South Asia has the largest population of Muslims in the world, with one-third of all Muslims being from South Asia.
Islam is the dominant religion in half of the South Asian countries.
Here are 20 striking mosques in South Asia… #JummahMubarak
A thread…
1/ Markazi Jamia Masjid, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
One of the oldest mosques in Rawalpindi and an architectural beauty. Built almost 100 years ago, the mosque still stands tall among historical sites of the city due to its blue & turquoise mosaics and glass artwork
2/ Dewatagaha Mosque, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Built in 1820, it is the resting place of His Holiness Seyedina As-Sheikh Seyed Usman Siddique Ibn Abdurrahman. Accredited with lovely architecture, it is one of the oldest mosques in Sri Lanka.
3/ Badshahi Masjid, Lahore, Pakistan
Built during Emperor Aurangzeb's rule from 1658 to 1707. It is the fifth largest mosque in the world & was indisputably the largest mosque in the world from 1673 to 1986 when the Faisal Mosque was constructed in Islamabad
4/ Beemapally Mosque, Kerala, India
Beemapally is a region within the city of Thiruvananthapuram in the state of Kerala, India.
This stunning pink mosque was built to honour Syedunnisa Beema Beevi who travelled from Arabia to establish Islam in Kerala
5/ The Great Mosque of Herat, Afghanistan
Built by the Ghurids, under the rule of Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad Ghori, who laid its foundation in 1200 CE. It was extended several times as Herat changed rulers from the Kartids, Timurids, Mughals & then the Uzbeks
6/ Chini Masjid, Saidpur, Nilphamari, Bangladesh
Built in 1863, it is one of most significant examples of archaeological heritage in the region. This masjid was built in 1863. Perhaps the best and renowned masjid for its mosaic work or Chini Tikri (glass mosaic) Decoration.
7/ The Grand Friday Mosque, Male, Maldives
Masjid-al Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu-al-A'z'am is the biggest mosque in the Maldives. Opened in 1984 its dominant golden dome & slender Minaret decorate the facade of Male'. It can accommodate over five thousand worshippers at a time.
8/ Wazir Khan Mosque, Pakistan
The construction began in 1634 C.E. & completed in 1641. Considered to be the most ornately decorated Mughal-era mosque it is renowned for its intricate faience tile work known as kashi-kari, as well as embellished frescoes
9/ Chandanpura Masjid, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Highly colourful, it has a unique architecture consisting of multiple domes and minarets painted in bright colours.
The mosque's origins are obscure but it was renovated in 1952.
10/ 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
11/ Sachal Sarmast, Sindh, Pakistan
Sachal Sarmast (1739 - 1829) was a Sufi poet & is also popularly known as Shair-e-Haft Zaban (poet of seven languages) and Sartaj-us-Shuara. This tomb with mosque was built in his honour
12/ Makkah Masjid or Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad, India.
A congregational mosque, it is one of the largest mosques in India with a capacity of 10,000 people. The mosque was built during the 17th century, and is a state-protected monument.
13/ Bhong Mosque, Rahim Yar Khan District, Pakistan
Made over a period of nearly 50 years (1932–1982) and won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1986. Master Abdul Hameed (kamboh) led the construction of the mosque, making sure it was a landmark. It has ornate interiors.
14/ Blue Mosque, Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan
Many Afghanis believe Ali ibn Abi Talib is buried here. The building gives the city, Mazari Sharif (meaning "Tomb of the Exalted") its name. The shrine was erected here in 1136 and is famous for its beautiful blue tiles
15/ Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
This distinctive colourful red and white striped two-storey building, with a clock tower, was built in 1909.
Its architecture was inspired by the pomegranate, which is manifested in the building colour and shape of the domes.
16/ Nagina Masjid, Agra, India
A white marble architectural mosque at Agra Fort used by the women of the Royal harem. Agra Fort is a classic Mughal Indian architectural fort and palace located at Agra, Uttar Pradesh. A UNESCO World Heritage site.
17/ Green mosque in Vizhinjam, India
This green mosque is an iconic piece of architecture in this fishing village.
18/ Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Multan, Pakistan
Built between 1320 & 1324 CE by Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq in the pre-Mughal architectural style. It is the mausoleum of Sufi saint Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fateh & is the earliest example of Tughluq architecture, with blue tile details
19/ Old Friday Mosque, Malé, Maldives
One of the oldest and most ornate mosques in Malé, the Hukuru Miskiy dates back to 1656 and has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage cultural list as a unique example of sea-culture architecture.
20/ 201 Dome Mosque, South Pathalia village, Bangladesh
Still under construction, which began in 2013. The central dome is surrounded by 200 smaller domes. The minaret is expected to be the highest minaret in Bangladesh. The western wall will be inscribed with the entire Qur'an.
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Lubna of Córdoba, originally a slave in the 10th century, rose to become a prominent figure in history.
She served as the secretary to Caliph Al-Hakam II and played a pivotal role in creating the renowned library of Medina Azahara, which housed over 500,000 books.
Moroccan design is all about colour, texture & fluid lines. It is a unique blend of North African, Mediterranean & Islamic styles, creating a distinctive look, which has inspired artists & designers all over the world.
A thread on the art of Moroccan design aesthetics...
1/ City planning, military architecture, urban casbahs, and the intricate beauty of Moroccan carpets, woodwork, and zellij tilework are all part of this distinctive and brilliant world of art.
Moroccan aesthetics continues to influence artists and designers all over the world…
2/ Some of the readily recognized features of Moroccan design include Islamic geometric patterns, vivid colors, and zillij tiles. Zillij tiles are terra cotta tile-work of enamel chips set in plaster to create mosaic geometric shapes…
Arabic calligraphy is the most highly regarded element of Islamic art, as it is the language of Qur’an. The script has the potential for creating ornamental forms
Today, the art of Arabic calligraphy continues. Here are 20 contemporary artists redefining calligraphy
A thread...
1/ Influenced by her British and Pakistani heritage, artist Maaida Noor combines ancient techniques with modern expression. Through her work, she aims to reconnect with nature and spirituality, using harmonious geometries and vibrant colors as her language.
2/ Born in Tehran, @snasernia
began his career primarily as a calligrapher & typography artist. He turns Arabic letters into an abstract language, creating a new concept called Crazy Kufik & deconstructs the rules of Arabic & Persian writing
It is believed 2000 years ago in Persia, Arabs who conquered the Persian Empire enriched the recipe of snow chilled honey with milk & sugar #IceCreamDay
For #WorldIceCreamDay here are 25 frozen treats from Muslim cultures…
A thread…
1/ Es Doger, Indonesia
Made of shaved ice, coconut milk, coco pandan syrup, fermented sticky rice & fermented cassava. It is popular in Bandung, West Java & comes from Cirebon. Its name is derived from ‘es dorong gerobak’, which translates as ‘carousel-pushed ice.’#IceCreamDay
2/ Dondurma Ice Cream, Turkey
Dondurma is a Turkish mastic ice cream, typically including the ingredients cream, whipped cream, salep, mastic, and sugar. It is believed to originate from the city and region of Maraş and hence also known as Maraş ice cream #IceCreamDay
Chess is a significant part of Muslim history. The game originated in northern India in the 6th century AD & spread to Persia. When the Arabs conquered Persia, chess was taken up by the Muslim world
For #WorldChessDay here is the history of chess & Muslim heritage
A thread...
1/ The Indian ancestor of Chess was called chaturanga, developed in the 6th century AD meaning “4 Members”, it comes from the 4 military divisions of the Indian army: infantry, cavalry, elephantry, & chariotry.
Two women play Chaturanga, c. 1805 — c. 1815
#WorldChessDay
2/ Eventually, the game spread to Persia. After the Islamic Conquest of Persia, the game spread westward & a large portion of the Arabian population began to take up chess where it became known as Shatranj
Chess Piece as Seated Man, 13th c. Iran @KhaliliOnline
#WorldChessDay