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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The Qur’an was first revealed during the month of Ramadan. This blessed month is also known by Muslims as the month of Fasting
To celebrate the arrival of #Ramadan here are 24 beautiful Qur’anic manuscripts found in museum collections across the world #RamadanMubarak
A thread…
1/ Folio from a Manuscript of the Qur'an
Iran, Shiraz, 1550-1575
Ink, colors and gold on paper
@LACMA #Ramadan
@LACMA 2/ Double Folio from a Qur'an
c. 1330-1350, Central Asian or Turkish
Early Muslim settlers from central and western Asia carried Islamic book traditions into India, especially in the form of Qur'ans, such as the one from which these pages come
Shah-i-Zinda is one Samarkand’s most beloved sites, which contains some of the richest tile work in the world. The magnificent architecture draws inspiration from multiple periods & styles, taking you back through time & across cultures
A thread on the beauty of Shah-i-Zinda…
1/ The Shah-i-Zinda ensemble includes mausoleums, mosques & other ritual buildings of 11-15th & 19th centuries. The name Shah-i-Zinda (meaning The living king) is connected with the legend that Qutham ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH is buried here
📷 Ash Diler
2/ Shah-i-Zinda is a world-famous example of a continuously constructed historical site. Over 1,000 years ago, it was founded with a single religious monument. Between the 11th & 19th centuries, mosques & mausoleums were continuously added
From Spain to Azerbaijan, to Germany to Bosnia, Europe has some of the finest mosques.
The presence of Islam in Europe is not a new phenomenon, with Muslims residing in the continent as early as the 8th century.
Here are 24 mosques across Europe #JummahMubarak
A thread…
1/ Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque, Mostar, Bosnia
Dates back to 1617 & features numerous multicolored windows, a minaret with a lookout spot & a courtyard with several tombs. Although the original Ottoman mosque was heavily damaged during the attacks of the 1990s it has been restored
2/ The Shah Jahan Mosque, Woking, England
This is the first purpose built mosque that was built in the UK.
It was built in 1889 by Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, an orientalist of Jewish descent from Hungary. Money was donated by Begum Shah Jahan, the Nawab Begum of Bhopal.
Welcome to Al-Mutanabbi Street the ‘Book Market of Baghdad’, where books remain in the street at night because Iraqis say:
“The reader does not steal and the thief does not read.”
A thread on the rich heritage of the historic book market on Al-Mutanabbi Street…
1/ Al-Mutanabbi Street is the historic center of Baghdad bookselling, that dates back to the time of the Abbasids. Located near the old quarter of Baghdad, Al-Mutanabbi Street was Baghdad’s first book traders’ market.
2/ Al-Mutanabbi Street has been, since time immemorial, the historic heart and soul of the Baghdad literary and intellectual community.
Libraries developed in the Islamic Golden Age due to a commitment to literacy & seeking knowledge. One of the oldest libraries in the world Al-Qarawiyyin library, was founded by a Muslim woman, more than 12 centuries ago!
A thread on the greatest libraries in Islamic history…
1/ Al-Qarawiyyan Library, Fez, Morocco
Founded by a Muslim woman, Fatima El-Fihriya in 859, it is one of the oldest libraries in the world & the oldest library in Africa. It also holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest working library, & is still in use today…
1.1/ The Al-Qarawiyyan Library houses a collection of 4,000 rare books & ancient Arabic manuscripts written by renowned scholars of the region. The manuscripts include a 9th century version of the Quran and a manuscript on Islamic jurisprudence written by philosopher Averroes.
Designed to imitate the heavens, Islamic gardens are lush oases of scent, water and sacred geometry. They are a cool place of rest and a reminder of paradise.
Here are 20 beautiful Islamic gardens from across the world…
A thread….
1/ Gardens @CambCentMosque
A harmonious balance between Islamic structure & relaxed English herbaceous and naturalistic planting. A concern for sustainability, biodiversity & insect-friendly planting has also been a constant theme in the selection of plants.
@CambCentMosque 2/ Jardin Majorelle, Morocco
The garden, started in 1924, contains a psychedelic desert mirage of 300 plant species from five continents.