Mosques are at the heart of Islamic life. Muslims spend much time inside mosques during Ramadan as they congregate for communal prayers. Many mosques are renowned for the beauty & artistry of their interiors.
For #Ramadan we look inside 20 mosques across the world…
A thread…
1/ Putra Mosque, Malaysia
The principal mosque of Putrajaya, Malaysia. Construction of the mosque began in 1997 & was completed two years later. It is located next to Perdana Putra, which houses the Malaysian Prime Minister's office & man-made Putrajaya Lake #Ramadan
2/ Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi
One of the world’s largest mosques. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Founder of the UAE, had the mosque built in the capital city Abu Dhabi to create a cultural haven that welcomes & inspires people from all backgrounds #Ramadan
3/ The Süleymaniye Masjid, Camii, Istanbul, Turkey
An Ottoman imperial mosque commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent and designed by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan. An inscription specifies the foundation date as 1550 and the inauguration date as 1557 #Ramadan
4/ Tokyo Mosque, (東京ジャーミイ), Ōyama-chō district of Shibuya ward in Tokyo, Japan
It is the largest mosque in Japan. Originally built in 1938, the current building was completed in 2000. It was designed by Hilmi Senalp, in a style inspired by Ottoman architecture #Ramadan
5/ The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Iran.
Constructed between 1876 & 1888, during the Qajar dynasty, which ruled Iran from 1785 to 1925. It has been dubbed the “Pink Mosque” due to the plethora of pink-colored tiles blanketing the ceiling #Ramadan
6/ The Great Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha or Alabaster Mosque, Cairo, Egypt
This grand mosque was commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha between 1830 and 1848.
#Ramadan
7/ The Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan
Constructed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb between 1671 & 1673 and was the largest mosque in the world from 1673 to 1986. An important example of Mughal architecture, with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone #Ramadan
8/ Jalil Khayat Mosque, Erbil, Iraq
The mosque was begun by Jalil Khayat who died in 2005; and the mosque was completed in 2007 by his sons in memory of their father.
9/ The Yalbugha Mosque, Damascus, Syria
A 13th-century mosque on the Barada river in Damascus, Syria. It was built by the Mamluks in 1264 or by Yalbughā al-Yahyāwī in 1346–47.
10/ Xiaopiyuan Mosque in Xi'an, Shaanxi
The mosque was first built in the late Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is one of the first mosques in Xi'an. The mosque is a construction that combines Chinese palace-style & Islamic style, image credit @xujnx #Ramadan
11/ Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman
It is the country's tallest structure, with an imposing 90-metre minaret. The mosque has four further minarets, & together the 5 towers symbolise the 5 pillars of Islam: profession of faith, prayers, giving of alms, fasting and pilgrimage #Ramadan
12/ The Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca
The second largest mosque in Africa. Its minaret is the world's second tallest minaret at 210 metres (689 ft). Completed in 1993, it was designed by Michel Pinseau under the guidance of King Hassan II & built by Moroccan artisans #Ramadan
13/ Tilla Kari, Uzbekistan
Built in 1646, "Madrasah of gold" is the literal translation of "Tilla-Kari." It was given this name because the facades of the madrasah and the mosques are covered with gilding made in the unusual technique called "kundal" #Ramadan
14/ Jama Masjid, Delhi, India
Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1650 & 1656, & inaugurated by its first Imam, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari. Situated in Old Delhi, it served as the imperial mosque of the Mughal emperors until the end of the empire in 1857
#Ramadan
15/ The Shah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran.
Located on the south side of Naghsh-e Jahan Square. Built during the Safavid dynasty under the order of Shah Abbas I of Persia. It is regarded as one of the masterpieces of Persian architecture in the Islamic era #Ramadan
16/ Cambridge Central Mosque, England
Europe's first eco-friendly mosque and the first purpose-built mosque within the city of Cambridge. The Cambridge Central Mosque was opened to the public on 24 April 2019.
17/ Al-Masjid an-Nabawī, Saudi Arabia
known in English as the "Prophet's Mosque", is the second mosque built by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in Medina, after that of Quba, as well as the second largest mosque & holiest site in Islam, after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca #Ramadan
18/ The Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali
The world's largest mud-brick building & finest example of Sudano-Sahelian architecture, a regional style characterised by its adobe plastering & wooden scaffolding. The walls are reconstructed with mud each April in a 1 day event #Ramadan
19/ The Emir Abdelkader Mosque, Constantine, Algeria
It is the second largest mosque in Algeria after Djamaa Al Djazair. Built in 1994
20/ Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, Palestine
Located in the Old City of Jerusalem, it is the 3rd holiest site in Islam #Ramadan
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