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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1/ The Quran began to be revealed to Prophet Muhammed ﷺ during the month of Ramadan in 610, in its original form to the present day. The companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), played an important role in the compilation of the Quran, leaving an interesting story behind #Ramadan
2/ The ultimate book of universal guidance, the Holy Quran, was revealed to Prophet Muhammed ﷺ over a period of 23 years, in small parts; the holy book was not compiled until after his demise. #Ramadan
The sighting of the Moon signifies the start & the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims across the world will soon begin scanning the night sky for the first glimpse of a crescent moon, heralding the start of Ramadan.
A thread on Ramadan & the Moon…
1/ In the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan is preceded by the month of Shaban. The month of fasting & spirituality begins when Moon-sighting committees meet after sunset on Shaban 29, to look for a crescent moon.
A tradition that has run for thousands of years...
2/ Abu Hurayra reported Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) as saying:
صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ
“Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon), but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the number (of thirty).” (Muslim)
Dates fruit are associated with fasting & the month of Ramadan. The nutritious fruits are not only the start of iftar meals but also a part of many desserts prepared during the holy month
But why are dates such an indispensable part of Ramadan food?
A thread on dates & Ramadan
1/ Dates are the fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) tree, which is most widely cultivated in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Africa, Southern Asia, and Southeast Asia.
2/ Historians believe that dates are one of the ancient fruits and their cultivation traces back to around 8,000 years ago. There are more than 200 varieties of dates with different shapes and flavors, however, all of them are rich in nutrition
The Huaisheng Mosque 广州怀圣寺 in China is thought to be one of the oldest mosques in the world. An edifice of great religious & historic importance, it is traditionally said to have been originally built over 1,300 years ago in 627.
A thread on the Huaisheng Mosque in China…
1/ In China, mosques are called Qīng Zhēn Sì (清真寺, Temples of the Pure Truth). Other names include Huí Huí Sì (回回寺 Hui people's temple), Lǐ Bài Sì (礼拜寺 Temple of worship), Zhēn Jiào Sì (真教寺 Temple of the True Teaching) or Qīng Jìng Sì (清净寺 "Pure and clean temple")
2/ Huaisheng Mosque was built during the Tang Dynasty (619-907) when Muslim traders came to China through the silk route. The earliest contacts of Islam with China occurred in this area, spreading to other regions. As such Guangzhou can be called the cradle of Chinese Islam.
Algeria known as the “Balcony of the Mediterranean” is at the crossroads of three worlds Mediterranean, Arab & African.
A thread on the beautiful Islamic architecture & rich heritage of Algeria…
1/ Sidi Ahcen, Sétif, Algeria
Built by Sidi Ahcen in 1203, beautiful details of the architecture.
2/ 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.