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Friday 5 October 2007

Famous Mosques

Famous Mosques

Source: List of mosques taken from al-islam.com, Al-aqsa details taken from jamila, Pictures taken from various sources using google (please let me know if any pictures do not correspond with any title of mosques).

The Sacred Mosque
The Sacred Mosque in Mecca was the first mosque built on earth. It was founded by Abraham and his son Ishmael in the year 2793 before the Hijrah (the Prophet's Emigration). The sacred mosque encompasses the Ka`bah, a shrine held sacred by more than 800 million Muslims, to which they are required to make Hajj (Pilgrimage). It has been renovated and expanded several times. It also includes a comprehensive Islamic library.



‏المَسجِدُ الحَرَامُ (السُّعُودِيَّةُ) : أَنشَأَهُ سَيِّدُنَا إِبرَاهِيمُ عَلَيهِ السَّلَامُ وَوَلَدُهُ إِسمَاعِيلُ حَوَالَي سَنَة 2793 قَبلَ الهِجرَةِ فِي مَكَّةَ المُكَرَّمَةِ بِالأَرَاضِي السُّعُودِيَّةِ، أَوَّلُ مَسجِدٍ فِي التَّارِيخِ. قِبلَةُ وَمَحَجُّ المُسلِمِينَ، بِهِ الكَعبَةُ المُشَرَّفَةُ، جُدِّدَ وَوُسِّعَ عِدَّةَ مَرَّاتٍ وَمُلحَقٌ بِهِ مَكتَبَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ. أَكثَرُ مِن مِليَارِ مُسلِمٍ يَتَوَجَّهُونَ بِقُلُوبِهِم إِلَى الكَعبَةِ.‏

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The Prophet's Mosque in Medina
The Prophet's Mosque in Medina was built by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in 1 A.H./622 A.D. It was the second mosque in the Islamic era and the headquarters of the first Islamic government. Moreover, it is considered the center of Muslims and the symbol for their spiritual, political and intellectual unity. In this mosque, the first Islamic constitution was laid down.


‏مَسجِدُ المَدِينَةِ المُنَوَّرَةِ (السُّعُودِيَّةُ) : أَنشَأَهُ الرَّسُولُ (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ) سَنَةَ (1هـ - 622م) وَهُوَ ثَانِي مَسجِدٍ فِي الإِسلَامِ وَمَقَرُّ أَوَّلِ حُكُومَةٍ إِسلَامِيَّةٍ، ثَانِي الحَرَمَينِ الشَّرِيفَينِ الَّذِي تُشَدُّ إِلَيهِ الرِّحَالُ، وَالمَركَزُ الرُّوحِيُّ وَالفِكرِيُّ وَالسِّيَاسِيُّ لِلجَمَاعَةِ الإِسلَامِيَّةِ وَرَمزُ وَحدَتِهَا، وُلِدَ فِيهِ أَوَّلُ دُستُورٍ لِلإِسلَامِ.‏

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The Al Aqsa Mosque
Al-Masjid El-Aqsa is an Arabic name which means the Farthest Mosque. Ten years after the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) received his first revelation, he made a miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and on a white winged creature called Al-Buraq. In that night, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) led all the Prophets of Allah (PBUT) in prayer in the Holy Mosque. For this reason, Masjid Al-Aqsa is a holy place of worship for the Muslims, along with Kaba in Makkah and The Prophet's (PBUH) Mosque in Medina. These are the three most important Mosques to the Muslims.


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The Dome of the Rock Mosque (Qubbat Al-Sakhrah)
The Dome of the Rock Mosque was founded by the Umayyad Caliph Abdul-Malik Ibn Marwan in Jerusalem in the period (65-86 A.H./684-705 A.D.) It was built in memoriam of the rock from which the Prophet began his ascent to heaven (Al-Mi`raj). The mosque has been renovated several times. It was decorated with fine mosaics and Turkish faience in 1554 A.H.


‏مَسجِدُ قُبَّةِ الصَّخرَةِ (فِلَسطِينُ) : بُنِيَ فِي عَهدِ الخَلِيفَةِ الأُمَوِيِّ عَبدِ المَلِكِ بنِ مَروَانَ بَينَ سَنَتَي (65-86هـ)ُ (684-705م) فِي مَدِينَةِ القُدسِ الشَّرقِيَّةِ. وَهُوَ مَبنًى مَسجِدِيٌّ فَرِيدٌ فِي بَابِهِ فِي عَالَمِ الإِسلَامِ تَخلِيدًا لِلصَّخرَةِ الَّتِي عُرِجَ بِالرَّسُولِ (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ) عِندَهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، جُدِّدَ عِدَّةَ مَرَّاتٍ وَزُيِّنَ بِالفُسَيفِسَاءِ وَالقَاشَانِي التُّركِيِّ سَنَةَ 1554م.‏

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`Amr Ibn Al-`As Mosque
`Amr Ibn Al-`As Mosque was founded by `Amr Ibn Al-`As in 21 A.H., in the newly established city of Fustat, Egypt. Today nothing remains of its original structure. The Umayyads and the Abbasids renovated it several times. In the Fatimid era it was luxuriously furnished and equipped with scores of lamps.


‏جَامِعُ عَمرِو بنِ العَاصِ (مِصرُ) : أَنشَأَهُ عَمرُو بنُ العَاصِ 21هـ وَيَقَعُ فِي (مِصرَ) مَيدَانِ عَمرِو بنِ العَاصِ - مِصرَ القَدِيمَةِ- لَم يَبقَ مِن أَصلِهِ الأَوَّلِ شَيءٌ عَلَى الإِطلَاقِ، نَالَ عَلَى يَدِ الأُمَوِيِّينَ وَالعَبَّاسِيِّينَ نَصِيبًا مِن العِنَايَةِ المِعمَارِيَّةِ، وَفِي العَصرِ الفَاطِمِيِّ عُنِيَ بِهِ خُلَفَاءُ الدَّولَةِ فَزَوَّدُوهُ بِالكَثِيرِ مِن الأَثَاثِ وَالثُّرَيَّاتِ وَالقَنَادِيلِ.‏

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Ahmad Ibn Tulun Mosque
Ahmad Ibn Tulun Mosque in Egypt was founded by Ahmad Ibn Tulun in 876 A.D./263 A.H.and completed in 878 A.D./265 A.H.It is situated in Al-Saiydah Zainab quarter in southern Cairo, a place in which the ancient city of Al-Qata'i` was once located. The general layout of the mosque was modeled on that of the Great Mosque of Samarra. It has a minaret with spiral staircase winding around its exterior.


‏جَامِعُ أَحمَدَ بنِ طُولُونَ (مِصرُ) : بَنَاهُ أَحمَدُ بنُ طُولُونَ سَنَةَ (263هـ - 876م)ُ وَاِنتَهَى مِنهُ (265هـ - 878م) وَيَقَعُ فِي مِصرَ فِي مَيدَانِ أَحمَدَ بنِ طُولُونَ بِحَيِّ السَّيِّدَةِ زَينَبَ جَنُوبَ القَاهِرَةِ (مَوقِع مَدِينَةِ القَطَائِعِ). كَانَ تَخطِيطُهُ مَسجِدَ حِصنٍ كَمَسجِدِ سَامَرَّاءَ لَهُ مِئذَنَةٌ مَلوِيَّةٌ وَهِيَ ذَاتُ مِصعَدٍ خَارِجِيٍّ يَدُورُ حَولَ بَدَنِهَا حَتَّى أَعلَاهَا.‏

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Al-Azhar Mosque
Al-Azhar Mosque was built in Cairo, Egypt by Jauhar Al-Siqilli at the bidding of the Fatimid caliph Al-Mu`izz in the years 359-361 A.H./970-972 A.D. It is considered one of the most famous Islamic mosques and one of the greatest centers of religious learning. Al-Azhar was named after Fatimah Al-Zahra', the Prophet's daughter. Al-Azhar became a university for the first time during the Mamluk era. Secular sciences were introduced in 1961, when it was upgraded to the status of a modern university with a number of different faculties. It has five minarets in different styles, thirteen mihrabs (Prayer niches) and a huge library attached to the mosque.

‏الجَامِعُ الأَزهَرُ (مِصرَ) : بَنَاهُ جَوهَرُ الصِّقِلِّيُّ بِأَمرٍ مِن الخَلِيفَةِ الفَاطِمِيِّ المُعِزِّ لِدِينِ اللَّهِ، بُنِيَ بَينَ سَنَتَي (359-361هـ) (970-972م) بِمِصرَ، وَهُوَ مِن أَشهَرِ جَوَامِعِ الإِسلَامِ وَأَكبَرُ جَامِعَةٍ دِينِيَّةٍ، سُمِّيَ بِالأَزهَرِ إِشَارَةً إِلَى الزَّهرَاءِ وَهُوَ لَقَبُ فَاطِمَةَ بِنتِ الرَّسُولِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّم. أَصبَحَ جَامِعَةً لِأَوَّل مَرَّةٍ فِي العَهدِ المَملُوكِيِّ ثُمَّ أَصبَحَ جَامِعَةً حَدِيثَةً عَامَ 1961م تَضُمُّ عِدَّةَ كُلِّيَاتٍ. يُعتَبَرُ الأَزهَرُ سِجِلًّا لِأَقطَابِ الفِكرِ وَالسِّيَاسَةِ وَ عُلُومِ الدِّينِ فِي مِصرَ وَالعَالَمِ الإِسلَامِيِّ، لَهُ خَمسُ مَآذِنَ مُختَلِفَةُ الطِّرَازِ وَثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ مِحرَابًا، وَمُلحَقٌ بِهِ مَكتَبَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ جِدًّا.‏
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Al-Masjid Al-Jami` (the Great Mosque) in Lahore [Baadshahi Mosque]
Al-Masjid Al-Jami` was founded in the 17th century during the reign of Sultan Jahangir. It has a dome constructed of elaborately carved pieces of stone.

‏المَسجِدُ الجَامِعُ فِي لَاهُور (بَاكِستَان) : تَمَّ إِنشَاؤُهُ بِبَاكِستَانَ فِي عَهدِ السُّلطَانِ جَاهَنجِير فِي القَرنِ السَّابِعَ عَشَرَ وَيَتَمَيَّزُ بِقُبَّتِهِ المَبنِيَّةِ مِن الحَجَرِ المُقَصَّبِ.‏
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Al-Qarawiyin Mosque
Al-Qarawiyin Mosque was founded in Fez, Morocco in 192 A.H./808 A.D. by Idris II during the Idrisid Dynasty. One of the greatest achievements of Islamic civilization, it is a center of worship and one of the most ancient universities in the world. It is now a modern university teaching religious and modern secular sciences. Its pulpit is considered a model of the outstanding beauty of Andalusian art. Subsequent Moroccan dynasties have contributed to its renovation.


‏جَامِعُ القَرَوِيِّينَ (المَغرِبُ) : أَنشَأَهُ إِدرِيسُ الثَّانِي فِي عَهدِ دَولَةِ الأَدَارِسَةِ سَنَةَ (192هـ - 808م) بِمَدِينَةِ فَاسَ بِالمَغرِبِ، وَالمَسجِدُ عَلَمٌ مِن أَعلَامِ الحَضَارَةِ الإِسلَامِيَّةِ وَمَركَزُ عِبَادَةٍ وَأَقدَمُ جَامِعَةٍ فِي التَّارِيخِ تَحَوَّلَت اليَومَ إِلَى جَامِعَةٍ حَدِيثَةٍ تُدَرِّسُ عُلُومَ الإِسلَامِ وَعُلُومَ العَصرِ الحَدِيثِ. يَمتَازُ هَذَا الجَامِعُ بِأَسطُحِهِ القُرمُزِيَّةِ. مِنبَرُهُ مِن أَجمَلِ المَنَابِرِ المَعرُوفَةِ إِلَى اليَومِ وَهُوَ نَمُوذَجٌ لِلفَنِّ المَغرِبِيِّ الأَندَلُسِيِّ، وَمُلحَقٌ بِهِ مَكتَبَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ. اِشتَرَكَت فِي بِنَائِهِ جَمِيعُ الدُّوَلِ الَّتِي تَعَاقَبَت عَلَى الحُكمِ فِي المَغرِبِ.‏
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Delhi Mosque

Delhi Mosque was founded by Sultan Shah Jahan in the 17th century (1644-1658 A.D.) It is the biggest mosque on the Indian subcontinent. It is built in Indian style, which combines Persian, Buddhist and Hindu architectural elements. It has two beautiful, slender minarets, each 40 meters high.


‏مَسجِدُ دِلهِي (الهِند) : أَنشَأَهُ السُّلطَانُ شَاه جَاهَان فِي العَهدِ الإِسلَامِيِّ بِالقَرنِ السَّابِعَ عَشَرَ (1644-1658م) بِدِلهِي بِالهِندِ، أَكبَرُ مَسَاجِدِ الهِندِ قَاطِبَةً، طِرَازُهُ هِندِيٌّ مَحَلِّيٌّ يَجمَعُ بَينَ طَرِيقَةِ المَعَابِدِ البُوذِيَّةِ وَالهِندُوسِيَّةِ قَبلَ الإِسلَامِ، لَهُ مِئذَنَتَانِ رَفِيعَتَانِ تَرتَفِعَانِ أَربَعِينَ مِترًا فِي غَايَةِ الغَرَابَةِ وَالجَمَالِ.‏

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Hagia Sophie Mosque in Istanbul
Hagia Sophie was originally the most renowned church in the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. The church building was constructed during the reign of the Emperor Justinian in the sixth century A.D. and was famed for its immense dome. It was richly decorated with mosaics and costly marble. After the capture of Constantinople in 1453 A.D. by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, it was converted into a mosque and continued to function as such until it became a museum during the early years of the Turkish Republic. It is surrounded by tombs of Ottoman rulers and their families, as it was always considered the premier mosque of the Ottoman Empire. Its architecture had a profound influence on the subsequent development of the Ottoman architectural style.

‏جَامِعُ آيَا صُوفيَا بِاِستَانبُولَ (تُركِيَا) : بَنَاهُ السُّلطَانُ مُحَمَّدٌ الفَاتِحُ سَنَةَ (857هـ - 1453م) عَلَى أَنقَاضِ كَنِيسَةٍ بِيزَنطِيَّةٍ وَكَانَ قَد بَنَاهَا الإِمبِرَاطُورُ جوستنيان فِي أَوَاخِرِ القَرنِ السَّادِسِ المِيلَادِيِّ وَتَشتَهِرُ بِقُبَّتِهَا الضَّخمَةِ وَزَخَارِفِهَا وَرُخَامِهَا وَمُنَمنَمَاتِهَا الرَّائِعَةِ. تَحَوَّلَ اليَومَ إِلَى مَتحَفٍ فِي عَهدِ مُصطَفَى كَمَال أَتَاتُورك. وَيُعَدُّ جَامِعُ آيَا صُوفيَا مِن أَجمَلِ المَعَالِمِ المِعمَارِيَّةِ لِمَدِينَةِ اِستَانبُولَ.‏
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Isfahan Mosque
Isfahan Mosque in Iran is also known as 'Masjid Al-Shah Al-Kabir'. Many scholars have been associated with this mosque.

‏مَسجِدُ أَصفَهَانَ (إِيرَان) : مَسجِدُ الشَّاه الكَبِيرِ بِمَدِينَةِ أَصفَهَانَ بِإِيرَانَ الَّتِي يُنسَبُ إِلَيهَا الكَثِيرُ مِن العُلَمَاءِ.‏
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Islamic Cultural Center and Mosque, London
The London Central Mosque was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, completed in 1978, and has a prominent golden dome. The main hall can hold almost two thousand worshippers.


‏المَركَزُ وَالمَسجِدُ الإِسلَامِيُّ (لَندَن- بِرِيطَانيَا)‏
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Qait Bay Mosque
Qait Bay Mosque was founded by Sultan Qait Bay in Egypt during the Mamluk era in 877 A.H./1472 A.D.It is now situated in Maqabir Al-Khulafa' (or the Caliphs' Cemeteries), Cairo. It is the last architectural achievement of Qait Bay, and is especially famed for the beauty of the decorations on its dome. This dome was highly praised by the French archeologist Jaston Wiett.


‏مَسجِدُ قَايِتبَاي (مِصرُ) : أَنشَأَهُ السُّلطَانُ قَايِتبَاي فِي العَهدِ المَملُوكِيِّ بِمِصرَ سَنَةَ (877هـ - 1472م) وَيَقَعُ الآنَ فِي مَقَابِرِ الخُلَفَاءِ جَنُوبَ القَاهِرَةِ. مَسجِدُ قَايِتبَاي هُوَ آخِرُ مَا أَنشَأَهُ السُّلطَانُ وَيُعَدُّ تُحفَةً أَثَرِيَّةً وَخَاصَّةً زَخَارِفُ قُبَّتِهِ المُمَيَّزَةُ وَقَد تَغَنَّى بِهَا الأَثَرِيُّ الفَرَنسِيُّ جَاستُون وِيت.‏
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The Great Mosque in Cordoba
The Great Mosque in Cordoba, Spain was founded during the reign of the Umayyad caliph `Abdul-Rahman Al-Dakhil, in 170 A.H./786 A.D. It was completed over a period of nearly two and a half centuries. This mosque is considered one of the greatest architectural achievements in the Islamic era. The famous "History Tree" was planted in the pillared court [Sahn], later known as the Court of History. The mosque was then converted into a cathedral after the Spanish conquest of Cordoba in 1236 A.D. For many years it was the greatest educational center in Europe. It has been renovated several times.

‏مَسجِدُ قُرطُبَةَ الجَامِعُ (أَسبَانيَا) : بَدَأَ إِنشَاؤُهُ فِي عَهدِ الخَلِيفَةِ الأُمَوِيِّ الأَندَلُسِيِّ عَبدِ الرَّحمَنِ الدَّاخِلِ بِمَدِينَةِ قُرطُبَةَ بِالأَندَلُسِ، أَسبَانيَا الإِسلَامِيَّةِ سَنَةَ 170هـ - 786م. تَمَّ بِنَاءُ هَذَا المَسجِدِ خِلَالَ قَرنَينِ وَنِصفِ قَرنٍ عَلَى وَجهِ التَّقرِيبِ. وَهُوَ قِمَّةٌ مِن قِمَمِ الفَنِّ المِعمَارِيِّ العَالَمِيِّ عَلَى مَرِّ العُصُورِ وَهُوَ أَضخَمُ بَيتٍ لِلصَّلَاةِ بُنِيَ فِي الإِسلَامِ، وَلَمَّا زَرَعَ النَّاسُ شَجَرَةَ التَّارِيخِ فِي الصَّحنِ سُمِّيَ بِصَحنِ التَّارِيخِ، حُوِّلَ إِلَى كَاتَدرَائِيَّة عِندَمَا اِستَولَى الأَسبَانُ عَلَى قُرطُبَةَ سَنَةَ 1236م وَكَانَ لِقُرُونٍ طَوِيلَةٍ أَعظَمَ مَركَزٍ لِلعِلمِ فِي أُورُبَّا، وَكَانَ دَارَ قَضَاءٍ بِقُرطُبَةَ، وَجُدِّدَ بِنَاؤُهُ عِدَّةَ مَرَّاتٍ.‏
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The Great Mosque of Qairawan
The Great Mosque in Qairawan, Tunisia was founded by `Uqbah Ibn Nafi` between the years 50-55 A.H./670-675 A.D.during the Umayyad era. It was renovated on behalf of the Umayyad caliph Abdul-Malik Ibn Marwan by the Moroccan governor, who built turrets at the corners of the courtyard in order to give it a fortified appearance. It is considered one of the four great mosques in the Islamic world.


‏المَسجِدُ الجَامِعُ بِالقَيرَوَانِ (تُونُسُ) : بَنَاهُ عُقبَةُ بنُ نَافِع فِي مَدِينَةِ القَيرَوَانِ بِتُونُسَ بَينَ سَنَتَي (50-55هـ) (670-675م) فِي العَهدِ الأُمَوِيِّ، جَدَّدَهُ حَسَّانُ بنُ النُّعمَانِ وَالِي المَغرِبِ لِعَبدِ المَلِكِ بنِ مَروَانَ وَجَعَلَ لَهُ أَبرَاجًا عَلَى أَركَانِ أَسوَارِهِ فَاتَّخَذَ هَيئَةَ الحِصنِ وَهُوَ أَحَدُ المَسَاجِدِ الجَامِعَةِ الأَربَعَةِ الأُولَى.‏
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The Mosque of `Ibad Al-Rahman, Indonesia
No pictures/ articles on file (if you have any information please let me know!)

‏مَسجِدُ عِبَادِ الرَّحمَنِ (إِندُونِيسيَا)‏

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The Mosque of Quba'
The Mosque of Quba' was the first mosque built in the Islamic era. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) built it in 1 A.H./622 A.D.in Quba', about 5 km southeast of Medina. The Holy Qur'an referred to it as: "A mosque whose foundations have been laid on piety from the first day" Surah Al-Taubah (No. 9, Verse 108). The Caliph `Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz was the first to construct a minaret on it. It has been renovated several times throughout the ages, most recently by the Saudi Government.


‏مَسجِدُ قُبَاءٍ (السُّعُودِيَّةُ) : أَوَّلُ مَسجِدٍ فِي الإِسلَامِ بَنَاهُ الرَّسُولُ (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ) سَنَةَ 1هـ - 622م بِمَدِينَةِ قُبَاءٍ عَلَى مَشَارِفِ المَدِينَةِ المُنَوَّرَةِ. ذُكِرَ فِي القُرآنِ الكَرِيمِ أَنَّهُ المَسجِدُ الَّذِي أُسِّسَ عَلَى التَّقوَى. وَتَمَّ تَجدِيدُهُ عِدَّةَ مَرَّاتٍ وَكَانَ الخَلِيفَةُ عُمَرُ بنُ عَبدِ العَزِيزِ أَوَّلَ مَن وَضَعَ لَهُ مِئذَنَةً. وَتَوَلَّى تَجدِيدَهُ فِي العَصرِ الحَدِيثِ أُسرَةُ آلِ سُعُودٍ.‏
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The Mosque of Salah Al-Din, Malaysia
No pictures/ articles on file (if you have any information please let me know!

‏مَسجِدُ صَلَاحِ الدِّينِ (مَالِيزيَا)‏
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The Mosque of Samarra
The Mosque of Samarra was founded in Iraq by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil in the period 218-228 A.H./833-843 A.D.in Samarra, Iraq. The mosque has a minaret with a spiral staircase, with sixteen gates opening onto a courtyard. It is considered the most spacious mosque built in the Islamic world.


‏مَسجِدُ سَامَرَّاءَ (العِرَاقُ) : بَنَاهُ الخَلِيفَةُ العَبَّاسِيُّ المُتَوَكِّلُ سَنَةَ (218هـ-228هـ) و (833م-843م) بِسَامَرَّاءَ بِالعِرَاقِ، يُشبِهُ الحِصنَ، وَمِئذَنَتُهُ ذَاتُ مِصعَدٍ لَولَبِيٍّ تُذَكِّرُ بِفِكرَةِ بُرجِ بَابِلَ وَتُسَمَّى المَلوِيَّةَ، أَوسَعُ مَا بَنَاهُ المُسلِمُونَ مِن مَسَاجِدَ، لَهُ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ بَابًا.‏

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The Mosque of Sousse
The Mosque of Sousse was built in Tunisia by Abu Al-`Abbas `Abdullah Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Ahmad Al-Aghlabi during the reign of the Aghlabids in 236 A.H./850 A.D. One of the biggest and most beautiful of the surviving ancient mosques, it occupies an important place in the history of Islamic architecture. It has a movable wooden mihrab (Prayer niche), similar to that in Al-Masjid Al-Jami` (the Great Mosque) in Algeria and Jami` Al-Zaitunah (The Olive Mosque) in Tunis.


‏مَسجِدُ سُوسَةَ الجَامِعُ (تُونُسُ) : أَنشَأَهُ أَبُو العَبَّاسِ عَبدُ اللَّهِ بنُ إِبرَاهِيمَ بنِ أَحمَدَ الأَغلَبِيُّ فِي عَهدِ دَولَةِ الأَغَالِبَةِ شَمَالَ أَفرِيقيَا سَنَةَ (236هـ - 850م) بِمَدِينَةِ سُوسَةَ فِي تُونُسَ. وَيُعتَبَرُ مِن أَجمَلِ وَأَكبَرِ المَسَاجِدِ العَتِيقَةِ البَاقِيَةِ. وَمِن أَكبَرِ المَعالِمِ فِي تَارِيخِ عِمَارَةِ المَسَاجِدِ، مِحرَابُهُ خَشَبِيٌّ مُتَحَرِّكٌ وَهُوَ مِن أَقدَمِ مَا عُثِرَ عَلَيهِ مِن نَوعِهِ فِي تَارِيخِ العِمَارَةِ الإِسلَامِيَّةِ وَيُشبِهُ مِحرَابَ مَسجِدِ الزَّيتُونَةِ فِي تُونُسَ وَالمَسجِدِ الجَامِعِ بِالجَزَائِرِ.‏
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The Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey
The Selimiye Mosque was constructed in 1570-1574 A.D. by the Sultan Selim II. This building was the masterpiece of the great court architect Sinan. He designed many mosques, in addition to over 300 other buildings, including baths, schools, markets, caravansaries and bridges. The mosque is famous for the perfection of its design and the quality of its decorations.

‏مَسجِدُ السِّلِيمِيَّةِ فِي أَدِرنَة (تُركِيَا) : مَسجِدُ السِّلِيمِيَّةِ فِي أَدِرنَة بِتُركِيَا بَدَأَ إِنشَاؤُهُ سَنَةَ 1570م وَتَمَّ بِنَاؤُهُ سَنَةَ 1574م. وَهُوَ مِن تَصمِيمِ المِعمَارِيِّ سِنَان وَالَّذِي يُعتَبَرُ مِن أَكمَلِ أَعمَالِهِ الَّتِي تَزِيدُ عَلَى ثَلَاثِمِائَةِ مَبنًى مَا بَينَ مَسَاجِدَ وَمَدَارِسَ وَقَنَاطِرَ وَقُصُورٍ. وَالمَسجِدُ كُلُّهُ مُلَبَّسٌ بِالرُّخَامِ وَالمَرمَرِ.‏
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The Sultan Mosque, Kuala Lumpur
The mosque was commissioned by the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz, when he declared Shah Alam as the new capital of Selangor on February 14, 1974. Construction began in 1982 and finished on March 11, 1988.


‏مَسجِدُ السُّلطَانِ (كُوَالَالَمبُور)‏

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The Sulymaniye Mosque
This outstanding structure was erected in the reign of the Sultan Sulyman Al-Qanuni. Selim I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, was buried in a tomb to the rear of this mosque. The mosque was erected on a hill near the University of Istanbul. With its four minarets, it is considered one of the major monuments of the Islamic antiquities. The marble used in its construction was brought from the Marmara region, the Arabian Peninsula and Yemen. Hasan Celebi, the student of Ahmet Karah, the most famous of all Ottoman calligraphers, executed the Arabic inscriptions which are intermingled with colorful ceramic decoration. A huge library was constructed in the mosque complex.
‏جَامِعُ السُّلَيمَانِيَّةِ (تُركِيَا) : بُنِيَ فِي عَهدِ السُّلطَانِ سُلَيمَانِ القَانُونِيِّ وَدُفِنَ دَاخِلَهُ سِلِيمُ الأَوَّلُ مَؤَسِّسُ الإِمبِرَاطُورِيَّةِ العُثمَانِيَّةِ. يَقَعُ المَسجِدُ عَلَى تَلٍّ خَلفَ جَامِعَةِ اِستَانبُولَ وَهُوَ مِن الآثَارِ الإِسلَامِيَّةِ الخَالِدَةِ، لَهُ أَربَعَةُ مَنَابِرَ. جُلِبَت قِطَعُ المَرمَرِ المُستَعمَلَةُ فِي بِنَائِهِ مِن جَزِيرَةِ مَرمَرَةَ وَالجَزِيرَةِ العَرَبِيَّةِ وَاليَمَنِ، بِهِ زَخَارِفُ مُلَوَّنَةٌ كَثِيرَةٌ وَكِتَابَاتٌ مِن خَطِّ أَحمَدَ قُرَّةَ، وَحَسَن شَلَبِي أَشهَرِ الخَطَّاطِينَ فِي العَهدِ العُثمَانِيِّ آنَذَاكَ. وَالجَامِعُ مُلحَقٌ بِهِ مَكتَبَةٌ ضَخمَةٌ.‏

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The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus
The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria was built in the reign of Al-Walid bin `Abdul-Malik from 86-96 A.H./705-714 A.D. It was constructed inside a Roman temple dedicated to the god Jupiter. Its layout was a reproduction of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. It was the first mosque built in Syria that had three minarets. All four walls of the courtyard were decorated with mosaics. These mosaics were well preserved and had recently been restored. The mosque once contained an extensive library of manuscripts.

‏المَسجِدُ الأُمَوِيُّ بِدِمَشقَ (سُورِيَا) : بُنِيَ فِي عَهدِ الخَلِيفَةِ الأُمَوِيِّ الوَلِيدِ بنِ عَبدِ المَلِكِ فِي العَهدِ الأُمَوِيِّ سَنَةَ (86-96هـ) (705-714م) بِمَدِينَةِ دِمَشقَ بِسُورِيَا عَاصِمَةِ الخِلَافَةِ الأُمَوِيَّةِ آنَذَاكَ، أُنشِئَ فِي جُزءٍ مِن مَعبَدٍ لِلإِلَهِ الرُّومَانِيِّ جوبتر وَفقَ مُخَطَّطِ مَسجِدِ الرَّسُولِ (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ). لَهُ ثَلَاثَةُ مَآذِنَ وَتُعتَبَرُ مَآذِنُهُ أَوَّلَ مُحَاوَلَةٍ لِإِقَامَةِ المَآذِنِ فِي الشَّامِ، لَهُ أَربَعَةُ أَبوَابٍ وَمُزَيَّنٌ بِالفُسَيفِسَاءِ لَا تَزَالُ بَقَايَا الفُسَيفِسَاءِ مَوجُودَةً فِي أَجزَاءٍ هَامَّةٍ دَاخِلَ بَابِ البَرِيدِ (البَابِ الغَربِيِّ لِلمَسجِدِ) كَانَ فِي المَاضِي مُستَودَعًا لِلكُتُبِ وَالمَخطُوطَاتِ.‏

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Further Info (including pictures) try the following sites:
(1) Mosques of the world - travel-images.com
(2) Mosques - salawaat
(4) 8 Famous Mosques from around the world - gallipolimosque.org.au

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wait! What in the world is Al-Masjid Al-Jami?? That's Baadshahi Masjid in Lahore. Last time I checked Pakistan was not an Arabic speaking country. Why the Arabic name? Especially since everyone calls it Baadshahi masjid.

Another example of the inferiority complex so many Pakistanis feel. Islam is a universal religion - not an Arab one.

Anonymous said...

Assalamualaikum brother/ sister, firstly Ramadan Mubarak – thank you for your comment. The list was taken from al-islam.com a website representing the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Dawah and Guidance – hence why maybe the names are generalised in Arabic form (masjid jami - simply meaning place of worship), so please do not be offended. The list was probably written by a third party (as somehow Al-Aska mosque was missing from the list at time of writing). There are so many other mosques that could've be added to the list - but then again it was never meant to be a directory of mosques! Since your comment I have put the name “Baadshahi Mosque” next to the title. It is a beautiful mosque and if Allah (SWT) grants me the opportunity I would love to visit all the mosques and many more in this list. A final comment, never feel inferior to anyone, we are all Muslims and will be judged as Muslims by Allah (SWT).

misriko said...

assalamaliakum. This is the first time i have come across your webpage and am delighted. I realised my limited knowledge of the mosques around the world and the history surrounding these beautiful structures. May allah (swt) grant you happiness and patience to show more of our places of worship. What i am most happy to see is the little bit of history you have applied and knowing i have a lot to learn! Furthermore it is a great tool for me to show my children the mosques associated with the prophets (PBUT). I have put this on my favourite list and feel rather emotional at looking at them all. Jazarkhallah.
p.s. to the person feeling inferior, remember no one is inferior in allahs eyes and evidently not intended to offend. We need to unite as one and see ourselves as one (inshalllah)