Few places can contend with the historic mosques & Islamic architecture of Iran. The combination of geometric designs, symmetry, & vibrant colours intrigue the eyes.
Here are details from 24 of the most beautiful mosques & Islamic buildings in Iran #JummaMubarak
A thread…
1/ Shāh Chérāgh, Shiraz, Iran
Built in 1517, Shāh-é-Chérāgh is Persian for "King of the Light". This funerary monument & mosque houses the tomb of brothers Ahmad & Muhammad, sons of Mūsā al-Kādhim. The two took refuge in the city during the Abbasid persecution of Shia Muslims.
2/ The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
Also known as the Pink Mosque (مسجد صورتی Masjed-e Surati), it was built during Qajar dynasty rule of Iran in 1876 by the order of Mirza Hassan Ali Nasir-ol-Mulk, one of the lords & aristocrats of Shiraz.
3/ Imamzadeh Jafar, Iran
Built in 1317, Imāmzādeh Ja‘far is a historical mausoleum in Borujerd, western Iran. The tomb contains the remains of Abulqāsim Ja’far ibn al-Husayn, grandson of the Shī‘ah Imam Ali ibn Hussayn. Here are astounding geometric Muqarnas details.
4/ Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
Built during the Safavid Empire by chief architect Mohammadreza Isfahani, during the reign of Shah Abbas I of Persia. Construction of the mosque started in 1603 and was finished in 1619. Breathtaking Muqarnas details in the mosque.
5/ Hafez Tomb, Shiraz, Iran
Built in 1773 in memory of the celebrated Persian poet Hafez. The open pavilion structures are situated in the Musalla Gardens on the north bank of a seasonal river and house the marble tomb of Hafez. This is the dome interior.
6/ Jāmeh Mosque of Yazd, Yazd Province, Iran
The 14th-century mosque is still in use today. It was built under Ala'oddoleh Garshasb of the Al-e Bouyeh dynasty. The mosque was rebuilt between 1324 & 1365, & is an outstanding 14th century building of Iran.
7/ Shah Mosque in Tehran, Iran
Built to the order of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar of Persia during the Qajar period, as one of several such symbols of legitimacy for the new dynasty. Construction started in 1810 and completed in 1825. These are divine details from the ceiling
A grand congregational mosque built in 1418 during the Timurid period in, which now serves as one of the prayer halls within the Imam Reza shrine complex.
9/ The Vakil Mosque, Shiraz, southern Iran
Situated to the west of the Vakil Bazaar next to its entrance. This mosque was built between 1751 and 1773, during the Zand period; however, it was restored in the 19th century during the Qajar period.
10/ Ashrafi Esfehani Mosque, Iran
Minarets of Ashrafi Esfehani mosque with the name of Allah on top
11/ Baba Tahi, north-western part of Hamadan, Iran
Seljuk period. The inner part of the mausoleum is decorated with 24 marble slabs inscribed by 24 of Baba Tahir’s poems in black calligraphy. The most striking part is the tile decoration under the ceiling.
12/ Ali Ibn Hamzeh Holy Shrine, Shiraz, Iran
Constructed in pre-Seljuk times to honour a relative of the fourth Imam. Renowned for its tiles, its two minarets, exterior dome, entrance vestibule & courtyard rooms, date from the late 18th & 19th centuries
13/ Imam Reza shrine, Mashhad, Iran
Contains the mausoleum of Imam Reza and is the largest mosque in the world by area. It was built in 821 AH under the orders of Gowharshad Khatun, Shahrokh Mirza's wife.
14/ Goharshad Mosque, Mashhad, Iran
A grand congregational mosque built in 1418 during the Timurid period in, which now serves as one of the prayer halls within the Imam Reza shrine complex.
15/ Imamzadeh Ibrahim and Imamzadeh Muhammad Mahruq Mosque, Iran
Dates back to the Timurid and Safavid period in 10th century AH. Amazing tile-works of the portico, the entrance includes inscriptions which are from Shah Tahmasb I era
16/ Agha Bozorg mosque, Kashan, Iran
Built in the late 18th century by master-mi'mar Ustad Haj Sa'ban-ali. The mosque and madrasah is located in the center of the city. The mosque was constructed for prayers, preaching and teaching sessions held by Molla Mahdi Naraghi.
17/ Seyyed Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
the biggest and the most famous blue mosque from the Qajar era in Isfahan. It was founded in the 19th century by Seyyed Mohammad Bagher Shafti, one of the most famous clergymen in Isfahan
18/ Mausoleum Shah Nematollah Vali, Mahan, Kerman, Iran
Shah Nematollah Vali was a renowned Iranian mystic and poet. He died in 1431 aged over 100. In 1436 a shrine was erected in his honour, with distinct beautiful turquoise blue tiles
19/ Fatima Masumeh Shrine, Iran
The Shrine of Fatima Masumeh is located in Qom, which is considered by Shia Muslims to be the second most sacred city in Iran after Mashhad. Fatima Masumeh was the sister of the eighth Imam Reza and the daughter of the seventh Imam Musa al-Kadhim.
20/ The Blue Mosque, Tabriz, Iran.
The mosque and some other public buildings were constructed in 1465 upon the order of Jahan Shah, the ruler of Kara Koyunlu. This historic mosque was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1780, leaving only the iwan.
21/ Malek Mosque, Kerman, Iran
The mosque was built at the time of Turan Shah I, Kerman Seljuk Sultanate, in the 11th century. This mosque is the biggest and oldest mosque in Kerman. This is the dome interior.
22/ Jameh Mosque of Natanz, the city of Natanz located in Isfahan province, Iran
Built at the time of Öljaitü and his son Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan. The complex includes a Jameh Mosque and a Khanqah and the tomb of Abdussamad Esfahani and a 37-meter minaret.
23/ Views from the Jāmeh Mosque of Yazd, Yazd Province, Iran
The 14th-century mosque is still in use today. It was built under Ala'oddoleh Garshasb of the Al-e Bouyeh dynasty. The mosque was rebuilt between 1324 & 1365, & is an outstanding 14th century building of Iran.
24/ Views from The monument of Sheikh Safi al-Din, Tehran, Iran
Built in the early 16th century until the end of the 18th century, it was registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010. Includes a library, mosque, school, reservoir, hospital, kitchen, bakery & offices
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Mariam Astrulabi was a pioneering female Muslim scientist & astronomer, born in Syria during the 10th century. She is known for developing Astrolabes, an ancient astronomical computer for solving problems related to time & position of the sun & stars
A thread on Mariam Astrulabi
1/ Mariam al Astrulabi's remarkable contribution to the art of astrolabes has largely been ignored by the world. What she achieved in the 10th century consequently helped several generations of scientists to explore the concept of time and space.
Astrolabe @HSMOxford
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Did you know Mosque ceilings are designed to reflect the magnificence of the universe?
Here are spectacular details of 24 Mosque ceilings from around the world…
A thread…
1/ Jami Mosque, Andijan, Uzbekistan
The construction of the madrasah began in 1883 and lasted for 7 years. It has a gorgeous fretwork of wooden columns supporting a ceiling decorated with bright patterns made of a combination of geometrical ornaments & vegetal elements
Construction of the mosque started in 1603 and was finished in 1619. Built by the chief architect Mohammadreza Isfahani, during the reign of Shah Abbas I of Persia. Beautiful interior dome details
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A thread on the incredible Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi…
1/ Even the term algorithm is Al-Khwarizmi translated into Latin!
The scientist and mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi lived from 780 to 850 AD in Persia and Iraq.
2/ Al-Khwarizmi's most significant contribution to mathematics was the development of algebra. His book, "Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing), introduced systematic methods for solving linear and quadratic equations.
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To prevent human-to-human contamination, he came up with a method of isolating people for 40 days.
A thread on Ibn Sina & his impact on modern science…
1/ Ibn Sina, also known to the Latin West as Avicenna, was a Persian polymath and one of the most influential Islamic philosophers, physicians, and scientists of the medieval period. He was born in 980 CE in present-day Uzbekistan and passed away in 1037 CE in Iran.
2/ Ibn Sina's medical works had a profound impact on European medicine. His most renowned work in medicine is "The Canon of Medicine" (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb), considered one of the most influential medical texts in history. It consists of five books & covers a range of medical topics
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- Ibn Battuta
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A thread on the 14th century explorer Ibn Battuta…
1/ Ibn Battuta was born in 1304 CE in Tangier, Morocco. His travelogue the Rihla is his most important work. His journeys in the Rihla lasted for a period of almost thirty years, covering nearly the whole of the known Islamic world & beyond.
2/ Ibn Battuta travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history, surpassing Zheng He with 50,000 km (31,000 mi) and Marco Polo with 24,000 km. His total distance travelled was approximately 117,000 km (73,000 mi) (15,000 mi).
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A thread on Ismail al-Jazari, engineering & robotics…
1/ While robotics is considered a relatively new field of science, with the public’s consensus that it is the creation of 20th-century scientists, it would be surprising to know that the field has its roots in the medieval era nearly a millennium ago, with Ismail Al Jazari
2/ Ismail Al Jazari gained fame for his extraordinary inventions, encompassing a wide spectrum of marvels. His repertoire included robots programmed to provide guests with towels, programmable on-off switches for fountains, automated mechanical clocks & much more!
A Candle Clock from a copy of al-Jazaris treatise on automata