s second largest religion after Christianity and it is estimated that are more than billion Muslims scattered all over the world.The religion is predominant in Africa and the Middle East and is followed in large parts of Asia and Eastern Europe as well. This monotheistic, Abrahamic religion originated with teachings of Prophet Muhammad, an Arabic religious and political figure who lived in the 7th century. After the death of Prophet Muhammad, the teachings of Islam were spread throughout the world through the various Islamic empires like the Caliphs, Ottomans, and the Mughals.
As Islam spread to different parts of the globe, its promoters established many mosques at various locations.These mosques were built in a variety of styles depending on the region they were built in but they often had similar architectural aspects like minarets and domes. In some cases, even churches, temples and synagogues were converted into Mosques.
Hagia Sophia- Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia functioned as a church during Byzantine times after which it was transformed into a mosque when the Ottomans invaded Turkey. In 1935, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first president of Turkey converted it into a museum. Though all mosques are places of worship they have differing features, while some have educational centers called ‘madrasas’ located within their folds others have welfare centers and hospitals. The Mosque is an integral component of the Muslim community who regard it not only as a place of worship but as meeting place for the community.
The Red Mosque- the Badshahi Mosque of Lahore, Pakistan
This imposing mosque which is popularly known as the ‘Red ‘mosque because it is built of red sandstone was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1673. The ‘red’ mosque is actually the Badshahi Mosque (the emperor’s mosque). The mosque is built on the lines of the Jama Masjid mosque of Delhi which was built by Aurangzeb’s father Emperor Shah Jahan of the Taj Mahal fame. The Red mosque which can easily accommodate 55,000 worshipers is located in Lahore and it is the second largest mosque in Pakistan. The mosque is a testament to the grandeur and architectural capabilities of the Mughal rulers as it is adorned with exquisite marble inlay work and stone carvings which portray a combination of Indo-Greek, Central Asian and Indian influences.
The Blue Mosque – Sultanahmet Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey
This mosque, which dominates the skyline of Istanbul with its many domes and six minarets, was built by Sultan Ahmet in the 17th Century who wanted to create a place of worship in Istanbul whose beauty would surpass that of Hagia Sophia located close by. The blue mosque is famous for the fact that it has six minarets while most mosques have only one or two.The moniker of the ‘blue’ mosque was given to the mosque because it’s interior is adorned with over 20,000 blue Iznik tiles which are arranged in mosaics that depict flowers, trees and abstracts. Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the mosque outside of prayer times but they have to be barefoot, modestly garbed and have cover their heads as a sign of respect.
The Mosque in the Bay - Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai, India
This mosque was built in Mumbai, India at a distance of five hundreds meters from the coast in the midst of the Arabian Sea by a wealthy Muslim merchant in 1431. He named it Haji Ali after a Muslim saint called Haji Ali who renounced his worldly goods before he took the pilgrimage to Mecca. The mosque, which contains the tomb of Haji Ali, can be accessed by walking on a narrow walkway only in low tide. Strangely enough this walkway also connects the mosque to a Hindu temple called Mahalaxmi. This whitewashed mosque which is a fine representation of Islamic architecture is open to people of all faiths and is visited by 40,000 worshipers every week.
The Great Mosque of Xi’an , China
The Great Mosque of Xi’an was built during the Ming dynasty in the 14th century, it stands on the spot of another mosque which was built during the 8th century when Islam first came to China. This Mosque is built in the fashion of a typical Chinese temple with many courtyards which are adorned with pagodas and pavilions. There are five courtyards in all, each of which has a ceremonial gate. These courtyards lead to the prayer hall which is not open to non-Muslims. The prayer hall is embellished with artful bas-relief wood work and inscriptions of verses from the Koran.
The Hassan II Mosque, Casbalanca, Morroco
Designed by French Architect Michel Pinseau, the Hassan mosque II is a magnificent edifice which was erected on a rocky platform in Casablanca that was reclaimed from the sea and continues to jut out into the Atlantic Ocean. The mosque, which is the second largest mosque in the world after the Masjid al- Haram in Mecca, was commissioned by King Hassan II on the occasion of his 60th birthday. The HassanII mosque can accommodate 25,000 worshipers within its walls and it also has provisions to accommodate an additional 80,000 people in its surrounding courtyards. The Mosque is open to people of all religions.
This exquisitely beautiful mosque has the world’s tallest minaret which measures 210 meters (575 feet) tall. This minaret rises like a beacon and illuminates a laser beam at night in the direction of Mecca. The call for prayer is also issued from the minaret. The prayer hall of the mosque is elaborately decorated with mosaic tiles and carvings and three story high Venetian crystal chandeliers. The Hassan II mosque is a high tech mosque which is equipped with a retractable roof, central heating and glass flooring. The mosque was built at a cost of $500 million dollars which was raised from the public in the form of donations.
The Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
The Ibn Tulun Mosque located in Cairo which was built by Ahmad Ibn Tulun, is the oldest mosque in Egypt having been built in 879AD. This mosque, which is the third largest mosque in the world, is known for its stunning architecture and its unique minaret which has spiral staircases built on outside of its tower.
The Mezquita of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
This intensely beautiful structure is located in Cordoba in Spain. The word ‘Mezquita’, which translates as “mosque” in Spanish, is not a mosque today but has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This magnificent edifice is renowned for its horse shoe shaped giant arches and many columns of jasper, onyx, marble and granite. The Mezquita was built as a mosque in the 8th century on the site of a Roman temple. It continued to function as a mosque until a Baroque cathedral was erected in the heart of the mosque by Charles V in the 16th Century.
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 at 9:40 am and is filed under Culture, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 13th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
The Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque form an interesting urban form since they are facing each other.
May 14th, 2009 at 2:27 am
The Great Mosque of Xi’an , China doesnt actually look like a mosque. Interesting. That makes it very unique if you compare to the rest
May 14th, 2009 at 3:38 am
You are right anu. Istanbul had many wondrous sights but these two must rank among the best.
May 14th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Hey this is good stuff. So glad you posted. I like reading blogs like this. Sandy
May 18th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I came across this when searching info on Google. I will use it to complete my report for this weekend, thanks for the info.
May 19th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Thank you for your kind comments, glad you enjoyed the post. Do check back often.
May 19th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Glad to have been of help
May 23rd, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Wow Awesome stunning. Thanks for sharing pic with us.
May 24th, 2009 at 4:47 am
Glad you enjoyed the post.
May 27th, 2009 at 12:10 am
It may not be possible to visit each of them but thanks for sharing here and letting us visit online. How about the grand mosque in Mecca and Medina. Share some of them as well.
June 28th, 2009 at 4:52 am
This is a great blog story. To the author of this posting I’m just wondering if you visited each mosque as part of an individual trip or was it something that you did all at once?
June 29th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I have visited some of the mosques which have been mentioned in the post but I hope to able to tick off all during my lifetime. Thank you for visiting and do check back often.