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
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the third day of Hajj & lasts for 3 days. Next weekend Muslims across the world will celebrate Eid al-Adha with a host of traditional sweet treats
Here are 24 sweet delicacies different Muslim cultures make for this special time of year…
A thread…
1/ Basbousa
This delicious well known dish can be found in the east of Middle East. A sweet cake made of semolina, soaked in simple sweet syrup; sometimes the syrup is flavoured with coconut or rose water. Basbousa can be eaten with nuts, heavy cream or plain.
2/ Mithai
Common to South Asian cultures, mithai is an umbrella term for traditional sweets. A box of assorted mithai is a go-to hostess gift for Eid parties in these cultures.
Islamic miniatures are small paintings on paper, usually manuscript and book illustrations. The earliest examples date from around 1000 AD.
Today, artists continue the tradition of Islamic miniature painting. Here are 24 contemporary artists redefining the art form…
A thread…
1/ Artist S.M Khayyam was born in Quetta, but currently lives & works in Lahore, Pakistan. He has a fascination with Mughal Miniatures, reinterpreting this painting tradition in contemporary new ways. The faded faces in his work reflect an era gone by…
2/ London based artist Mobeen Akhtar, specialises in the traditional arts and Islamic miniature painting. Her work takes you through a journey of colour and meticulous detail heavily inspired by traditional Islamic art…
Algeria known as the “Balcony of the Mediterranean” is at the crossroads of three worlds Mediterranean, Arab & African.
This year the Mediterranean Games are hosted by Algeria; to celebrate we’re exploring its beautiful Islamic architecture & rich heritage #Oran2022
A thread…
1/ Dar Mustapha Pacha, Algeria
A Moorish palace, located in the Casbah of Algiers. It houses the National Museum of Miniatures, Illumination and Calligraphy.
It was built by the future Dey Mustapha Pacha between 1798 and 1799.
2/ Sidi Ahcen, Sétif, Algeria
Built by Sidi Ahcen in 1203, beautiful details of the architecture.
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.
From the bright buildings in Istanbul, to the ‘blue pearl’ of Morocco, here are 20 of the most colourful neighbourhoods and cityscapes across the Muslim world…
A thread…
1/ Colourful Beirut, Lebanon
The architecture of Lebanon embodies the historical, cultural and religious influences that have shaped Lebanon's built environment. It has been influenced by the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Umayyads, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottomans and French.
2/ Colourful Fez, Morocco
Often referred to as the country’s cultural capital. It’s primarily known for its Fes El Bali walled medina, with medieval Marinid architecture, vibrant souks & old-world atmosphere. The medina is home to religious schools from the 14th-century.
Today is World Refugee Day, an international day organised every year on 20 June by the United Nations, to celebrate & honour refugees from around the world.
1/ Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr creates depictions of the war in Syria - composed with stones. Each piece tells a story, & the stone scenes seem to come alive. The imagery is all too familiar. A family on the move, their meagre belongings carried on their heads #WorldRefugeeDay
2/ Laila Ajjawi is a graffiti artist born & raised in a Palestinian refugee camp outside of Irbid, Jordan. Her work focuses on women living in the Middle East, particularly refugees. She has created murals with Women on Walls a public art project based in Egypt #WorldRefugeeDay