Top 10 largest mosques in the world

Islam is one of the leading religions in the world. Millions of Muslims begin to pray every day in mosques in various countries. Among these sacred buildings, a number of architectural masterpieces can be distinguished, striking not only in their design and history, but also in size.

We present you the 10 largest mosques in the world.

10 Great Mosque of Surabaya, Indonesia

• Capacity: 59 000 people
• Minarets: 1
• Opening: 2000 year.

With a minaret 99 meters high, a main dome and 4 small aquamarine domes, Great Mosque of Surabaya is the second largest in Indonesia. Construction began in 1995 at the initiative of the mayor of Surabaya, but was delayed for several years due to the economic crisis. Finally, on November 10, 2000, the Great Mosque of Surabaya opened its doors to visitors.

One of the main features of the mosque is the semi-egg dome, which stands on the roof and has a height of 27 meters. In addition, 6 minarets were originally designed, but only one was built due to technical and budgetary reasons.

The main hall of the mosque has an area of ​​520 square meters. The building has 90 doors, each 1,5 meters wide, 4,5 meters high and weighing 250 kilograms.

9. Masjid-i-Jahan-Numa, New Delhi, India

• Capacity: 85 000 people
• Minarets: 2
• Opening: November 1656, XNUMX

The name of the mosque literally means “Mosque that reflects the world», although it is also known as Jama Masjidwhich means “congregation mosque“. Its construction was ordered by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1650 in the heart of old Delhi.

It took 6 workers, 000 years of work and about 6 million rupees to complete the construction, which at that time was something like 1 US dollars or 15 euros.

The result: a building 80 meters long, 27 meters wide, 3 domes, 3 large entrance doors, 4 towers and 2 minarets 41 meters high, built from bands of red sandstone and white marble.

In addition, the mosque has a large rectangular area of ​​almost 3000 square meters, which is also used for prayer and is connected to the main building.

Other curious facts about the mosque are the construction of the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed Shah on the east side and a separate room with several relics of Islam, among which is an old copy of the Koran written on a deerskin.

The mosque is one of those wonderful gems that New Delhi has to offer to the unsuspecting tourist.

8. Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan

• Capacity: 100 000 people
• Minarets: 4
• Opening: November 1674, XNUMX

This mosque is very similar to the Masjid-i-Jahan-Numa mosque in New Delhi and its construction was also commissioned by the Mughal Emperor named Aurangzeb, and this explains the similarity of styles.

The size of the mosque is such that the 4 main minarets are 53,75 meters high, which is 4,2 meters higher than that of the Taj Mahal. Of course everyone does badshahi mosque the largest in the world at the time of its construction.

7. Hassan Mosque, Morocco

• Capacity: 105 000 people
• Minarets: 1
• Opening: November 1993, XNUMX

Mosque of Hassan II is the largest in Morocco, and its 210-meter minaret is the highest in the world. In addition, a laser was installed at the tip of the minaret, the light of which is always directed towards Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Another feature of the mosque is that it is built on a promontory on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, and the seabed is visible through the glass floor of the main building. Imagine someone watching a fish swimming below while praying…

In addition, around 6 people have built handmade marble walls here, and the ceiling is sometimes removed for “open” prayer sessions.

Finally, the construction cost 585 million euros and required the participation of 35 workers, who spent about 000 million hours to complete the work.

6. Istiklal Mosque Jakarta, Indonesia

• Capacity: 120 000 people
• Minarets: 1
• Opening: 1978 year

The name literally means “Mosque of Independenceand it was only built to celebrate the independence of the country.

Istiqlal Mosque is the largest in Southeast Asia and is located in the heart of Jakarta, next to Merdeka Square – the largest in the world – and the city’s Catholic Cathedral. The reason for choosing this particular place is the desire of Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia, to follow the tradition of the island of Java, where a kraton, or royal palace, and the Agjun mosque were built around the village.

5. Taj-ul-Masajid Mosque, Bofal, India

• Capacity: 175 000 people
• Minarets: 2
• Opening: November 1985, XNUMX

Mosque Taj-ul-Masajid is located in the city of Bofal, the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, and its name literally means “mosque crown“. Its construction was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar in 1844 and continued after his death under the rule of his daughter Sultana Jahan Begum.

However, due to lack of funds, mainly due to the Indian rebellion of 1857, construction had to be suspended until 1971, when Allama Mohammed Imran Khan Nadwi Azhari of Bofal received the gift of the Emir of Kuwait.

When the mosque was finally completed in 1985, the eastern entrance was redesigned at the request of the Emir of Kuwait to include old designs of 1250 Syrian mosques.

Today it not only serves as a place for prayer. It has established itself as one of the most important Quran schools in the area.

4. Faisal Mosque, Islamabad, Pakistan

• Capacity: 300 000 people.
• Minarets: 4
• Opening: November 1986, XNUMX

Faisal Mosque is the largest in Pakistan and was built by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay, who was inspired by a Bedouin desert tent. In addition, it is located on the westernmost hills of the Himalayas in the northern part of Islamabad and can be seen from anywhere in the city.

The mosque was named after King Faisal bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, who funded the $120 million project. Due to its design in the form of a Bedouin tent, the mosque lacks domes, a traditional element in the construction of mosques.

In addition, geometric shapes are inspired Cowboy – which translates as “cube” and is known as the sacred house of Muslims in Mecca.

3. Imam Reza Shrine MosqueIran Mashhad, Iran

• Capacity: 700 000 people
• Minarets: 14
• Opening: 818 year

It turns out, Imam Reza Temple Mosque is not the only mosque, but a conglomeration of sacred places in Islam. The complex includes a mosque and the mausoleum of Imam Reza, who was the eighth imam of duodenal Shiism.

Another mosque called Goharshad includes a museum, a library, a cemetery, the University of Islamic Sciences. Razavi, a canteen for pilgrims, several prayer rooms and other places. In total, the main mosque has an area of ​​267 square meters, and the complex reaches 079 square meters.

The size is such that the Iranian government had to build tunnels through which vehicles could pass under the complex to guarantee pilgrimage access to the site.

2. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi Mosque, Saudi Arabia

• Capacity: 1 000 000 people
• Minarets: 10
• Opening: 622 year.

Name mosques Al-Masjid an-Nabawi literally translated as “Mosque of the Prophet“. It received this name not only because it was built next to the house of Mohammed after his arrival in Medina in 622, but also because since the reign of King al-Walid I, it has become a resting place for the remains of the prophet Muhammad. In addition, the mosque is the second sacred place for the Islamic religion.

1. Masjid al-Haram Mosque Mecca, Saudi Arabia

• Capacity: 4 000 000
• Minarets: 9
• Opening: between 634 and 644

We are finishing not only with the largest, but also with the most sacred of all the mosques of Islam, whose name Masjid al-Haram means just that: “holy mosque” or “great mosque».

In addition to this, the mosque contains the Kaaba, the holiest of all the places of Islam, which is considered “House of God”, that is, where the divine touches the earthly. The Kaaba is also the place where all the Muslims of the world should look during their daily prayers.

Finally, one of the pillars of Islam says that every Muslim must visit the Holy Mosque to perform tawaf, that is, bypass the Kaaba, in order to demonstrate the unity of believers around the one God.