33 Of The Most Beautiful Mosques In The World

The largest, oldest and the holiest mosque in the world, Al-Haram Mosque is located in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The Sacred Mosque covering a colossal 400,800 square meters, where it can accommodate up to four million people during Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims.

The massive Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi has the world’s largest Persian carpet that stretches inside under German-imported chandeliers made with Swarovski crystals. The magnificence of the design and architecture can be seen with the 82 domes and over 1,000 columns containing marble stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics.

Also known as the ‘Pink Mosque’, this 19th-century mosque captures the eye with its striking stained-glass windows, intricately painted rose-coloured tiles and carved pillars. Visit this mosque in the early morning and watch the tranquil interiors fill with a kaleidoscope of colourful light as the sun rises.

Also read: 16 wonderful cultural sites in Iran you mustn’t miss seeing

Officially known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, The Blue Mosque was constructed between 1609 and 1616 like a series domes and half domes. It features beautifully arranged cascade of domes spilling down from the grand central dome and the ceiling gleaming with 20,000 blue Iznik tiles.

Click here to book your Private Istanbul Airport Transfer to Blue Mosque Sultan Ahmet.

Located in Malaysia’s Islamic Heritage Park on Wan Man Island, the Crystal Mosque was built in 2008 out of steel, glass, and crystal. This is the first mosque that features solar panel cells, WiFi connection, and electronic Qurans. Under the sun, the steel and smoke-coloured glass of the domes shine like crystals under the sun, drawing visitors from all over the world.

The largest Mosque in Morocco and the seventh-largest in the world, Hassan II Mosque will impress you with its nearly 700-foot minaret–the tallest in the world (that is topped by a laser pointing towards Mecca). Built to face the Atlantic Ocean, this iconic Mosque also has a glass floor that allows the visitors to get a glimpse of the waves crashing on the rocks below. Enjoy the grandiose inside with the walls that are handcrafted out of smooth marble and carved wooden ceilings.

Also read: 10 best cities to visit in Morocco

The Great Mosque of St. Petersburg is the biggest Mosque in the European part of Russia and was constructed in 1909-1920. While portals of the Mosque, as well as its two minarets, are covered with stunning blue mosaic ceramics and mesmerizing geometric patterns, the outside walls are decorated with quotes from the Quran.

Located in Old Delhi, India’s Jama Masjid was built between 1644- 1656 and features a striking red sandstone and marble exterior. It is one the largest mosques in India with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees at once. With an impressive collection of relics, you’ll also find a Hauz (a pool) at the centre of the courtyard, where the believers their feet, hands, and face before entering for prayer.

Situated at the head of Esfahan’s main square, Shah Mosque is one of the most famous architectural buildings of the country. While the construction of the mosque began in the early 17th century, its expansion and development went for almost 10 centuries. This elegant mosque decorated with seven coloured wall tiles, creating stunning mosaic patterns and calligraphy represents nearly a thousand years of Islamic art and architecture.

The National Mosque is located in Kuala Lumpur and features 73 meters high minarets and a 16 point-star concrete main roof. The design of this main dome is reminiscent of an open umbrella while the minaret’s cap is a folded one. This unique modern design reflects a contemporary expression of traditional Islamic art, calligraphy and ornamentation.

One of the oldest and best-preserved mosques in Egypt, this majestic red-brick complex was built in 876 by the Turkish governor of Egypt and Syria. This mosque was named after the Emir Ahmed Ibn Tulun, a soldier who was sent to rule the outpost of Al Fustat in the 9th century by the Abbasid caliph of Baghdad. He drew inspiration from his homeland, particularly the ancient Mosque of Samarra (Iraq) and also added some innovations of his own.

Located on the Third Hill of Istanbul Turkey, Suleymaniye Mosque is one of the grandest and the most beautiful. Built during the reign of Süleyman I, ‘the Magnificent’, this beautiful mosque features exceptional use of marble, granite and porphyry. Whereas on the inside, the mosque is subtly decorated with very controlled use of Iznik Tiles, white marble, ivory and pearl.

The Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia takes you over millennia of history.  The magnificent structure illustrates the mixed influences of pre-Islamic, Roman, and Byzantine architecture. Also known as Sidi Okba Mosque, after the founder of Kairouan, the mosque is the oldest Muslim place of worship in Africa, founded in the year 670.

One of the masterpieces of Iranian architecture, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is located in the eastern side of the Esfahan’s largest square- Naqsh-e Jahan and was between 1602 and 1619 during the reign of Shah Abbas I. Being a multi-functional space,  Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is also home to the royal caravanserai, baths, a royal mint and a hospital.

Located in the UNESCO-listed old city of Jerusalem, Al Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. Muslims believe that  Muhammad was transported from Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca the to al-Aqsa during the Night Journey. This stunning structure has been rebuilt several times throughout history due to repeatedly being hit by earthquakes.

Situated in the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is built by the Prophet Mohammad and remains open regardless of time. One of the largest mosques of the world, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is also one of the chief places for Islamic pilgrimage as The Prophet is buried under the green dome at the centre of the mosque – the Dome of the Prophet.

Another beautiful mosque of Malaysia, Ubudiah Mosque is located in beside the Royal Mausoleum at Bukit Chandan.  Ubudiah Mosque – meaning ‘mosque of self-surrender to Allah’ stands proudly and majestically with its golden dome and minarets creating a spellbinding sight from near and afar.

The world’s fourth-largest mosque and largest in Pakistan is situated on the foothills of Margalla Hills in Islamabad. This beautiful mosque is actually designed in the shape of a Bedouin’s tent and features contemporary designs with four tall minarets of 260 feet and eight-sided shell shaped sloping roofs, a worship hall which can accommodate around 10,000 worshippers at a time.

Located in the northern city of Lahore in Pakistan, the Wazir Khan Mosque was built in 1634 by Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari, the Viceroy of Punjab under Shah Jahan. The mosque is known for its most distinguishable feature: the use of minarets at each of its four corners. You can also see how the mosque is graced, inside and out, with incredibly stunning faience tile work.

This magnificent 19th-century structure can be found in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. Taj-ul-Masjid literally translates to ‘The Crown of Mosques,’ and it is true to its name. Even though people believe Jama Masjid is India’s largest mosque but with an interior area of about 430,000 square feet and a capacity of 175,000 people, Taj-ul-Masjid takes the crown!

The Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Oman and has four main sections, the main prayer hall, the women prayer hall, the library, and the lecture theatre. Considered as one of the most beautiful and extravagant modern mosques in the world, it can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers in total. The mosque’s architecture features a blend of Islamic, Middle Eastern, and Omani styles.

Originally known as St. Nicholas’ Cathedral, Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (named so in 1954)  is the largest medieval building in Famagusta, Northern Cyprus. The Gothic architecture of the Mosque closely resembles the great cathedral of Rheims in Paris, France.

Located in the North-Western province of Afghanistan in the town of Herat, this magnificent mosque is also called Jama Masjid of Herat. While the foundation of this mosque was laid in 1200, it was officially finished in 1446. This fine Islamic architecture will give you a master class in the art of tile mosaic many of which are based on Timurid originals.

Known locally as Mezquita-Catedral, the Great Mosque of Cordoba is one of the oldest structures still standing from the late 8th century. Located in Spain, this mosque is a monument to the religious changes that have taken place in the city since it was first populated. The building of the Mosque represents the true architectural splendour of Moorish architecture with its arcaded hypostyle hall, containing 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite. The walls are decorated with red and white bricks while the whole structure has no paintings, sculpture or chairs, just the geometrical patterns inscribed out of the pillars creating the serene environment to pray.

Located at a man-made Island named Pulau Melaka (Island of Melaka) right at the stilts above the sea, this gold-domed mosque is also known as Malacca’s floating mosque. The mosque is a sight to behold especially during morning or dusk when the grand archways that are panelled with stained glass reflect the sunlight exquisitely.

Built in 1967, The Nusrat Djahan Mosque is an Ahmadiyya Mosque on the outskirts of Copenhagen. This was Denmark’s first Mosque and was solely financed by the females of the Ahmadiyya Community in Denmark.  This mosque has a unique structure as it features no towers and minarets like most other mosques. It is a circular building made from white bricks while its narrow windows are decorated by glass mosaics in different colours. The roof has a characteristic dome with ends almost touching the ground.

Built-in 1912 in the city of Alor Setar, capital of Kedah, the Zahir mosque stands as an elegant example of Malay- Islamic architecture. The architectural design was inspired by the Azizi Mosque of the Langkat Sultanate in North Sumatra and features five large, black domes that symbolise the Five Pillars of Islam.

Located in the ancient city of Damascus, Umayyad Mosque is also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus was finished in715 AD under the reign of Umayyad Caliph al-Walid I. Considered as one of the oldest and holiest sites in Islam, it houses a mausoleum containing the tomb of Saladin that stands in a small garden adjacent to the north wall of the mosque.

Also known as Ulu Cami’i, Bursa Grand Mosque is a landmark of early Ottoman architecture in Bursa’s downtown. The mosque was built in Seljuk style and features 20 domes and 2 minarets.  These domes are arranged in four rows of five and are supported by 12 columns and the walls and pillars are decorated by a total of 192 calligraphy samples written by 41 different calligraphers, making it one of the most important collections of Islamic calligraphy in the world.

The Kul Sharif Mosque is built in place of the old mosque of the Khanate of Kazan that was destroyed in 1552 by Ivan the Terrible. Rebuilt in 1996, this magnificent mosque is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin and primarily serves as home to a rich collection of ancient books of Islam. The real compound of this true architectural marvel consists of three parts: a mosque, a memorial stone, and an administrative building.

Located in Regent’s Park and also called as Regent’s Park Mosque, the London Central Mosque, is the principal mosque of London and the spiritual focal point for Muslims throughout the UK. Also known for its large golden dome and stout 140-foot minaret, the mosque can accommodate over 5, 000 worshippers at a single time along with a separate balcony for female worshippers.

Founded in 742, Great Mosque Xi’an is the oldest mosque in China. Covering an area of 12,000 square meters, this mosque is completely Chinese in its architecture and design. Featuring a walled complex of five courtyards, with the prayer hall situated in the fourth, this beautiful mosque is surrounded by lush green gardens and the ancient interiors.

Constructed in the year 1997, Puchong Perdana is one of the most beautiful mosques in Malaysia. Built near the Puchong Lake, the mosque is reflected onto the calm blue waters of the lake making it a wonderful sight to see. This pink styled mosque is made with rose-tinted granite and contains three main functional areas- the prayer hall, the courtyard and the function rooms.

So, which of these beautiful mosques are you planning to visit? If you’ve seen some of them already, let us know in the comments below.

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