Mosques are also known as the ‘Masjid’ in the Arabic language. There are many beautifully built mosques around the world.
They are not only places for worship but also beautiful pieces of art. Every mosque has some history attached to its construction. We can see the cultural heritage of a place in the architecture of their holy places.
A mosque has a special place in the religion of Islam. All Muslims gather here five times every day to worship their creator ‘Allah’. They come here to seek refuge from the hardships of life by praying to their maker. They repent their sins through praying and offering prayers.
A bizarre sense of tranquility and quietness can be felt when you visit such a holy place. Many people go there to calm their hearts and souls when they become anxious from the adversities of life.
10 Most Beautiful Mosques Around the World
Mosques are not just ordinary places. They have a special significance in Islam and they are the most sacred and holy places of worship for Muslims all around the world.
Many Muslim Leaders and Kings of the past have made many beautiful mosques. These mosques are a true epitome and amalgamation of beauty and tranquility. They are magnificent pieces of skillful architecture.
This article describes the history and spiritual implications of the top 10 most beautiful mosques around the world.
Masjid Al-Haram (Makkah, Saudi Arabia)
This is one of the most significant places of worship for Muslims all over the world. The reason is that the two most important rituals of Islam, ‘Hajj’ and ‘Umrah’ are performed here.
Millions of Muslims visit here every year to perform these most sacred rituals of Islam. It is also known as the largest mosque in the world. It has a capacity to accommodate more than 4 million worshippers at one time.
The most sacred place for Muslims, the ‘Holy Ka’aba’, and the sacred black stone are also present inside the premises of Masjid Al Haram.
In the Holy Quran, it is also mentioned to be the first built mosque of Islam. Other sacred sites of Islam like Maqam-e-Ibrahim and the well of ZamZam are also located here. Safa and Marwa Hills are also located on the premises of Masjid Al-Haram.
The mosque is also named the ‘Prohibited mosque’ because every type of fighting is strictly prohibited within the mosque premises.
Both men and women have to be in a non-revealing dress to enter the mosque. However, in the case of Hajj and Umrah, a special dress code is followed.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
This mosque has a grandeur and magnificence of its own with splendid architecture and adornments. This mosque surely deserves to be placed among the top ten most beautiful mosques around the world.
It has a capacity to accommodate more than 40,000 worshippers at once.
There4 are 82 white domes and 1096 columns in the mosque. The columns have entrenched stones of amethyst and jasper on them. There are many hand-knotted carpets to enhance the beauty of this holy place. The main hall of the mosque has several chandeliers adorned with Swarovski crystals.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has also won the Guinness Book of world records for having the biggest hand-knotted carpet in the world.
There are beautiful calligraphic writings on the walls as well.
Masjid Al-Nabwi (Madina, Saudi Arabia)
This mosque is situated in the city of Madina in Saudi Arabia. It is also known as the Prophet’s mosque as it was built by the Holy Prophet’s own hands. It is known as the second-built mosque of Islam after Masjid Al-Haram.
It is also the second most sacred place for Muslims because the tomb of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is situated inside this mosque.
There is a green dome in the center of the mosque due to which this mosque is sometimes known by the name of this Green Dome.
The mosque truly deserves to reserve its name in the most beautiful mosques in the world.
Masjid Al-Aqsa (Jerusalem, Palestine)
This mosque is also famous with the name of ‘Bait-ul-Muqaddas’. It is considered to be the third noblest site in the history of Islam. The mosque was built by Prophet Ibrahim (A.S). The ‘Ka’aba’ was built many years after this mosque.
It is the faith of Muslims that the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) before going to ‘Meraj’ led all earlier Prophets towards this mosque.
This mosque has a significant religious history because it was the first ‘Qibla’ of Muslims (Qibla is the place that all Muslims face while offering prayer (Salaat)).
Hagia Sophia Mosque (Istanbul, Turkey)
This mosque is very famous not only among Muslim tourists all over the world but non-Muslims as well. It not only has beautiful architecture but a very important Islamic history is also attached to it.
This mosque is a living masterpiece of Byzantine culture and architecture.
This mosque was a church previously but it was converted to a mosque during Ottoman rule (1453-1935).
It has very long and beautiful minarets that show the splendor and magnificence of Muslim history and culture. Beautiful mosaic tiles on the mosque’s walls also enhance the beauty of the holy building.
Masjid Wazir Khan (Lahore, Pakistan)
It is located on one of the busiest streets of Northern Lahore, Pakistan.
The mosque was built in the 17th century. It is adorned with beautiful Fresco paintings. It has beautiful mosaic tiles from the Mughal era. The mosque is a clear epitome of the Indo-Islamic architectural style. The central mehrab of the mosque carries the citation of one of the names of Allah, Al Fattah (one who open the ways)
The mosque remains open for visitors between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Badshahi Mosque (Lahore, Pakistan)
It is known as the second-largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia. It is also known as the fifth-largest mosque in the world. The construction of the mosque started in 1671 and it was completed in 11673 under the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
It was the largest mosque in the world for a period of 313 years (1673-1986).
The main hall has the capacity to accommodate 55000 people and the courtyard has a capacity of 95000 worshippers.
Nasir-ul-Mulk Mosque (Shiraz, Iran)
Mirza Hasan Ali Nasir of the Qajar Dynasty ordered the construction of this mosque in the 19th century. The building is beautified with an abundance of pink tiles and is also sometimes known as the Pink Mosque.
The compound of the mosque has a rectangular pool that looks serene with the whole architecture.
The mosque remains open for visitors from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sultan Ahmad Mosque (Istanbul, Turkey)
The building is adorned with blue Iznik tiles, which is why it is also sometimes called the ‘Blue Mosque’. The mosque was constructed in the 17th century under the reign of Ahmad I. It has six minarets and five domes.
The dress code for women entering the mosque is a head scarf with completely covered clothes, while men should be wearing full pants. Special instructions for visitors are that photography is not allowed inside the mosque.
Jama Masjid (New Delhi, India)
This is known as the largest mosque in India. It was built under the supervision of Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. It was constructed between 1650 and 1656. Red sandstone and white marble are the two major building construction materials used. It has a capacity to accommodate 25000 people at once. It has three domes, two minarets, and three gates.
A labor force consisting of 5000 workers was involved in the construction of this building. The cost of construction at that time was nearly 1 million rupees.
