Mosques are not only places to calm the soul and heart of any Muslim, but also unparalleled in their beauty architectural monuments. Mosques play a very important role in the life of Muslims: religious, social, cultural. In this article, we invite you to see the TOP 10 largest mosques in the world, which amaze the imagination and allow you to discover something new for yourself from the life of the Muslim people.

Capacity 25 thousand people

The 10th place in our ranking is occupied by the Cathedral Mosque of Delhi or Jami Masjid. Jami Masjid is the most important and largest mosque in India. Its construction began in 1650 during the reign of Shah Jahan I, the king of the Mughal Empire. The final completion of the work was recorded in 1656. More than 5,000 people worked on the construction of the mosque. The courtyard of the mosque can accommodate up to 25,000 Muslim believers.

9 Capacity 40 thousand people

On the 9th place is the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi (UAE). This is one of the youngest buildings for believers. The construction of the snow-white beauty lasted 11 years. She is known throughout the world not only for her impressive size, but also for her incomparable beauty. The mosque impresses with its uranism: semi-precious stones, multi-colored marble. This mosque is also famous for the fact that it contains the world's largest carpet and the largest and most luxurious chandelier. The mosque can simultaneously accommodate 40,000 people.

8 Al Saleh Mosque Capacity 44 thousand people

In 8th place is the "National Miracle" of Yemen - Al-Saleh Mosque. The opening of the main attraction of Yemen took place in November 2008. The construction of the mosque was largely financed by President Ali-Abdullah Saleh. On the territory of the mosque there is a modern 3-storey building in which there is a school where they study the Koran and a large library. It is also worth noting that the mosque is equipped with a modern air conditioning system, a sound system, as well as a very sophisticated lighting scheme that allows the mosque to be illuminated in a special way all night. The capacity of the territory of the main hall is 44 thousand believers.

7 Badshahi Mosque Capacity 60 thousand people

On the 7th place is the Badshahi Mosque. It is located in Pakistan, in the beautiful city of Lahore. It was erected in the 17th century. And in the 18th century, the mosque was practically destroyed, and in this state it stood until the middle of the 19th century. During this time, it was used as a defensive structure, as a warehouse, barracks, and even as a stable. It was only in 1947, the year when Pakistan was recognized as an independent state, that the opportunity arose for the restoration of the once beautiful mosque. The territory of the mosque can accommodate up to 60 thousand people.

6 Mausoleum of Imam Reza Capacity 100 thousand people

6th place is occupied by one of the most important shrines - the mausoleum of Imam Reza. It is located in Iran, in the city of Mashhad. On the territory of the shrine is the tomb of the imam, mosques, minarets, a museum and a library. Every year, the main attraction of Iran is visited by 15-20 million visitors. And this is not surprising, because. the mausoleum is a masterpiece of Iranian art. The construction of the complex began in the 14th century, during the reign of the Timurid dynasty. Completed construction in the 19th century. The area of ​​the complex occupies approximately 331 thousand square meters. meters. The mausoleum accommodates 100 thousand people.

5 Capacity 105 thousand people

5th place belongs to the great mosque of Hassan II. This mosque is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the beautiful city of Morocco - Casablanca. The construction of the mosque lasted 13 years. The opening took place in August 1993. About 20,000 people of various directions worked on this construction: from simple artisans to artists, engineers and builders. This is one of the most beautiful and grandiose structures of mankind. The Hassan II Mosque impresses with its beauty, grandeur, wealth, scale, as well as technological innovations. Anyone can enter this temple of beauty and majesty. A large area can accommodate more than 105 thousand people. The area of ​​the temple is about 9 hectares.

4 Mosque of Independence Capacity 120 thousand people

4th place is occupied by the Mosque of Independence or Istiklal. This mosque was built to commemorate Indonesia's independence from the Netherlands. "Istiklal" in Arabic means "independence". Geographically, it is located in Jakarta, and is the largest in Southeast Asia. The construction of the mosque began in 1961 and lasted until 1978. At the moment, the Istiklal Mosque is the central place of the spiritual, cultural and scientific life of the country, where various events, seminars, conferences are often held. The territory of the temple allows you to receive about 120 thousand visitors at the same time. The area of ​​the mosque is 10 hectares.

3 Faisal Mosque Capacity 300 thousand people

3rd place belongs to the Faisal Mosque, located in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. This monastery got its name in honor of King Faisal. It was King Faisal who contributed to its construction. The mosque is located in a picturesque area: near the hills of Margolla Hills and the Himalayas. It is worth noting the architecture of the mosque of Fesala, because it does not look like the traditional mosques of Islam. It is shaped like a Bedouin nomad tent. Initially, the design solution did not cause enthusiasm, and only at the end of construction, people who criticized this object admitted that they were wrong. The territory of the mosque is located on 5,000 square meters and can accommodate approximately 300,000 people.

2 Mosque of the Prophet Capacity 1 million people

2nd place is occupied by Medina. It is located in Saudi Arabia. This is the mosque of the Prophet Muhammad, or Masjid an-Nabawi. The construction of the temple began in 622, and the Prophet Muhammad himself took part in its construction. After his death, he was buried under the Green Dome. Medina plays an important social role in the life of Muslims. This is a place of public and educational purpose, because it is here that the domestic, financial and political problems of the country are solved. The territory of the temple has 400 thousand square meters and can accommodate about 600 thousand Muslims during normal times, and 1 million believers during the pilgrimage.

1 Capacity 2 million people

So, in the first place among the largest mosques in the world is the Forbidden Mosque or Al-Haram Mosque. Like the Medina Mosque, it is located in Saudi Arabia. This is the very first and most ancient temple built for believers to serve the Almighty. According to legend, the first builders of this relic were heavenly angels. Since its foundation in 638, the mosque has changed its appearance more than once, being completed and rebuilt all the time. At the moment, this is the most majestic building that contains the main value of Muslims - the Kaab, minarets, special rooms for prayers and ablutions. In addition to all the listed values ​​of the mosque, various technological benefits are located on its territory, such as escalators, air conditioners, sophisticated electric lighting. The territory of the religious complex is located on 357 thousand square kilometers and can accommodate more than 700 thousand people. If we also use the adjacent territories to the temple, then the capacity of believers will increase to 2 million.

The largest and most important mosque in the world is the majestic Al Haram Mosque, which means “Forbidden Mosque” in Arabic. It is located in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Al Haram is the greatest not only in terms of size and capacity, but also in terms of significance in the life of every follower of Islam.

In the courtyard of the mosque is the main shrine of the Muslim world - the Kaaba, where all believers strive to get at least once in their lives. Over the centuries, the building of the mosque was rebuilt and reconstructed many times. So, from the end of the 1980s to the present day, the area of ​​the mosque is 309 thousand square meters, which can accommodate 700 thousand people. The mosque has 9 minarets, 95 m high. In addition to the main 4 gates in Al-Haram, there are 44 more entrances, 7 escalators operate in the buildings, all rooms are equipped with air conditioners. Separate huge halls are reserved for prayers of men and women. It is difficult to imagine something more grandiose.

Among the largest mosques in the world, Shah Faisal in Pakistan holds another record. The mosque has an original architecture and is not exactly like traditional Islamic mosques. Unusualness gives the absence of domes and vaults. So, it resembles a huge tent, spread out among the green hills and forests of Margala Hills. On the outskirts of the city of Islamabad, where one of the largest mosques in the world is located, the Himalayas originate, which organically emphasize this similarity.

Built in 1986, this masterpiece, together with the adjacent territory (5 thousand square meters), can accommodate 300 thousand believers. At the same time, the International University of Islam is located within the walls of the mosque.

Shah Faisal is built of concrete and marble. It is surrounded by four towering minaret pillars, borrowed from classical Turkish architecture. Inside the prayer hall is decorated with mosaics and paintings, and in the center under the ceiling there is a huge luxurious chandelier. The construction of the mosque was spent 120 million dollars.

At first, this project caused indignation among many parishioners, but after the construction was completed, the grandeur of the building against the enchanting background of the mountains left no doubt.

The largest mosque in Russia, and at the same time in Europe, the “Heart of Chechnya”, built in 2008 in Grozny, amazes with its beauty. This symphony of architectural complexes with a huge garden and fountains was built using the latest modern technologies. The walls are decorated with traverin, a material that was used for the construction of the Colosseum, and the interior of the temple is decorated with white marble from the island of Marmara Adasi, located in Turkey. The interior decoration of the "Heart of Chechnya" is striking in its richness and magnificence. When painting the walls, special paints and gold of the highest standard were used. Precious chandeliers, of which there are 36 pieces, are stylized as the Shrines of Islam and are assembled from a million bronze parts and the most expensive crystal in the world. Turns the imagination and night lighting of the mosque, emphasizing every detail in the dark.

The largest mosque in Central Asia is considered to be "Khazret Sultan", located in Astana, a magic that is hard not to appreciate. It is built in the classical Islamic style, traditional Kazakh ornaments are also applied. Surrounded by 4 minarets 77 meters high, the mosque can accommodate from 5 to 10 thousand believers. The interior decoration is distinguished by the richness and originality of the elements. Resembling a fairy-tale palace, Khazret Sultan meets all modern requirements.

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14 most ancient mosques in the world

These Muslim temples were built during the first 150 years of the formation of Islam, after the relocation of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to Medina.

1The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria: 96 AH

The Great Mosque of Damascus, better known as the Great Umayyad Mosque, is located in the old part of the capital of Syria, one of the oldest cities in the world. The mosque is a sacred place in Syria, as it contains a treasury with the head of John the Baptist (Yahya), revered by both Christians and Muslims. This is the largest building in old Damascus. In the Roman era, the Temple of Jupiter was located on this site, then, in Byzantine times, a Christian church. After the Muslim conquest of Syria, the church was turned into a mosque. Caliph Walid I, who oversaw its transformation, radically changed the layout of the building and the project was completed in 715. Parts of the outer wall remain from the Roman Temple of Jupiter. For the construction of the mosque, the best artists, architects, stone craftsmen from Athens, Rome, Constantinople, and the countries of the Arab East were invited. In total, more than 12 thousand workers worked on the construction of the Muslim temple.

2. Al Quba Mosque, Medina, Saudi Arabia, 1 AH

Al Quba Mosque is located outside Medina. It is considered the first mosque ever built and the fourth holiest mosque in Islam after the Forbidden Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

The legend says that the first stone in its foundation was laid by the Prophet Muhammad himself after moving from Mecca to Medina, and his companions completed the construction.

Muslims believe that two morning prayers in this mosque are equal to a small pilgrimage. Little has survived from the ancient building of the mosque, as over time it has been rebuilt several times; The current white stone mosque was built in 1986.

3. Cheraman Juma Mosque, Kerala, India. Approx. 8 AH

Cheraman Juma Mosque is the very first mosque built in India. The mosque was built by Cheraman Peumal (the ruler of a small state) during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. According to legend, Cheraman observed the split moon - a miracle revealed by the Prophet. And after that he met with Muhammad and converted to Islam. The mosque was built in 629. It has undergone reconstruction and repair many times, but nevertheless, part of it has been preserved untouched since those ancient times, local residents say.

4. Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, Palestine. The current building is approx. In 86 AH.

There are two most beautiful mosques in Jerusalem: one with a golden dome, the other with a gray dome. The first is called the "Dome of the Rock", the second is the al-Aqsa Mosque, or the Mosque of Omar - the third most important Muslim shrine. Its dome looks more modest, but the mosque itself is huge and can accommodate up to 5,000 parishioners for Friday prayers. Islam associates with this place the night journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem (Isra) and his ascension to heaven (miraj). At first it was a simple prayer house built by Caliph Omar in the 7th century, and half a century later the building began to be rebuilt, completed, restored after earthquakes, and finally, it acquired the scale and appearance that has survived to this day. Of course, over the past centuries, the mosque has undergone both destruction and mockery of the Templar crusaders, who used the building for their hostel, armory and stables. But the Turkish Sultan Salah ad-Din, who captured Jerusalem, returned the building to the Muslims. Since then, there has been a functioning mosque.

5. Masjid al-Nabawi, Medina, Saudi Arabia: 1 AH

The Prophet's Mosque is the second holiest site in Islam after the Forbidden Mosque in Mecca and the burial place of Muhammad. The mosque has been expanded nine times in the history of Islam. The first mosque on this site was built during the lifetime of Muhammad, subsequent Islamic rulers expanded and decorated the shrine. Under the Green Dome (the Dome of the Prophet) is the grave of Muhammad. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) were buried in Aisha's room, which from the very beginning was separate from the mosque. After the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) died, the companions buried him in a small room that belonged to his wife Aisha, next to the mosque. The mosque was separated from this room by a wall with a door. Many years later (or rather, in 88 AH), during the reign of al-Walid ibn Abdul-Malik, the emir of Medina, Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz, significantly expanded the territory of the mosque, and Aisha's room was inside the new territory. But despite this, the emir of Medina built two huge walls to separate Aisha's room from the mosque. Thus, it is incorrect to say that the tomb of the Prophet is inside the mosque. She, as before, is in Aisha's room, and Aisha's room is separated from the Prophetic Mosque from all sides.

6. Al-Zaytuna Mosque, Tunisia: 113 AH

The mosque is the oldest in the capital of Tunisia, covering an area of ​​5000 m². and has nine entrances. The ruins of Carthage served as the material for the construction of the mosque. The mosque is also known as one of the first and largest Islamic universities. For centuries, Al-Kairavan remained the educational and scientific center of Tunisia and North Africa. In the 13th century, Tunisia became the capital of the Almohad and Hafsid states. Thanks to this, al-Zaytuna University has become one of the main centers of Islamic education. The university's graduate was the world's first social historian, Ibn Khaldun. Students from all over the Islamic world studied at the university. Al-Zaytuna's library was the largest in North Africa and included tens of thousands of manuscripts. A large number of rare manuscripts covered knowledge in all scientific disciplines, including grammar, logic, etiquette, cosmology, arithmetic, geometry, and mineralogy.

7. Great Mosque in Xi'an, China: 124 AH

During the reign of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), Islam became widespread in China thanks to Arab traders. Many Muslims settled in China at that time. Many of them married representatives of China's main ethnic group, the Han. The Great Mosque was built at that time to commemorate the contribution of those people to the spread of Islam in China. The mosque is located in the hero city of Xi'an, the starting point of the Great Silk Road and a city with a large Muslim population. The architectural style of the Muslim temple is a mixture of traditional Chinese architecture and Islamic art. Numerous pavilions and four courtyards located between them are typical features of the Chinese style. The walls of the mosque are decorated with paintings, in which traditional Muslim motifs are clearly visible.

8. Great Mosque in Kairouan: 50 AH

The Great Mosque of Kairouan dates back to 670. It was built by order of Uqba ibn Nafi. Although the mosque was destroyed a couple of times and then rebuilt, today's structure stands on the site of the original mosque. As a kind of symbolic building of the city, the Great Mosque is considered the oldest shrine and the most important mosque of the Muslim West.

9. Great Mosque of Aleppo, Syria: Approx. 90 AH

The younger brother of the majestic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, as it is called by the locals, the temple was erected on this site in the 13th century. According to legend, the tomb of the prophet Zakaria is located here. This cultural monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once this mosque was a place of rest and communication with God, but today it is ruins. During the civil war, serious damage was done: in 2012, a large fire broke out in the mosque, the south wall was blown up the following year, and to top it all, the only minaret was destroyed.

10. Al-Haram Mosque, Mecca, Saudi Arabia: before Islam.

The protected mosque is the largest mosque in the world, surrounding the main shrine of Islam - the Kaaba. It is designed to receive 4 million pilgrims during the Hajj. The modern mosque, after many reconstructions, is a pentagonal closed building with sides of different lengths and a flat roof. In total, the mosque has 9 minarets, the height of which reaches 95 m. The existing mosque has been known since 1570. During its existence, the mosque was rebuilt several times, so little remains of the original building.

11. Juma mosque in Shamakhi Azerbaijan: 125 AH.

The Shamakhi Juma Mosque, which is one of the most ancient Muslim churches in Azerbaijan, in the South Caucasus and the Middle East as a whole, was built during the time of Caliph Khalid ibn Valiyadin, in 743, in honor of the arrival of his brother Muslim ibn Valiyadin in Azerbaijan. According to some sources, the Khazar Khagan, defeated by the armies of the Caliphate, converted to Islam in this mosque.

12. Mosque of Two Qiblas, Medina, Saudi Arabia: A.D. 2

1. Protected mosque (Masjid al-Haram) in Mecca

4. Independence Mosque (Masjid Istiklal) in Jakarta

The Indonesian Independence Mosque or Istiklal is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. In 1949, Indonesia gained independence, and in order to perpetuate this event, it was decided to build such a large religious building in the capital of the state. The construction of the mosque began in 1961. The temple accommodates about 120 thousand worshipers.

5. Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

Located in the largest Moroccan city of Casablanca, the Hassan II Mosque impresses not only with its huge size, but also with its beauty. Directly from the huge glass hall of the building offers a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean. Note that the mosque can accommodate 105 thousand people. The area of ​​the temple is about 9 hectares. An interesting fact: all 800 million dollars spent on the construction of the mosque are voluntary donations.

6. Badshahi Mosque in Lahore

The Badshahi Mosque was built in the middle of the 17th century in the Pakistani city of Lahore by order of the last ruler of the Mughal dynasty. The mosque is built on a high platform that rises above the old city. The dimensions of the courtyard of the mosque are 159 × 527 m. The mosque has eight minarets: four at the corners of the prayer hall and the same number at the corners of the wall surrounding the mosque. The height of the outer minarets is 62 meters. The main entrance opens into a vast, brick-paved courtyard that can accommodate up to 60,000 worshipers.

7. Al Saleh Mosque in Sana'a

The Al Saleh Mosque is the main and largest mosque in the capital of Yemen - Sana'a. The temple was erected by order of the country's first president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, mostly with his personal money (about $60 million), and bears his name. The mosque is incredibly beautiful - six minarets visible from all over the city, each of which is 100 meters high, richly decorated domes, a combination of different types of stones, including black basalt and red, white and black limestone, windows decorated with stained glass windows. The official opening of the religious building took place in 2008. The mosque consists of a complex of buildings, the largest of which, for prayers, occupies more than 27 thousand square meters. meters. The main hall can accommodate up to 44,000 worshipers.

8. Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is famous not only for its size, but also for its stunning beauty. It is one of the main decorations of the capital of the United Arab Emirates - the city of Abu Dhabi. The mosque impresses with its interior decoration: colored marble and semi-precious stones were used to decorate the buildings. In addition, the largest and most luxurious chandelier in the world is located here. Square

What is the tallest mosque in the world? What is the largest in Europe? Which one has the highest minaret? These and other records of mosques were revealed by Deniz Baran.

The world's largest mosque

In essence, the world's largest mosques are called the Forbidden Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid al-Nabawi) in Medina. But these two mosques today, according to many criteria, are the “most-most”, for example, the first of them has an area of ​​400 thousand m² and can accommodate 1.2 million people, and the second can pray at the same time 1 million people.

Therefore, in our list, we decided not to include these mosques. Different sources of the largest after the two named mosques name different Muslim temples. As a criterion, we decided to take their capacity. Ultimately, in our opinion, in this regard, the largest mosque is al-Abbas and the mausoleum of the Imam, which forms a single complex with it. These structures are located in the Iraqi city of Karbala, being one of the most revered shrines for Shiites. The area of ​​the complex is 400 thousand square meters. m, and a capacity of 1 million people. On the other hand, the largest mosque in the world after Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi is called the mausoleum of Imam Reza.

The oldest mosque

If we exclude the Masjid al-Haram, then the oldest mosque in the world is Cuba. It was reportedly built in 622, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) himself installed the first stone at its foundation.

The mosque with the tallest minaret

The longest height of 210 m is the Great Mosque of Hassan II, located in the city of Casablanca (Morocco). Its construction began in 1980 and lasted 13 years. The prayer hall of the mosque can accommodate 25 thousand people, another 80 thousand can pray in the surrounding area.

And according to the Guinness Book of Records, the highest concrete minaret has a mosque in the Taigail district in Bangladesh - it rises to 137 m, this is the height of a 55-story building.

The largest mosque in Europe

The largest mosque in Europe is usually called the Moscow Mosque. At the same time, it is also listed as the highest in this part of the world and having the largest diameter of the dome - 27 m. But its capacity is defined as 10 thousand people. Therefore, in our opinion, the largest is still the Roman Mosque, with a capacity of 12 thousand people.

The oldest mosque in Asia

This is, of course, Huaisheng - the main Muslim temple of the city of Guangzhou in China. According to legend, it was built by the uncle of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) Said ibn Abu Waqqas around 627-628.

Africa's oldest mosque

The oldest mosque in Africa should be recognized as al-Kiblatain in Somalia. It was built by the order of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in 627 by Muslims who moved to Abyssinia. The building has two mihrabs, with one oriented north towards Jerusalem and the other oriented northwest towards Mecca. This is due to the fact that at the time of its construction, the qibla was directed towards Jerusalem.

The northernmost mosque in the world

The northernmost mosque in the world is considered Nurd-Kamal - in the city of Norilsk (Krasnoyarsk Territory, Russia). Listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The mosque began to be built at the end of 1993.

The tallest mosque

The mosque in the Burj al-Mamlaka (Royal Center) building in Riyadh is located on the 77th floor, 183 meters from the ground.