About 7 Beautiful Mosques Built in Asia

Asia is home to the largest number of Muslims and followers of Islam are in the majority position here. According to current statistics, the number of Muslims in Asia is about 1.5 billion. Saudi Arabia’s Mecca Sharif is the main pilgrimage place of Muslims and this is where Islam has been preached mainly in various Asian countries. Along with the Arab regions of Asia, Islam spread to Central Asia and to South and Southeast Asia. For which various mosques, Islamic schools and Islamic centers have been built. Some of them were built in ancient times and some were built in the present century. Religiously all mosques are considered very important places for us. But the construction of some mosques and their architecture engineering fascinate us differently. These Mosques are famous for their construction, construction engineering and for their surroundings as well. Where tourists will meet as well as history lovers. So today I will talk about 7 beautiful mosques built in Asia. Most of them were built in the present century.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque built in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates where you will always a huge gathering of visitors and they come to see this magnificent piece of architecture. This amazing mosque was named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the former supreme leader of the United Arab Emirates.  This mosque is the largest mosque in the country. Even this mosque is the eighth largest and most beautiful in the world. The mosque was inaugurated in 2007 and construction cost of this mosque is about to be 545 million USD. Syrian architect Yusuf Abdaliki designed it. The mosque has been installed by the hands of 3000 skilled workers around the world. 38 multinational companies supervised this construction task. Extremely modern construction and management will attract any tourist. About 40000 people can offer prayers here. This mosque is divided into several halls. Capacity of main hall is around 9000 and at the same time there are two more prayer halls available with each one having the holding capacity of 1500 worshippers. Among them one is reserved only for the female worshippers. Marble stones are abundant in the construction of this mosque which you’ll be able to notice. The largest volume marble mosaic in the world is built here. There are also various accessories of gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and pottery used in the construction. The collection and use of materials from many countries including Italy, Germany, Morocco, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, China, the UK, New Zealand, Greece and the United Arab Emirates have been used in the design and construction of the entire mosque. The mosque has 82 domes of several sizes which are made of white marbles. The mosque’s largest dome is about 279 feet high. At the each corner of the mosque, there are four high-rise minarets, each of them measures around 107 meters in height. The interior of this mosque is amazing like its exterior. Several chandeliers had installed to decorate its interior and large marble mosaic which I already described about that earlier. The mosque is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. It is located just 5 kilometers away from the city center of Abu Dhabi. The distance from Dubai will around 145 kilometers.

Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque in a brief.

Sultan Omar Ali Seyfuddien Mosque, Bander Seri Begawan, Brunei

The beautiful Sultan Omar Ali Seyfuddien Mosque was erected in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, as a symbol of state religion Islam. The mosque is built on an artificial reservoir which is one of the fascinating aspects of this architecture. There is a replica of a battleship located in front of the main building of the mosque which represents the memory of Sultan Bolkhia. And the most striking aspect of the mosque is its main dome, made of pure gold. In fact, the exterior of the main dome of the mosque is covered with pure gold. Also, the upper dome-shaped portions of each of the minarets were covered with gold. The mosque is built at a height of 52 meters and it is easily seen from any part of the city. You can have 360-degree view form the top of any minaret and each of them has an elevator to go up. There is a long bridge to the entrance to the mosque. The entire mosque complex is surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains. The mosque, built on the eve of the 1400th anniversary of the revelation of the Holy Qur’an, is estimated to cost around $ 9.2 million. The mosque has the capacity of 3000 people. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin, the father of Brunei, came to power, he felt the need for a mosque in the city. Moreover, in order to establish Islamic rule in the country, an elite mosque was needed to be built in the capital city. The Sultan therefore undertook a huge costly project to make Bander Seri Begawen as the Islamic center of the country. Therefore, the work of the mosque was started in 1954 and the mosque was inaugurated in 1958. Italian architect Cavalier Rudolph Nolli designed the mosque. Extremely expensive granites, marbles are used in the construction of the mosque. Marble stones were brought from Italy, granites were brought from China, and the chandeliers were brought from Engliand to decorate the mosque. The mosque’s huge gates were made of fine wood imported from Philippines. After the construction, the mosque became the image of the whole country. And it was named after the sultan. The mosque is open to visitors four days a week from Sunday to Wednesday. The mosque is located only 8 km from Brunei International Airport.

Some views of Omar Ali Seyfuddien Mosque.

Crystal Mosque, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

This magnificent mosque is located in Kuala Terengganu, the largest city in Terengganu Province of Malaysia. Crystal Mosque AKA Masjid Krystal is totally an exceptional mosque as well as its architectural formation. The main reason behind that is the domes and minarets of this mosque is decorated by crystal where the use of granite, marble stones, etc. is usual for the other mosques. Even gold has been used in Sultan Omar Ali Seyfuddien Mosque of Brunei to decorate its dome. But here the use of crystal is very exceptional. Construction work on this project started in 2006 which was completed by 2008. Decorated with crystal glass of domes and minarets, during the day they are seen playing in the flickering light of the sun, which is fascinating to look away from. That is why the mosque’s minarets and domes look different at different times of the day. There are about 10 domes with a main big dome, 4 high minarets and many small minarets, each covered with crystal glass. At night the dome and the minarets display a light display which looks so amazing and every tourist enjoys that. The capacity of this mosque is about 1500 people. The use of marble stones can be noticed in its interior design. From the main dome, a spectacular chandelier has been installed three floors below. The mosque has many modern amenities. The mosque has already gained the international fame for its architectural formation and has become the focus of visitors to the world. The mosque is about 13 km away from Sultan Mahmood Airport in Kuala Terengganu.

Some view of this magnificent mosque in Kuala Terengganu.

Faisal Mosque, Islamabad, Pakistan

Faisal mosque, which is located in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, was established in 1986. It is the largest mosque in Pakistan, which was the largest mosque in the world from 1986 to 1993.  The structure of this mosque is different from other mosques. It looks a lot like the tabernacle of the Bedouins of Arabia.  Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay designed this building. Construction of the mosque began in 1976 with the financial support of the former King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia. Later, the mosque was named after King Faisal. Its construction costed around US $ 120 million. The mosque has eight sloping roofs. Special arrangements have been made to allow sunlight from the mosque walls to the ceiling. Its interior decoration is also excellent. Inside the main part of the building, there is a magnificent chandelier, just in the middle of it, which looks like a globe. The mihrab of the mosque is designed like an open holy Quran book. The floor of the building is wrapped with red carpet. The three sides of the mosque are surrounded by green forested hills and the large open square around the main building is surrounded by grass carpet. The mosque is located on the sloping foot of Margalla hill, making it visible from any part of Islamabad city. Each minarets of this mosque stands 260 feet high. The capacity of the mosque is about 274000. The largest mosque in South Asia is regarded as a symbol of the city of Islamabad.

Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Sultan Mosque, Singapore

One of the most important mosques in Singapore, the small country of 720 square kilometers. The mosque has remained unchanged since its inception. As like as it was built, no fundamental changes were made to the design. The construction of the mosque began in 1824 and finished in 1826. Sultan Hussein Shah, the former emperor of Singapore built this mosque. According to ratio of Singapore population, the country hasn’t that much Muslims. About 5% people of total population are Muslims. Among them Malay Muslims are large in number and rest of them are about to be South Asians. So the Muslim Areas are built around the mosque where the mosque is center of attraction.  The streets around the mosque are named as Muscat Street, Baghdad Street, Haji Lane, Arab Street, etc. You will find out some Arabian food shops, Halal restaurants, Traditional clothing stores, jewelry stores, Turkish and Irani carpet stores etc. at those streets. Although no fundamental changes were made to the structure of the mosque, the mosque was renovated after 100 years of its construction and a board of Trustees was formed. Looking at the mosque from the outside, it would seem to be a palace. Its original dome is very similar to the dome of Sultan Omar Ali Seyfuddien Mosque of Brunei. But that isn’t covered by gold. The main gate which is looking like the mihrab of the mosque, stands out to welcome everyone. And the palm trees in front of the building are acting like the minarets of the mosque. The interior design of the mosque has a variety of Arabic calligraphy and designs. Inside there are rows of beautiful chandeliers installed on the celling. In one corner of the mosque, there is a digital museum. There are some big touchscreen monitors installed where information about the mosque and various Islamic books have been stored for the visitors. There is a separate prayer hall for the female worshippers.  The capacity of this mosque is about 5000 people. Outside the mosque, there are many souvenir shops where visitors are always gathered. The mosque is located in the Kampung Glam area where it is easily accessible from any MRT station in Singapore.

Inside & Outside views of Sultan Mosque.

Hamad International Airport Mosque, Doha, Qatar

Hamad International Airport located in Doha, the capital of Qatar, is one of the most beautiful and modern airports in the world. Therefore, a beautiful mosque has been built here to facilitate the devoted Muslim travelers inside the airport. The structure of this mosque is quite different. The entire circular roof of this mosque is surrounded by a massive glass dome. So, looking at the mosque from a far distance would seem like a big diamond piece. There is a minaret next to the main building that is not too tall. There are several water fountains in front of the main building. At night, the illumination of the mosque attracts all the passengers at the airport. The interior designing of the mosque is eye-catching as well as its exterior. The interior of it is decorated with many Arabic calligraphy. The most prominent part of the mosque is the dome-shaped whole roof, which is its main attraction. Most mosques in the world have domes but they are in the center or in specific places but not the whole. The entire dome is made of glass and has a floral design on its inner pattern. The dome is lit at night and the inner lights inside are hung above. Daylight is coming through the sun which passes from the glass ceiling inside the mosque. Passengers departing from Hamad Airport can easily reach here. Arriving passengers must have to cross the immigration process to visit this beautiful mosque.

Hamad International Airport Mosque, Doha, Qatar.

Mashkhur Jusup Mosque, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan

The mosque is located in Pavlodar, a northeastern city in Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country. It was opened a year after its construction in 2001, and there are about 1500 people who can pray together. The mosque was named after Kazakh poet and historian Mashkhur Jusup. The main building of this mosque looks a bit like a pyramid when you are about to look it from a far distance. But that is not the case at all. Its construction engineering is completely different. The base of the building is constructed of an octagonal star with eight points whose diameter is 48/48 meters. The mosque has 4 missile-shaped minarets, which is 63 meters high and this height symbolizes the age of Hazrat Muhammad (SM), the founder of Islam. Its only sky-blue dome has a height of 54 meters which is set on eight main pillars of the octagonal star-shaped building. In front of the main building there is a large triangular shaped gate. Along with a large prayer room, the mosque has a school, a wedding hall, a library, a dining room and an Islamic culture museum as well. Initially composed of monolithic iron concrete, brick, metal, marble and aluminum, its architecture became an inspiration and influenced many of the country’s urban designs. Of course, part of its center is unique and cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. Inside of it, there is a crystal chandelier known as “Jumraad” that contains 434 lamps and beautify the interior of the mosque, which was built in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The architecture of the mosque is designed to resemble an open heart that is able to capture the attention of all visitors of the world.

Mashkhur Jusup Mosque, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan.

That’s all for today. There will be talk about any other structures, travel destinations, travel stories or anything else related to travel.

So, travel more & be happy. Always remember that your mobility is your freedom.

Picture Source – Collected Pictures.