Of all the major world religions, Islam is the youngest. Its postulates and dogmas have long gone beyond the boundaries of purely Muslim states. Originating as a teaching in the East, religion has absorbed the originality and inimitability of this part of the globe.
The originality and beauty of religion was reflected not only in the internal perception of Mohammed’s sermons, but also in external manifestations. The decoration of mosques laid the deep philosophical meaning of the world order and the place of man in this diverse and changing world.
In the photo: Turkmenbashi Ruha Mosque in Ashgabat.
In addition, mosques are a place of communication with Allah, and with all its minimalism, which is reflected in the postulates of Islam, this place should be majestic and beautiful. Muslim dogmas and commandments are woven during the construction of mosque buildings, and pilgrims all over the world travel thousands of kilometers to touch the shrines of their religion.
Not all divine Islamic buildings can be entered by representatives of other religions, but all the same we will go through the most beautiful mosques in the world and try to consider their design features and decor elements.
1
Al-Haram Mosque. Mecca
The main mosque of the Muslim world, one of the most beautiful mosques on the planet. Built around 638, the mosque was reconstructed and rebuilt over time, and today it has acquired a distinctive and unique look. One look at the magnificent building of al-Haram evokes respect and admiration for the mastery of architects.
The decoration of the mosque uniquely combines the most ancient oriental motifs with the latest architectural achievements of our time.
Marble columns are a striking decoration of the interior. Majestic minarets complement the picture, directing their spiers into the sky to a height of 95 meters.
But the main decoration of the Forbidden Mosque is the Kaaba - the main shrine of Muslims around the world. Every faithful, at least once in his life, must make a pilgrimage here and touch the shrine.
2
Al-Nabawi Mosque, Medina
According to written sources, the Mosque of the Prophet was erected during the life of Muhammad. Today, the Muslim temple complex in Medina impresses with its splendor and architectural design.
The second largest mosque in the Muslim world has become a place of pilgrimage not only for hundreds of thousands of adherents of Islam, but also for tourists.
Under the dome, painted green in Islam, is the grave of the Prophet Muhammad. In the architectural composition, this columned mosque, which has become the standard for the construction of Muslim temple structures around the world. The courtyard smoothly passes into the columned hall, decorated with frescoes and bas-reliefs of oriental ornaments.
Carved columns with bas-reliefs support a light roof. Ten en-Nawabi minarets indicate the entrances, and the height of the powerful spiers is 105 meters.
3
Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Abu Dhabi
Built and decorated in a combination of two similar architectural styles, Persian and Arabic, Sheikh Zayed Mosque can rightfully be considered the most beautiful mosque in the world.
Massive domes and sophisticated minarets rise above the main building of the mosque and its courtyard. The vaulted arches of the courtyard and the main entrance are decorated with carvings and Persian paintings. Gentle-penetrating illumination of yellowish and blue shades complements the beauty of the exterior decoration.
We add that the entire Islamic temple is erected from marble.
Inside, there is a magnificent carpet lined with 7 chandeliers, decorated with gold leaf and crystals. The twin columns and arches in front of the mihrab give the impression of an infinity columned hall.
4
Kul Sharif Mosque. Kazan
Built on the site of a mosque destroyed in the 16th century, Kul-Sharif became a magnificent decoration of the Kazan Kremlin.
The multi-minaret mosque became a synthesis of various architectural styles, which makes it unique in a number of Muslim churches, and if it were not for the crescents on the domes, one could say that this is a beautiful secular palace.
Image taken based on the photo of user Gontzal86 | Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.
Architects and builders tried to recreate the ancient structure as accurately as possible. The result is a unique building that has the spirit of antiquity with a modern look and decoration.
The architectural ensemble is particularly impressive in the dark, when illuminated by thousands of built-in spotlights. On our site most-beauty.ru, this mosque is included in the list of the most beautiful places in the Russian Federation.
5
The Great Mosque of Hassan II, Casablanca
A relatively recent mosque in the center of Casablanca has the highest minaret. It rises above the surface of the earth by 210 meters.
The mosque is located in a picturesque location on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The architect originally used natural conditions. In the mosque, part of the walls consists of glass so that you can see the beauty of the ocean. Glass is also built into the floor of the temple.
The material from which the mosque is made conveys the beauty of a religious building. In the main hall there are 98 columns of pink marble, floor slabs of green onyx and golden marble caressing the look.
It is interesting that the architect of this beautiful mosque was not a Muslim, and representatives of other religions were allowed to enter one of the most beautiful spiritual centers.
6
Zahir Mosque, Kedah
One of the oldest in Malaysia, the Juma Mosque was built on the site of the cemetery of the Kedah warriors who died, protecting their native land from invaders.
The five large domes of the mosque symbolize the five pillars of Islam. A low minaret is located a little away from the main entrance.
Carved vaults and bas-reliefs adorn multiple porches and mezzanines. The walls are decorated with magnificent carvings and stucco molding.
Zahir Mosque, in fact, a complex of structures. Behind the main building is a Sharia court and a preschool building. Every year, in one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, a contest of readers of the holy book of Muslims, the Koran, takes place.
7
Mosque of Sultan Omar Ali Sayfuddin. Brunei
And here, as they say, one cannot take his eyes off the beauty of the religious construction of the Royal Mosque in the capital of Brunei.
The beautiful mosque harmoniously blended into the lagoon on the banks of the river, is the embodiment of modern Islamic architecture.
Around the temple are luxurious, evergreen gardens with beautiful fountains. The main dome, towering above the ground to a height of 52 meters, is covered with real gold.
The spacious prayer hall of marble columns, carved arches and mosaic glass amazes with magnificence. The minaret, made in the style of the Renaissance and traditions of Italian architecture, is the main pride of the Royal Mosque.
8
Faisal Mosque. Islamabad
The national mosque of Pakistan, with its architecture, is knocked out of the traditional concept of Muslim shrines. With its appearance, the mosque building resembles a Bedouin tent among the vast expanses of the desert.
The courtyard of the mosque is decorated with fountains and a small pond. The spacious prayer room is made of white marble.
The best architects and painters of the East took part in the decoration of the mosque. On the walls is a calligraphic painting by a Pakistani artist. Large, but at the same time, airy chandeliers are made by Turkish designers.
Four graceful minarets, 90 meters high, complete the picture of a unique and peculiar Pakistani mosque.
9
Mosque Taj st. Bhopal
"The crown of mosques", the name of this magnificent, magnificent and beautiful mosque of India is translated.
The white domes of the mosque and minarets harmonize with the dark red brick from which the main building of the temple is built. In the courtyard there is a small pond, the bottom and walls of which are lined with marble.
In the rays of the rising sun, the walls of the mosque shine with a gentle yellowish light. The arch of the main entrance is painted with beautiful Arabic patterns. Syrian motifs adorn the interior of the mosque. The Kuwaiti emir, who sponsored the construction and reconstruction of the mosque, immortalized the memory of his wife in the decoration and paintings.
10
Badshahi Mosque. Lahore
Local residents consider the padishah mosque to be the largest mosque in the world. But the fact that she is one of the oldest is undeniable. Badshahi Mosque was built during the reign of the last emperor of the Mughal dynasty, in 1674.
Construction time left a mark on the style of construction. The majestic mosque became the embodiment in the South Asian region of the Indo-Saracen architectural style.
The main prayer hall of the mosque is divided into seven sections. Between them are set ornamented arches painted in national ornaments. In the interior rooms there are many picturesque and vibrant murals on raw stucco and glass mosaics.
The mosque building is lined with carved stone, and red sandstone painting complement the beauty of the monumental building.
11
Sultan Hussein Mosque, Singapore
A beautiful mosque inconspicuously located among the skyscrapers of a huge metropolis.
The architecture of the mosque is more reminiscent of the European style, in which oriental, Muslim architectural traditions are harmoniously blended. But the design of two minarets and four domes is a purely Arabic style with Moorish influence.
The luxurious building is decorated with carved arches and marble columns. Inside are beautifully painted walls and arches in front of the mihrab. Uniqueness and beauty of the building is given by 40 carved spiers located on the mosque, which frame the roof and are made in the form of mosque minarets.
12
Al-Aqsa Mosque. Jerusalem
One of the most beautiful and most visited mosques by pilgrims in the world, is located at the sacred for every Muslim, and not only the Temple Mount of Jerusalem.
The third largest Muslim mosque is crowned by a huge dome, covered with plates of lead. Inside, the dome is decorated with beautiful mosaics.
The original is the internal design. Decorated with bas-reliefs and columns, seven galleries approach the prayer place. The central gallery rises a little above the rest.
The uniqueness of the design is the decoration and decoration of walls and columns. The lower part is decorated with magnificent white marble, and the upper is lined with original mosaics.
13
Blue Mosque. Istanbul
The picturesque and one of the oldest mosques in the world, which absorbed in its architecture the merger of Byzantine and Islamic architecture, is located in the historical part of Istanbul.
The majestic domes are painted with suras from the Koran and the most famous words spoken by the prophet Muhammad.
Striking beauty is the prayer niche - mihrab, which is carved from a single piece of marble. On it is the Muslim shrine - a black stone brought by pilgrims from Mecca.
In the halls of the mosque there is a lot of light penetrating from 260 windows. Columns and arches are decorated with patterns in accordance with the Ottoman canons of painting and calligraphy.
Istanbul is included in the list of the most beautiful cities in the world according to the most-beauty.ru edition.
14
The heart of Chechnya. The terrible
The appearance and interior decoration of the main mosque of Chechnya once again convinces tourists and believers that during its construction all Muslims of Russia put their soul into it and built it with heart.
Built in the classical Muslim style, the mosque is the center of the Islamic complex, which houses the Muslim University and the center of the Spiritual Administration of the Orthodox of Chechnya.
The best craftsmen from Turkey painted the mosque. The interior of the halls uses the style of artistic calligraphy. The verses of the Koran are skillfully and harmoniously inscribed between the eastern ornaments and frescoes of the Muslim temple.
Among the Islamic spiritual complexes on the territory of the Russian Federation, the majestic mosque "Heart of Chechnya" has become the most beautiful mosque in Russia.
15
Al Fatih Mosque. Manama
Most tourists come to Bahrain from different parts of the world to look at the beautiful and majestic Al Fatih mosque.
With the Royal Palace, next to which the mosque is located, this is a whole spiritual and historical complex.
The magnificent dome of the temple made of fiberglass weighs almost 60 tons. Built in the classical Islamic architectural style, the mosque is painted with unique patterns and frescoes. The vaults of the mosque are crowned with magnificent bas-reliefs.
The mosque, unlike similar Islamic centers, is open to travelers and tourists, except for holidays and Fridays, when the mosque is held.
16
Sultan Qaboos Mosque. Muscat
The material from which the mosque was erected, and this is Indian sandstone, made it a unique work of architectural art.
A unique carved dome made of white marble rises above the snow-white building. The columns of the prayer hall have floral carved capitals. Internal halls and external walls are painted in the national traditions of Oman. The prayer hall is illuminated by 35 chandeliers made in Austria.
When looking at the minaret, it seems that it is carved from a single piece of sandstone. But the Persian carpet, decorating the main hall, weighs 21 tons and is painted with 28 flowers and they are all of organic origin. The carpet is created using the most unique technology, its pattern is 1.7 million knots.
17
Mazar of Imam Reza. Mashhad
The luxurious Islamic architectural complex was created in honor of Imam Reza, who is buried under the arches of the mosque.
By its purpose, this is the building of the Mausoleum, in which services are also held. Entrance of non-Muslims to the tomb is strictly prohibited. This is monitored by the mosque.
The gilded domes and minaret of the mosque are harmoniously combined with the ornamented gray color of the main building.
The history of the creation of the Islamic spiritual complex is also interesting. The first inscriptions found on the elements of the building date back to the 13th century, although written sources first mention the great construction of the mosque in the 14th century. But the first building over the grave of the famous imam, recorded by archaeologists, was erected in the IX century.
In addition to the mosque itself, a library, a museum, spiritual and educational centers are located on the territory of the complex.
Conclusion
In the photo: Sheikh Zayed Mosque.
The list of mosques is in random order. Our end in itself was not to build any rating according to the criterion of beauty. Each mosque on the list is unique in its own way, and it is difficult to describe the beauty and splendor of these masterpieces of architectural construction like this. Help in the perception of beautiful temples photography. But still, live to see these magnificent incarnations of Islamic culture will leave an indelible impression on the beauty, monumentality and grandeur of Islamic religious buildings.
Islamic culture has become the embodiment of the best achievements of architectural and artistic styles. Each modern mosque harmoniously and skillfully synthesizes national traditions rooted in hoary antiquity and today's technological achievements. The editors of most-beauty.ru asks you to write in the comments on this article about what other beautiful mosques in the world deserve to be called the most beautiful on the planet.