The places of the Muslim worship are real architectural jewels. Discover the 10 most beautiful mosques in the world through this inspiration guide!
Minarets, domes, madrassa, or muezzin... This vocabulary refers to mosques, religious buildings that celebrate Muslim faith. Since the first foundation of a mosque in Mecca in the 630s, Al-Masjid al-Haram, the world now has over 3.85 million. Mosques are renowned for highlighting the various ancestral craftsmen: Persian carpets, Moroccan zellige, or omeyad wood. If you love aesthetics, but also history, then this guide of the most beautiful mosques in the world is made for you!
1. Shaykh Zayed MosqueAbu Dhabi
Photo credit: Shutterstock – photo_designer
This modern building, which owes its name to the first president of United Arab Emirates , has its place in the head of the most beautiful mosques in the world. Already, the ponds that surround the Mosque Cheikh Zayed make its exterior absolutely fair. Then, the golden tones of the mosque reflect the rays of the sun on the day, and the lights of the moon at night.
Finally, the Mosque Cheikh Zayed has a gigantic lustre, as well as the world's largest hand woven carpet. It is a place of an essential material and spiritual wealth to visit once in his life.
2. Hassan II Mosque, Morocco
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Ruslan Kalnitsky
This tedious mosque is located in Casablanca and count among the most beautiful mosques in the world. Michel Pinseau, his architect, imagined the building in the mid-1980s under the reign of the King Hassan II .
Its minaret closes the sky, and its esplanade of 20,000 m2 near the ocean welcomes several thousand tourists and faithful a year. Inside, the various rooms of the mosque are decorated with marble, zellige, and carved wood. The unmistakable part of the Hassan II Mosque? The perfectly symmetrical prayer room that supports 78 pillars! The same room also has a fully working roof.
Also, it is the only mosque in Morocco that can be visited by non-Muslims. The hours depend on the hours of prayer and are available on the website of the Hassan II Mosque Foundation.
3. Nasir ol-Molk Mosque, Iran
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See you at Chiraz in the Iranian Fars province to discover one of the most beautiful mosques in the world. Nasir ol-Molk, also known as the Rose Mosque, is a Shiite mosque dating from 1888. She is especially famous for her incredible stained glass! Indeed, colorful stained glass windows adorn the mosque, forming a real kaleidoscope when the sun's rays cross the façade. So you will find yourself in a mellow of pink colours.
Believers or not, you will find in this place of worship an intense spiritual strength. Then sink your bare feet on the Persian carpets, and offer a meditation session under this light palette. Also, to enjoy the enchanting light, we recommend you go there in the morning.
4. Basilica of St. Sophia, Turkey
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Filip Fuxa
If you’re a story-teller then go explore this beautiful Ottoman vestige in the old town of Constantinople, now Istanbul . Sainte-Sophie is first a basilica founded in 548.
Then, when the Ottomans take the city of Constantinople in 1453 The basilica turns into a mosque. Thus, its history, but also its incredible Byzantine architecture, its domes and huge columns contribute to making this mosque one of the most beautiful mosques in the world. It is also one of the most visited places of worship in Turkey!
So if you intend to explore the details of the mosaics, especially those of the Imperial Gate, plan a few hours ahead of you.
5. The Blue Mosque, Turkey
Photo credit: Shutterstock – NORTHERN IMAGERY
Stay in Istanbul where you can also discover the famous Blue Mosque, also called Sultanahmet . This place of popular worship, former starting point of the pilgrimage to Mecca, amazes its visitors with its architecture. Indeed, it has six minarets, as well as a multitude of domes. The interior is covered with ceramics and calligraphy reminiscent of the Koran verses.
In the evening, during the call to prayer by the muezzin, the mosque lights up before the faithful who came to collect. This is a very beautiful moment of spiritual grace!
6. Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Anna Kucherova
This mosque is one of the oldest holy places in our history! It is located south of Temple Mount , and is part of the religious buildings of the Mosque esplanade, in the same way as the Dome of the Rock and the Wall of Lamentations for the worship of Jews.
His story dates back to 679, when a caliph orchestrates his construction on the place where the prophet would have risen in heaven, to start a night trip and to Mecca. Its architecture is traditional, representative of Islamic buildings with carved wood from the omeyade era, forming plant motifs.
Crossing the ages, Al-Aqsa also meets many political and geopolitical obstacles... Until today! You can always come to admire the mosque from the outside, its interior being reserved for the faithful.
7. Qolsharif Mosque, Russia
Photo credit: Shutterstock – aiko3p
Qolsharif, one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, is located in Kazan, in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan. Ivan the Terrible destroyed the building in 1552, shortly after the construction of the mosque. It is necessary to wait for 1996 to begin the reconstruction of Qolsharif in the Kremlin enclosure of Kazan.
After its inauguration in 2005, the mosque became a place of worship for the faithful, and a place of visit for non-believers. Its turquoise blue domes attract visitors from all over the world who come to capture their beauty. Also, the mosque serves as a museum that retraces the history of Islam.
8. Great Mosque Xi’an, China
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Cezary Wojtkowski
His style will surely surprise you. Indeed, this building among the most beautiful mosques in the world does not look like the traditional Islamic aesthetics. On the contrary, Xi’an, located in the eponymous city, gathers the Muslim worship with traditional Chinese architecture. The empire of Tang orchestrates its construction in 742, but the official form of the mosque dates from 1392. It was thus one of the starting points of the Silk Road, and above all a symbol of crop brewing.
Xi’an opens its doors to all visitors, who will be able to explore all of its 12,000 m2.
9. Ubudiah Mosque, Malaysia
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Tuah Roslan
Direction the royal city of Kuala Kangsar to discover Ubudiah, a majestic mosque with golden domes. Ubudiah is inspired by the indo-sarrasin architectural style, but with a European touch: Italian marble.
It was the Sultan of Perak, at the head of the kingdom in the early twentieth century, who ordered the construction of this religious building. Indeed, a victim of a disease for years and then treated, he wished to thank his God through the creation of Ubudiah. And for a total cost of... $24,000! A fairly substantial sum at the time.
Only the faithful can access the inside of the mosque. However, its architecture is worth a visit if you are in the region.
10. Jama Masjid Mosque, India
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Mikadun
Known as the Great Mosque Delhi Jama Masjid is an important place of worship for the Muslim community in India. The beauty of this building lies above all in its history. Indeed, built in 1656, Jama Masjid follows the characteristic architectural plan of the Empire Moghol : large courtyard, prayer room with "bulb" domes, but also a rectangular portal called Pishtâk. His red sandstone, which covers its facades, as well as its two minarets, survived the eras to tell this imperial past.
It may not be the most clinching, but Jama Masjid deserves its place among the most beautiful mosques in the world. It is indeed an important historic place, which you can visit during a stay in India.
So, are you impressed by these places of worship? What do you think of these most beautiful mosques in the world? Tell us your impressions!
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