Besides being a place of worship, the mosque is an impressive work of art. One of the most beautiful mosques in the world has a stunning design and equally beautiful history. They are not only known for their architectural excellence and finesse, but they are also popular destinations for tourists from around the world.
The Masjid, or mosque, is a sacred place where Muslims gather to pray or to perform religious rituals called Salat. In Arabic, the word Masjid means a place of ritual prostration. Over the centuries, mosques have proven to be a symbol of the faith of millions of Muslims worldwide.
Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (ﷺ), said, “Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning and evening, Allah Almighty will prepare for him a place in Paradise for every morning and evening.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
10 of the most stunning mosques in the world Here’s a look at 10 of the most beautiful mosques in the world, and a little bit about their history and significance.
1. The Al-Haram Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
A prominent place of worship in the world is the Al-Haram mosque. Millions of people visit the mosque each year for Hajj and Umrah rituals, and the Quran mentions it as the first place to worship Allah. It is the world’s biggest mosque.
The Al-Haram mosque, with its 400,800 square meters of space, is not just the largest Islamic shrine, but one of the most beautiful mosques in the world. Every year, millions of people visit it for Hajj and Umrah rituals, making it one of the most important places of worship worldwide. In the Quran, it is described as the first place where Allah was worshipped.
Fighting is not permitted in the vicinity of this mosque, so it is also known as the forbidden mosque. It holds the sacred black stone and the holy Kaaba, one of the holiest sites in Islam. Other sites of significance in Islam can be found here, including Maqam Ibrahim and Zamzam. The mosque is also surrounded by the hills of Safa and Marwa.
The forbidden mosque, or Al Haram, has been continuously expanding since it was built, in order to accommodate more pilgrims. With a capacity of 4 million worshippers, it is the largest mosque in the world.
Address: Al Haram, Makah al-Mukarramah 24231, Saudi Arabia Visiting Masjid al-Haram clothing suggestions: For visiting the mosque, men usually prefer to wear long pants. If they are not performing Hajj or Umrah, women should wear a loose-fitting white or black Abaya.
2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE As one of the world’s most beautiful mosques, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque boasts 82 domes that are covered in 82 different shades of white, and there are carpets covered in stunning hand knotted carpets and chandeliers encrusted with Swarovski crystals. It has a capacity to hold more than 40,000 worshippers, which makes it one of the greatest architectural wonders of the world.
Additionally, there are columns at the bottom of the pool that reflect the light at night, creating an atmosphere of a beautiful swimming pool at night.
The mosque has 1096 columns that are embedded with a piece of amethyst or jasper, and each one of these columns has its own intricate design. Also, it is home to the world’s largest hand-woven carpet, which was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records this year. The walls and arches of the mosque are covered with calligraphic writings urging Muslims to maintain patience and maintain peace among them-selves.
Address: Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street، – 5th St – Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Timings:
The mosque is open on Saturdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visitors are permitted on Fridays between 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. only.
3. Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
All Muslims ought to see it, not just because it is pretty but because of its historical significance, too. One of the most beautiful mosques in the world, this sacred place is a surviving example of Byzantine architecture. The building was originally a Christian church but was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans (1453-1935).
As the building shows, the mosque has experienced many religious transformations throughout its history. While the beautiful mosaics tell of the storied Christian past, it has long minarets and Arabic inscriptions that relate to the Muslim culture.
Address: Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Hagia Sophia Mosque dress code:
Women are required to wear a headscarf when entering the mosque. It is also not permitted to wear shorts or revealing clothing.
4. Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan
A must-see sight for all religious tourists in Lahore, the Wazir Khan mosque is located on one of the busiest streets. There are beautiful fresco paintings and tiles on the walls of this 17th-century church. The mosque displays breath taking mosaics that were created by Mughal artists during the Mughal era in Indo- Islamic style, making it one of the finest Islamic structures.
Address: Shahi Guzargah، Dabbi Bazar, Chota Mufti Baqar Walled City of Lahore, Lahore, Punjab 54000, Pakistan
Wazir Khan Mosque Visiting Hours:
There are no limited hours for visiting the Wazir Khan mosque. It is open to the public from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
5. Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque in Shiraz, Iran There are no words to describe the beauty of Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque. There’s nothing like it anywhere else. It was built during the Qajar dynasty by Mirza Hasan Ali Nasir. Due to its pink tiles, it’s also called the Pink Mosque. The mosque’s compound features a rectangular pool surrounded by flowering plants that make it look even better.
Address:
Fars Province, Shiraz, Lotf Ali Khan Zand Street، Iran
6. Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey Blue Mosque, known for the Iznik tiles that adorn the interior of the mosque, was built around a thousand years ago and is still a sight to behold even today. This magnificent mosque was built during the 17th century by Ahmed-I. It has been hailed as the last great mosque of the classical era due to the fact that it features six high-rising minarets and five major domes.
Address: Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Sultan Ahmed Mosque rules: Women must wear a headscarf for entry into the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, and men must wear full pants. Visitors are not permitted to take photographs inside the mosque.
7. Islamic Centre Mosque in Rijeka, Croatia The Islamic Centre Mosque incorporates contemporary and traditional art styles in a stunning manner. The mosque dome is an unusual shape, shaped in five parts that appear as one unit, yet is composed of curved geometric forms and patterns. The Islamic Centre Mosque was designed by the well-known Croatian sculptor, Dušan Damonja.
The mosque in Rijeka, a popular tourist destination today, was built as a result of the desire of the Muslim community to have a place where they could pray.
Address: Ul. Ante Mandića 50, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia Islamic Centre Mosque Timings: The mosque is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
8- Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India India’s largest mosque, Jama Masjid, was built between 1650 and 1656 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Built from red sandstone and white marble, this place of worship can hold up to 25,000 people. The mosque is built in Indo-Islamic style and has three domes, two minarets, and three gates. It deserves to be included among the world’s top 10 most beautiful mosques. In the country, the majority religion is Hindi and Jain, so the architecture of the mosque is inspired by them. Around 5000 laborers built the mosque at the time for 1 million rupees by working day and night.
Address: Jama Masjid Rd, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006 Phone: 011 2336 5358 Timings: Jama Masjid stays open from 7 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. during all days of the week.
9. Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria Finished over 1000 years ago in 715, the beautiful mosque has stood the test of time. Every day, Muslims gather to pray in its courtyard, which features three high domes. Interestingly enough, the mosque is said to have the head of John Baptist, a Jewish itinerant preacher who lived in the first century AD. He’s also called the Prophet Yahya in Islam.
Address: G864+MMC, Damascus, Syria Umayyad Mosque Timings: Tourists must visit this famous mosque between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
10. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Oman can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers. Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the Sultan of Oman, built the palace to celebrate 30 years of rule in 2001. One of the most beautiful mosques in the world, featuring five minarets representing the five pillars of Islam and colorful mosaic patterns and fine crystal work.
Address: Sultan Qaboos St, ولاية بوشر، Oman Timings: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. ; Closed on Fridays
