Hassan-ii | The world's most beautiful mosques - Travel The world's most beautiful mosques Previous slide Next slide 8 of 26 View All Skip Ad Hassan II mosque, Morocco The Grande Mosquée Hassan II proudly supports the world's tallest minaret, at 210 metres. The world's third largest mosque, it is the only such building in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter. It stands proud on the seafront in Casablanca, and the seabed is visible through the glass floor in the hall. Hassan II Mosque - 必应 Sign in Hassan II Mosque This stately mosque, a fine example of pure Moroccan architecture, is the only one in the city that non-Muslims may visit. 关于Hassan II Mosque，网友们最关心的问题 Where is the great Hassan II mosque?

答 该。 哈桑二世清真寺。 ( 1605 1587 1580 1583 1575 1604 1581 1587 1606 1575 1604 1579 1575 1606 1610 8206 )位于摩洛哥的卡萨布兰卡。 答 The. Hassan II Mosque. (&#1605;&#1587;&#1580;&#1583; &#1575;&#1604;&#1581;&#1587;&#1606; &#1575;&#1604;&#1579;&#1575;&#1606;&#1610;&#8206;) is located in Casablanca in Morocco. LA GRANDE MOSQUÉE HASSAN II: A modern architectural jewel in its own right!

| Le Mauricien LA GRANDE MOSQUÉE HASSAN II: A modern architectural jewel in its own right! Article paru dans Le Mauricien | 23 April, 2016 - 09:00 | Par MOOMTAZ EMRITH Visit to Fascinating Morocco -- Part II Every community, every town and every village in Morocco has its mosque, sometimes more than one and the minaret is always the first sight to catch the visitor's eye. It rises high, towering above all constructions. In fact, no edifice is taller than the minaret in any city or medina. As a matter of fact, I was advised that it was against the law to build any edifice higher than the minaret in the country. Another point of interest about minarets in Morocco is that they are all rectangular in shape -- not cylindrical as in other Muslim countries in the world. As a matter of fact, rectangular minarets are also common in Tunisia and Algeria, I was told. The famous Hassan II Mosque, which is one of the highlights of the City of Casablanca, is built on the Atlantic Ocean.

It is the largest Mosque in Africa and the seventh largest one in the world. It was designed by the French architect Michel Pinceau. Construction began in 1986 and was completed in 1993. It is a masterpiece of modern architecture. Its minaret rises 210 metres in the sky and is the tallest in the world. It is fitted with a laser beam that darts its beam at night over 30 kilometres towards the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The minaret of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the tallest minaret in the world Some 25,000 worshippers can pray inside its beautifully decorated ceilings and magnificent prayer hall where hang exquisitely gorgeous chandeliers brought from Italy adding a touch of out-of-this-world grace to the building while another 80,000 can worship in its courtyard. Besides, the Grand Mosque has heated floors and is fitted with electric doors and a tractable roof that can be opened in a matter of minutes to allow sunlight inside and, during the warm summer evenings, provide worshippers the serenity to pray under the stars.

Inside view of the fabulous prayer hall of the Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco, done in the finest Carrara marbles from Italy. Inside the Mosque, it truly feels like being out of this world. The Grand Mosque is open to visitors every day for a fee but only for visits of the outside and the basement. And there are thousands of tourists who come just for that every day. The inside of the Mosque is restricted to Muslims only and is accessible only at prayer times. And, for that matter, so are all the mosques in the country. However, it must be pointed out that Muslims have free access to all mosques at prayer times across the kingdom. Sure, the construction of the Grand Mosque Hassan II was a major project undertaken by King Hassan II in 1986. However, given the huge cost involved, the project, understandably, created some grumblings among some Moroccans who thought the money could be better used elsewhere for the benefit of the people but in the end everybody joined in. However, by the time the project was completed, King Hassan II had already passed away but his successor saw the project through and presided over its inauguration in 1993.

The various influences of modern architecture and craftsmanship in the concept and design are easily discernible. However, although from the outside it does not look that spectacular it is yet quite impressive but its real magnificence and grandeur are all inside where the intricate architecture and decorations shine and keep you spellbound and where masterly art work and craftsmanship in the finest marbles -- the Carara marbles -- imported from Italy, dominates. Another fascinating feature of the Grand Mosque is that one-third of the structure, which is built to withstand earthquakes, stands on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. To-day Moroccans are extremely proud of their Grande Mosquée.

Kareem, our Tour Guide, told me -- not without pride: -- "Every household in the Kingdom has contributed to the construction of the Mosque," he assured me, and, adding in the same breath, "The Prophet of Islam has advised his followers that: 'Whoever builds a mosque in this world, Allah will build a house for him/her in heaven!'" So much so, he added tersely with a touch of sarcastic humour: "I can tell you that we, Moroccans, are, in a way, assured of our place in heaven!" Next: "Rabat -- the imperial capital of Morocco" A Propos de l'Auteur Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco, 176 insider tips, photos, reviews & tickets Casablanca Guided Sightseeing Tour "Take this tour to see the most important sights of Casablanca or “White House” in Arabic Dar El Beida a name given due to the white houses facing the ocean at the Anfa district by the Spanish and Portuguese sailors who stopped there before the city was built. Today it is a modern city with boulevards and modern infrastructure.

Stroll along Habbous distri a fine example of successful adaptation of modern town planning in style of a traditional Medina. You will be seeing the United Nations Place Mohammed V Square the Central Market the Royal Palace surrounding the Habbous Quarter Private 1-Day Highlights Tour of Casablanca and Rabat "You will be picked up from Casablanca International airport the local port or from your accommodation. in Casablanca you’ll visit Hassan II Mosque the biggest mosque outside of Mecca. Experience the Corniche coast see Rick's Cafe and the Jewish Museum if you like before departing for Rabat the capital of Morocco.In Rabat you’ll see the Mausoleum Private Guided Tour of Casablanca "Your private tour begins with pick up from either the port airport or local hotel. Your air-conditioned chauffeured van and guide will provide a safe and comfortable experience as you start your journey exploring Morocco's largest city.Begin with a must see - Hassan II Mosque which was finished in 1993.

Its minaret is the world's tallest at 689 ft (210 metres) and can hold up to 105000 worshipers including 25 10 Most Beautiful Mosques in the World 10 Most Beautiful Mosques in the World by Ejaz Khan Mosque (Masjid) is a Holy place for Muslims. It is a place for worship for all the followers of Islam. Mosque is the place where all the Muslims of the community come together and have their prayers. Mosques or Masjids are fine examples of excellent architecture of Islam and Muslims. Beautiful mosques are found all around the globe, with the spread of the Islamic empire throughout the World. Islam has taken its fine culture and arts to those places. Because Islam had reached parts of Europe and Africa, it has left great influences in their cultures, which is clear from the offset. There are so many beautiful mosques founded in many countries. All these look stunning from the outside and if you are lucky enough to be a Muslim and have visited some of the interior, well then you would know that it is breath-taking! What better time than to appreciate the beauty of these Islamic architectures than the month of Ramadan?

Here’s 10 awe-inspiring, beautiful mosques from various countries around the world that’ll leave you breathless. The top ten of the Most Beautiful Mosques 1. Al Haram Mosque – Macca, Saudi Arabia The Qur’an said that this was the first house built for humanity to worship Allah. The most famous monument in the world , Al Haram mosque or “Grand Mosque” is located in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the largest mosque in the world and surrounds one of Islam’s holiest places, the Kaaba. The mosque is also known as the greatest Mosque. Current structure covers an area of 400,800 square meters (99.0 acres), including outdoor and indoor praying spaces and can accommodate up to 4 million people during the period of the Hajj, one of the largest annual worship of the Muslim in the world. 2. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi – Medina, Saudi Arabia Al Nabawi Mosque, often called the Prophet’s Mosque, is a mosque built by the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) situated in the city of Medina. It is the second holiest site in Islam (the first being the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca).

It was the second mosque built in history and is now one of the largest mosques in the world after the al-Haram mosque in Mecca. One of the most important place of this mosque is Green Dome (the center of the mosque), where the tomb of the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is located. In 1279 AD, a wooden cupola was built over the tomb which was later rebuilt and renovated multiple times in late 15th century and once in 1817. The dome was first painted green in 1837, and later became known as the Green Dome. 3. Al Aqsa Mosque – Jerusalem, Palestine Al-Aqsa Mosque also known as Al-Aqsa and Bayt al-Muqaddas, is the third holiest site in Islam and an Islamic shrine located in the Old City of Jerusalem . In the mosque itself is part of Al-Haram ash-Sharif or “Sacred Noble Sanctuary” (together with the Dome of the Rock), a site which is also known as Temple Mount as the holiest site in Judaism, because it is believed to be The Temple of Jerusalem once stood.

Muslims believe that the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was transported from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Night Journey. Islamic tradition states that Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led prayers toward this mosque until the seventeenth month after the emigration, when Allah ordered him to turn to the Kaaba. 4. Hassan II Mosque – Morocco The Grande Mosquée Hassan II, located in Casablanca, Morocco. It is the largest mosque in the country and the 7th largest in the world. Its minaret is the world’s tallest at 210 metres (689 ft). It was completed in 1993. The minaret is 60 stories high topped by a laser, the light from which is directed towards Mecca. The mosque stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic Ocean, the sea bed being visible through the glass floor of the building’s hall. The walls are of hand-crafted marble and the roof is retractable.

A maximum of 105,000 worshippers can gather together for prayer: 25,000 inside the mosque hall and another 80,000 on the mosque’s outside grounds. 5. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque – Brunei Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is a royal Islamic mosque located in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei. The mosque considered one of the most beautiful mosques in the Asia Pacific and a major landmark and tourist attraction of Brunei. The building was completed in 1958 and is an example of modern Islamic architecture. The mosque is built in an artificial lagoon on the banks of the Brunei River at Kampong Ayer, the “village in the water”. It has marble minarets and golden domes with courtyards and lush gardens full of fountains. The mosque is surrounded by a large number of trees and floral gardens which in Islam symbolizes heaven. The mosque unites Mughal architecture and Italian styles. 6. Zahir Mosque – Kedah, Malaysia The Zahir Mosque is Kedah’s state mosque.

It is located in the heart of Alor Star, the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia . It is one of the grandest and oldest mosques in Malaysia. The mosque was built in 1912, funded by Tunku Mahmud, son of the Sultan Tajuddin Mukarram Shah. The architecture from the mosque inspired by AZIZI Mosque in the city of Langkat in north Sumatra, Indonesia . The mosque was founded with five large domes symbolizing the five main principles of Islam. The state’s Quran reading competition is held annually within the premises of the mosque. This mosque has been voted the top 10 most beautiful mosques in the world. 7. Faisal Mosque Islamabad – Pakistan Faisal Mosque in Islamabad is the biggest mosque in south east and southern Asia and the fourth largest mosque in the world .

It was the largest mosque in the world of 1986-1993 before defeated measure by the completion of the Mosque of Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco and after the expansion of Masjid Al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Mecca and the Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi (Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Mosque) in Medina, Saudi Arabia in the 1990s. 8. Taj ul Mosque – Bhopal, India Taj-ul-Masajid literally means “The Crown of Mosques” situated in Bhopal, India. The mosque is also used as a Islamic school during the day time. It is one of the largest mosque in asia. The mosque has a pink facade topped by two 18-storey high octagonal minarets with marble domes. The mosque also has three huge bulbous domes, an impressive main hallway with attractive pillars and marble flooring resembling Mughal architecture the likes of Jama Masjid in Delhi and the huge Badshahi Mosque of Lahore. It has a courtyard with a large tank in the centre.

It has a double-storeyed gateway with four recessed archways and nine cusped multifold openings in the main prayer hall. 9. Badshahi Mosque of Lahore – Pakistan The Badshahi Mosque or the ‘Royal Mosque’ in Lahore, commissioned by the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1671 and completed in 1673, is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world. Epitomising the beauty, passion and grandeur of the Mughal era, it is Lahore’s most famous landmark and a major tourist attraction. Capable of accommodating 55,000 worshippers in its main prayer hall and a further 95,000 in its courtyard and porticoes, it remained the largest mosque in the world from 1673 to 1986 (a period of 313 years). 10. Sultan Mosque, Singapore Sultan Mosque, located at Muscat Street and North Bridge Road in Kampong Glam Rochor District in Singapore is still considered one of the most important mosque in Singapore.

Sultan mosque has stayed essentially unchanged since it was built, only with improvements made to the main hall in 1960 and annex added in 1993. It set as a national monument on March 14th 1975. Where is the Sultan Ahmet (Blue Mosque) Malone It’s in Istanbul TommyKetchup The Dome of the Rock you have showm, not the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has a grey dome. mustafa Sultan ahmet must be 4. One DATTA GAWANDE tell me one country where no any one temple & mosques Clover Field #3 is ugly. Jordan The Al Haram Mosque is not the most famous monument in the world. I didn’t even know about it before I had to do a project on it. Although it might be the most famous mosque, but I don’t know because I’m not Islamic. It is an amazing and good article. It needs research and u did. Kareem Where is the Omaia mosque in Damascus jalal khan there is a beautiull mosque in afghanistan also Holymoly This shit cant be real the fact that they show mosques up there and in between naked woman unbelievable.

World’s Top 20 Largest Mosques | The Wondrous World’s Top 20 Largest Mosques Architecture, Top Ten Pinterest0 20. Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem Al-Aqsa Mosque also known as al-Aqsa, is an Islamic holy place in the Old City of Jerusalem. The site that includes the mosque (along with the Dome of the Rock) is also referred to as al-Haram ash-Sharif or “Sacred Noble Sanctuary”, a site also known as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, the place where the First and Second Temples are generally accepted to have stood. Widely considered as the third holiest site in Islam, Muslims believe that the prophet Muhammad was transported from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to al-Aqsa during the Night Journey. Islamic tradition holds that Muhammad led prayers towards this site until the seventeenth month after the emigration, when God ordered him to turn towards the Ka’aba. Al-Aqsa is comes as twentieth largest mosque of the world. A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, Masjid.

The mosque serves as a place where Muslims can come together for prayer as well as a center for information, education and dispute settlement. This post features top 20 largest mosques of the world, hope you will like our effort. 19. Masjid e Tooba (Gol Masjid), Karachi, Pakistan Masjid e Tooba or Tooba Mosque is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Locally, it is also known as the Gol Masjid. Masjid e Tooba was built in 1969 in Defense Housing Society, Karachi is nineteenth largest mosque in the world. It is located just off main Korangi Road. Masjid e Tooba is often claimed to be the largest single dome mosque in the world. It is also major tourist attraction in Karachi. Masjid e Tooba is built with pure white marble. The dome of the Masjid e Tooba is 72 meters (236 feet) in diameter, and is balanced on a low surrounding wall with no central pillars. Masjid e Tooba has a single minaret standing 70 meters high. The central prayer hall has a capacity of 5,000 people. It has been built keeping acoustics in mind.

A person speaking inside one end of the dome can be heard at the other end. This mosque was designed by Pakistani architect Dr Babar Hamid Chauhan. 18. Al Fateh Mosque (Bahrain Grand Mosque) The Al-Fateh Mosque also known as Al-Fateh Islamic Center & Al Fateh Grand Mosque is eighteenth of the largest mosques in the world, capable of accommodating over 7,000 worshippers at a time. he mosque is the largest place of worship in Bahrain. It is located next to the King Faisal Highway in Juffair, which is a town located in the capital city of Manama. The mosque very close to the Royal Bahraini Palace, the residence of the king of Bahrain Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah. The huge dome built on top of the Al-Fatih Mosque is made of pure fiberglass. 17. Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a historical mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire (from 1453 to 1923). The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.

It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. While still used as a mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has also become a popular tourist attraction. Sultan Ahmed Mosque is known as seventeenth largest mosque in the world. 16. Grozny Central Dome Mosque Akhmad Kadyrov Grozny Central Dome Mosque is located in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, and bears the name of Akhmad Kadyrov. The mosque design is based on the Blue Mosque in İstanbul. On October 16, 2008, the mosque was officially opened in a ceremony in which Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov spoke and was with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. This mosque is one of the biggest in Europe. In this mosque ten thousand Muslims can pray at a time and its minarets reach 60m high and is sixteenth largest mosque in the world. 15.

Baitul Futuh Mosque The Bait’ul Futuh Mosque is the largest mosque in Western Europe and fifteenth largest in the world with an area of 5.2 acres (21,000 m2), the mosque complex can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers. Built in 2003 at a cost of approximately £5.5 million, entirely from donations of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, it is located in the south-west London suburb of Morden, next to Morden South railway station, 150 yards from the Morden Underground. 14. Removed 13. Masjid Negara, Malaysia The Masjid Negara is the national mosque of Malaysia, located in Kuala Lumpur. It has a capacity of 15,000 people and is situated among 13 acres (53,000 m2) of beautiful gardens. The original structure was designed by a three-person team from the Public Works Department – UK architect Howard Ashley, and Malaysians Hisham Albakri and Baharuddin Kassim.

Originally built in 1965, it is a bold and modern approach in reinforced concrete, symbolic of the aspirations of a then newly-independent Malaysia. Its key features are a 73-metre-high minaret and an 18-pointed star concrete main roof. The umbrella, synonymous with the tropics, is featured conspicuously – the main roof is reminiscent of an open umbrella, the minaret’s cap a folded one. The folded plates of the concrete main roof is a creative solution to achieving the larger spans required in the main gathering hall. Reflecting pools and fountains spread throughout the compound. Masjid Negara known as thirteenth largest mosque in the world. 12. Id Kah Mosque, China The Id Kah Mosque is a mosque located in Kashgar, Xinjiang, in the western People’s Republic of China. It is the largest mosque in China and twelfth largest mosque in the world . Every Friday, it houses nearly 10,000 worshippers and may accommodate up to 20,000. The mosque was built by Saqsiz Mirza in ca.

1442 (although it incorporated older structures dating back to 996) and covers 16,800 square meters. 11. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman In 1992 Sultan Qaboos directed that his country of Oman should have a Grand Mosque. A competition for its design took place in 1993 and after a site was chosen at Bausher construction commenced in 1995. Building work, which was undertaken by Carillion Alawi LLC took six years and four months. The Mosque is built from 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone and eleventh largest mosque in the world. The main musalla (prayer hall) is square (external dimensions 74.4 x 74.4 metres) with a central dome rising to a height of fifty metres above the floor. The dome and the main minaret (90 metres) and four flanking minarets (45.5 metres) are the mosque’s chief visual features. 10. Baitul Mukarram, Bangladesh Baitul Mukarram is the national mosque of Bangladesh.

Located at the heart of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, the mosque was founded during the 1960s. The mosque has a capacity of 30,000, giving it the respectable position of being the 10th biggest mosque in the world. However the mosque is constantly getting overcrowded. This especially occurs during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which has resulted in the Bangladeshi government having to add extensions to the mosque, thus increasing the capacity to at least 40,000. 9. Jama Masjid, Delhi, India Jama Masjid, commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, and completed in the year 1656 AD, it is the largest and best-known mosque in India and ninth largest mosque in the world. It lies at the origin of a very busy central street of Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk. The later name, Jama Masjid, is a reference to the weekly Friday noon congregation prayers of Muslims, Jummah, which are usually done at a mosque, the “congregational mosque”.

The courtyard of the mosque can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshipers. 8. Sheikh Zayed Mosque Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the eighth largest mosque in the world. It is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder and the first President of the United Arab Emirates, who is also buried there. The mosque was officially opened in the Islamic month of Ramadan in 2007. 7. Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan The Badshahi Mosque or the ‘Emperor’s Mosque’ in Lahore is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the seventh largest mosque in the world. Epitomising the beauty, passion and grandeur of the Mughal era, it is Lahore’s most famous landmark and a major tourist attraction. Capable of accommodating 10,000 worshippers in its main prayer hall and a further 100,000 in its courtyard and porticoes, it remained the largest mosque in the world from 1673 to 1986 (a period of 313 years), when overtaken in size by the completion of the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.

Today, it remains the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world. 6. Faisal Mosque, Islamabad, Pakistan The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad is the largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the sixth largest mosque in the world. It was the largest mosque in the world from 1986 to 1993 when overtaken in size by the completion of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. Subsequent expansions of the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Mecca and the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) in Medina, Saudi Arabia during the 1990s relegated Faisal Mosque to fourth place in terms of size. Faisal Mosque is conceived as the National Mosque of Pakistan. It has a covered area of 5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft) and has a capacity to accommodate approximately 300,000 worshippers (100,000 in its main prayer hall, courtyard and porticoes and another 200,000 in its adjoining grounds). 5.

The Hassan II Mosque Located in Casablanca is the largest mosque in Morocco and the fifth largest mosque in the world. Designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau and built by Bouygues.[1] It stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic, which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor with room for 25,000 worshippers. A further 80,000 can be accommodated in the mosque’s adjoining grounds for a total of 105,000 worshippers present at any given time at the Hassan II mosque. Its minaret is the world’s tallest at 210 m (689 ft). 4. Istiqlal Mosque Istiqlal Mosque, or Masjid Istiqlal, in Jakarta, Indonesia is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia in term of capacity to accommodate people. However in term of building structure and land coverage, Istiqlal is the largest in Southeast Asia and fourth largest in the world. This national mosque of Indonesia was build to commemorate Indonesian independence, as nation’s gratitude for God’s blessings; the independence of Indonesia. Therefore the national mosque of Indonesia was named “Istiqlal”, an Arabic word for “Independence”.

3. Imam Reza Shrine Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran is a complex which contains the mausoleum of Imām Ridha, the eighth Imam of Twelver Shi’ites and known as third largest mosque of the world. Also contained within the complex include: the Goharshad Mosque, a museum, a library, four seminaries, a cemetery, the Razavi University of Islamic Sciences, a dining hall for pilgrims, vast prayer halls, and other buildings. 2. Al-Masjid al-Nabawi Al-Masjid al-Nabawi “Mosque of the Prophet”), often called the Prophet’s Mosque, is a mosque situated in the city of Medina. As the final resting place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, it is considered the second holiest site in Islam by both Shia and Sunni Muslims (the first being the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca) and is the second largest mosque in the world. 1. Masjid al-Haram, Mecca, Saudi Arabia Masjid al-Haram is the largest mosque in the world.

Located in the city of Mecca, it surrounds the Kaaba, the place which Muslims worldwide turn towards while offering daily prayers and is Islam’s holiest place. The mosque is also known as the Grand Mosque. The current structure covers an area of 4,008,020 square metres (990.40 acres) including the outdoor and indoor praying spaces and can accommodate up to four million Muslim worshippers during the Hajj period, one of the largest annual gatherings of people in the world. THE LARGEST MOSQUE IN MOROCCO | Worldtraveland THE LARGEST MOSQUE IN MOROCCO Posted by Worldtraveland The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca was completed in 1993 after great expense and artistic labor, and the result is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. Its gleaming newness and tremendous wealth is a stark contrast against the rest of Casablanca. History The great Hassan II Mosque was commissioned by its namesake, King Hassan II, in part to provide Casablanca with a single landmark monument.

On his birthday, July 9, 1980, the king declared: Designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, construction of the Hassan II Mosque began in July 1986 on land reclaimed (without compensation to the former residents) from a run-down area near the sea. The goal for completion of the mosque was King Hassan II’s 60th birthday in 1989, but it ended up not being finished until August 30, 1993. The project is estimated to have cost as much as $800 million, funds that were remarkably raised entirely from public subscription. International reports have suggested both local resentment and less-than-voluntary donations to the project, but Moroccans seem to be genuinely proud of their monument. The massive fundraising also had a positive side-effect: it temporarily reduced Morocco’s money supply and brought down inflation. Nearly all the materials of the Hassan II Mosque are from Morocco, with the sole exceptions of the imported white granite columns and glass chandeliers (from Murano, near Venice). The marble is from Agandir, the cedar wood is from the Middle Atlas and the granite comes from Tafraoute.

Over 6,000 Moroccan master craftsmen and artisans were employed to work these local materials into the intricate decorations that embellish the entire structure. When construction passed its deadline in the early 1990s, 1,400 men worked by day and 1,000 worked by night to bring the vast project to completion. What to See The Hassan II Mosque is open to all Muslims at daily prayer times and for special Friday services. Non-Muslim visitors may enter the mosque on guided tours, which take place several times a day in English. The most distinctive characteristic of the Hassan II Mosque is its spectacular location (see aerial view below) on a platform over the Atlantic Ocean. Uniquely, part of the mosque’s floor is made of glass so worshippers can kneel directly over the sea. Unfortunately, this wonderful feature is mainly for royal use and is off-limits to visitors. Above, an automated sliding roof opens (on special occasions) to the heavens. Thus the faithful of Casablanca can indeed contemplate God’s sky and ocean in accordance with Hassan’s wishes. At 689 feet, the Great Mosque’s minaret is the tallest structure in Morocco and the tallest minaret in the world.

At night, lasers shine a beam from the top of the minaret toward Mecca , “to point the way to God.” The building was designed to withstand earthquakes and has a heated floor and electric doors. The style of the Hassan II Mosque displays strong Moorish influences, bringing to mind the Alhambra and in Spain. Horseshoe arches prevail both outside and in, and the walls and columns of the interior are delicately carved in a variety of intricate patterns. There is a huge women’s gallery on the right as you face the prayer area, which is beautifully carved of dark wood. The prayer area in the back is spacious and carpeted in red. Downstairs are Turkish-style baths and fountains for washing. Hassan II Mosque | Where in the world is Riccardo? Where in the world is Riccardo?

Exploring and photographing by sea Search La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque) is one of the largest in the world, Casablanca, Morocco La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque) is a modern mosque in Casablanca, Morocco – the largest mosque in Morocco and one of the largest in the world (those in Mecca and Medina are the largest in the world). As many as 10,000 craftsmen from across Morocco labored over 50 million man-hours to build the mosque, conceived by French architect Michel Pinseau and built by the civil engineering group Bouygues. It was completed in 1993. The minaret of La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque) at 60 stories high — 210 metres (690 feet) — is the tallest religious structure (and minaret) in the world, Casablanca, Morocco The minaret, 60 stories high — 210 metres (690 feet) — is the tallest religious structure (and minaret) in the world.

It is topped by a laser, the light from which is directed at night to the east, towards Mecca. “The minaret is said to enhance the visual alignment of the boulevard. It is square in shape thrusting skyward. The base to the top width ratio of 1 to 8 (between basement and the summit) has a marble covering on the exterior with austere decoration. The faces of the facade have carved ornamentation with different materials. There are stitches of roudani tracetine on a 100,000 MP surface. This decorative material (with chrome and green as dominant colours), is a substitute for the use of bricks, the material used in many other notable minarets, and has given the mosque an extraordinary elegance.

Green tiles decorate the minaret for one third of the height from the top, and then changes colour to deep green or tourquoise blue; it is said that in the Hassan II minaret, the designer had used his sea-foam green and God’s blue to celebrate the life of a king.” — Wikipedia The walls of La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque) are of hand-crafted marble, Casablanca, Morocco Closeup of exterior fountain at La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco The mosque stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic Ocean, the sea bed being visible through the glass floor of the building’s hall. The walls are of hand-crafted marble and the roof is retractable. A maximum of 105,000 worshipers can gather together for prayer: 25,000 inside the mosque hall and another 80,000 on the mosque’s outside grounds. Inside, the mosque has separate areas for worship by men and women – 20,000 men on the main floor of the prayer hall and 5,000 women upstairs.

Tiled mosaics on the exterior of La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco Delicate carvings atop the columns of the Prayer Hall inside La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco “The prayer hall is on the ground floor. The central hall is centrally heated, and provides spectacular underwater views of the Atlantic Ocean. The decorations in the hall are elaborate and exquisite made possible by involving 6000 master artisans of Morocco working on it. It is so large that it can easily accommodate the house of the Notre Dame of Paris or St. Peter’s of Rome.

The woodcarvings, the zeliij work and the stucco mouldings are of elaborate and highly impressive design; the wood used for carving is cedar from the middle Atlas mountains, the marble is from Agadir and granite is brought from Tafraoute.” — Wikipedia The elaborately decorated Prayer Hall holds 25,000 worshipers inside La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco The beautifully carved and painted wooden dome inside the entrance to the Prayer Hall inside La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco Elaborately carved and painted wooden column support for ceiling beams on the side entrance to the Prayer Hall inside La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco A geometric crisscross of elaborately carved arches in the Prayer Hall inside La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco “The historical context of the mosque began with the death of King Mohammed V in 1961.

King Hassan II had requested for the best of the country’s artisans to come forward and submit plans for a mausoleum to honour the departed king; it should ‘reflect the fervor and veneration with which this illustrious man was regarded.’ In 1980, during his birthday celebrations, Hassan II had made his ambitions very clear for creating a single landmark monument in Casablanca by stating: I wish Casablanca to be endowed with a large, fine building of which it can be proud until the end of time … I want to build this mosque on the water, because God’s throne is on the water. Therefore, the faithful who go there to pray, to praise the creator on firm soil, can contemplate God’s sky and ocean. The building was commissioned by King Hassan II to be the most ambitious structure ever built in Morocco.” – Wikipedia Details of elaborately carved arches in the Prayer Hall inside La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco “The roof is retractable, illuminating the hall with daytime sunlight and allowing worshipers to pray under the stars on clear nights.

It weighs 1100 tons and can be opened in five minutes; it measures 60 metres (200 feet) high, with an area of 3,400 square metres (37,000 sq ft).” – Wikipedia Geometric decoration on the wall on the passageway to the ablution (a ceremonial act of washing parts of the body) chamber on the lower level of La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco One of many carved marble fountains in the men’s ablution chamber on the lower level of La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco Delicate carved arches and columns in the men’s ablution chamber on the lower level of La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco Beautiful cascade of arches in a passageway on the exterior side of La Mosquée Hassan II (Hassan II Mosque), Casablanca, Morocco Mosque Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com Abuja National Mosque, Nigeria A mosque is a place where Muslims worship . [1] The word mosque comes from the Arabic word masjid.

[2] A mosque may be small, and privately owned. A larger, 'collective', mosque is called a masjid jāmi. [3] Larger mosques offer more services to their community . For many Muslim people, a mosque is more than a place of worship. Muslims worship, study and discuss Islam , and do many other things in a mosque and its compounds. In the United Kingdom , many mosques are used as community centres. They are also used to teach about Islam. Religious festivals and gatherings are held in mosques. Weddings are one example. Mosques have rules to control what people do inside. One of these rules is that it is considered rude to disturb another person who is worshipping. Many mosques are known for their Islamic architecture . The earliest mosques, opened in 7th century were open-air spaces. They are the Quba Mosque and Masjid al-Nabawi . Later mosques were buildings that were specially designed. Nowadays, mosques are in every continent , except Antarctica . Contents 8 References Architecture The Jami Ul Alfar mosque in Colombo , Sri Lanka , has striking Moorish and Colonial architecture with a candy-striped facade . Many mosques are famous works of architecture .

They are often built in a style that has stayed the same for many centuries. Many mosques have prayer halls, domes , and minarets . They may also have a courtyard . Mosques were first built on the Arabian Peninsula . The Muslims who built them used old architectural styles. They also combined these styles in new ways. A major influence was the palaces built during the Parthian and Sassanid dynasties of Persia . The Sarvestan palace from the Sassanid era is a good example of this. It has an arched entrance and a central dome. These features already existed in Persia before Islam. After the Arab invasion of Persia, the new style, with its Sassanid influence, was used for the new Islamic world . Many forms of mosques have developed in different regions of the Islamic world. Important mosque types include the early Abbasid mosques, T-type mosques, and the central-dome mosques of Anatolia . In the 20th century , many countries that grew rich from oil paid for the building of many new mosques. The rulers of these countries often hired leading architects to design these mosques. They included non-Muslims.

Arab plan Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt has a hypostyle hall Many early mosques have a square or rectangular plan. They also have a prayer hall and an enclosed courtyard. This is known as Arab-plan. The first mosques of this type were built during the Umayyad Dynasty . The flat roof of the prayer hall was supported by columns . Many rows of columns were needed to support such roofs; [4] this is called " hypostyle architecture ". One of the most famous hypostyle mosques is the Mezquita de Córdoba in Spain . It is supported by over 850 columns. [5] In the warm Mediterranean and Middle Eastern climates , the courtyard served to hold the large number of worshippers during Friday prayers. Often, hypostyle mosques have outer arcades . They allow the visitors to enjoy the shade . Arab-plan mosques were built mostly during the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties. The Arab plan was very simple, which did not allow for much further development. This caused that style of mosque to fall out of favour. [4] Central dome The Ottomans began building central dome mosques in the fifteenth century . These mosques have a large dome centered over the prayer hall.

There may also be smaller domes, which are off-center over the prayer hall or the rest of the mosque. [6] This style was heavily influenced by the Byzantine religious architecture with its use of large central domes. [4] Iwan Iwan mosques are famous for their domed rooms and iwans . Iwans are spaces with an arched roof. They have an opening at one end. One or more iwans face a central courtyard that serves as the prayer hall. The style borrows from pre-Islamic Iranian architecture. Most mosques with this style are in Iran . Parts of Mosques Main page: Minaret The Great Mosque in Aleppo , Syria . The tower-like structure is the minaret. Most mosques have minarets. Minarets are tall towers . Usually they are at one of the corners of the mosque. The top of the minaret is the highest point in the mosque, and usually the highest point in the area around the mosque. The tallest minaret in the world is in the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca , Morocco . [7] The first mosques had no minarets. The most conservative Islamic groups, like Wahhabis , still avoid building minarets.

They see them as simply a fancy decoration and unnecessary. The first minaret was built in 665 in Basra during the reign of the Umayyad caliph Muawiyah I . Muawiyah encouraged the building of minarets, as they were supposed to be the same as bell towers on Christian churches . Because of this, mosque architects used the shape of the bell tower for their minarets. Both the minaret and the bell tower serve the same purpose — to call the faithful to prayer. [8] Before the five required daily prayers, a muezzin calls the worshippers to prayer from the minaret. In many countries like Singapore where Muslims are not the majority, mosques are stopped from loudly playing the call to prayer. The main problem is the use of electronic amplification of the call, which is now widely used by mosques. Domes The domes of the Khatem Al Anbiyaa Mosque in Beirut , Lebanon The domes were often placed directly above the main prayer hall. They represent the universe that Allah created. [9] At first, these domes were small. They only took up a small part of the roof near the mihrab .

Later, they took the whole roof above the prayer hall. Domes normally have the shape of a hemisphere . The Mughals in India popularized onion -shaped domes in South Asia and Persia . [10] Some mosques have several domes, as well as the main large dome. The other domes are often smaller. Domes would help the imam be heard, as the sound waves would bounce in and then out of the dome making the voice louder. Prayer hall All mosques have a prayer hall, which is also called musalla . Normally, there is no furniture in it except for prayer mats or rugs . These are necessary, as Islamic prayer is usually done kneeling . Some mosques have Arabic calligraphy and Qur'anic verses on the walls to help worshipers focus on the beauty of Islam and its holiest book, the Qur'an, as well as for decoration. [11] The qiblah wall is usually at the other side of the entrance to the prayer hall. This wall is specially decorated. In a properly sited mosque, it will be set perpendicular to a line leading to Mecca . [12] People pray in rows parallel to the qiblah wall. They arrange themselves so they face Mecca .

In the qiblah wall, usually at its center, is the mihrab , a niche or depression showing the direction of Mecca . The mihrab serves as the place where the imam leads the five daily prayers. [13] A simple mosque in the Australian outback is different from the grand designs of older Islamic communities. Bourke cemetery, New South Wales. Washing All people must wash themselves before they pray. Mosques often have fountains or other facilities for washing in their entrances or courtyards, so that people can perform the washing ritual before prayer. At very small mosques, worshippers may use restrooms for their ritual washing, or wu'du. In traditional mosques, there is often a building specially for washing. This is often in the center of the courtyard. [5] In the prayer halls, people must not wear shoes for much the same reason. [14] [15] Modern features Modern mosques should appeal to the community they serve. For this reason, other facilities may also be available at the mosque, like health clinics , libraries , and a gymnasium . The inside of mosques There may be decorative tiles , plaster or coloured mosaics on the walls.

Religious functions Muslims performing salat at the Umayyad Mosque Adult Muslims are expected to pray five times a day. Most mosques have formal prayers for each of these times. If performing the prayer is difficult, for example for ill people, then exceptions are made. Mosques also hold a special prayer service, called jumuah . This is done once a week. It is a form of Sabbath and replaces the Friday prayers at the mosque. Daily prayers can be done anywhere. However, Muslims are expected to do their Friday prayer at the mosque. [11] When a Muslim dies, a funeral prayer is normally held. It is held outdoors in a courtyard or square close to the mosque. The prayers have all the worshippers present, including the imam, taking part. [16] During eclipses , mosques will host special prayers called eclipse prayers . [17] There are two large holidays (Eids) in the Islamic calendar . During these days, there are special prayers at mosques in the morning. Larger mosques will normally hold them for their own communities as well as the people from smaller local mosques. Mosques, especially those in countries where Muslims are the majority, will also host Eid prayers outside in courtyards or town squares .

[18] A mosque in Afghanistan See also: Ramadan There are many events in Ramadan , Islam's holiest month. During Ramadan, Muslims must fast during the day. Mosques organise iftar dinners after sunset. These are done after the fourth required prayer of the day. Part of the food is given by members of the community, which creates nightly potluck dinners. The community contribution to these dinners is required. For this reason, mosques with smaller communities may not be able to hold the iftar dinners daily. Some mosques will also hold meals in the morning before dawn . Mosques will often invite poorer members of the community to these meals. Islam sees giving charity during Ramadan as good acts. [19] Larger mosques sometimes offer special, optional prayers. They are done after the last required prayer of the day. During each night of prayers, one member of the community who has memorized the entire Qur’an will recite a part of the book. It can last for up to two hours. [11] Sometimes, several such people (not necessarily of the local community) take turns to do this. During the last ten days of Ramadan, larger mosques will host all-night programs to observe Laylat al-Qadr .

It is the night Muslims believe that the Islamic prophet Muhammad first received Qur'anic revelations. [11] On that night, between sunset and sunrise , mosques employ speakers to teach the worshipers about Islam. Mosques or the community usually provide meals at times through the night. The Al-‘Abbās Mosque in Karbala , Iraq is visited by millions of Shia pilgrims each year. Political functions Mosque in Cuiabá , Brazil During the late twentieth century, more and more mosques have been used for political purposes. Modern-day mosques in the Western world want to educate good citizens. The details differ greatly from mosque to mosque and from country to country. Advocacy Countries with small Muslim populations use mosques as a way to support civic participation. They are more likely to do this than Muslim-majority countries of the Greater Middle East . [20] American mosques host voter registration and civic participation drives. In the United States, Muslims are often immigrants , or the children of immigrants. Mosques want to interest these people for politics. They also want to keep them informed about issues that concern the Muslim community. People who attend the services at the mosque regularly are more likely to take part in protests , to sign petitions , and to involve themselves in political matters.

[20] A link between political views and mosque attendance can still be seen in other parts of the world. [21] After the al-Askari Mosque bombing in February 2006, imams and other Islamic leaders used mosques and Friday prayers to call for calm and peace during the widespread violence . [22] Beginning in the late twentieth century and continuing into the early twenty-first century, a small number of mosques have also become a base for extremist imams to support terrorism and extreme Islamic ideals . Finsbury Park Mosque in London is a mosque that has been used in this manner. Social conflict See also: Babri Masjid , Islamophobia , and Israeli-Palestinian conflict Like other places of worship, mosques can be at the center of social conflicts . Babri Mosque was the centre of such a conflict up until the early 1990s when it was demolished . Before a solution could be found, the mosque was destroyed by about 200,000 Hindus. It took place on 6 December 1992. The mosque was built by Babur to mark the birthplace of Ram . It was believed to be on a site of an earlier Hindu temple .

[23] The conflict over the mosque was directly linked to rioting in Bombay (present-day Mumbai ) as well as bombings in 1993 that killed 257 people. In February 2006, a bombing seriously damaged Iraq's al-Askari Mosque . This increased the existing tensions. The conflict between two Muslim groups in Iraq had already led to other bombings. However mosque bombings are not limited to Iraq. In June 2005, a suicide bomber killed at least 19 people at an Afghan mosque. [24] In April 2006, there were two explosions at India 's Jama Masjid . After the September 11 attacks , several American mosques were targets of attacks. These ranged from simple vandalism to arson . [25] The Jewish Defense League was suspected of plotting to bomb the King Fahd Mosque in Culver City, California . [26] There were similar attacks in the United Kingdom after the 7 July 2005 London bombings . Outside the Western world , in June 2001, the Hassan Bek Mosque was the target of attacks. The attacks involved hundreds of Israelis angry at Arabs for a previous attack.

[27] [28] [29] Saudi influence See also: Wahhabism Saudi involvement in building mosques around the world only goes back to the 1960s. [30] In the 1980s, the Saudi Arabian government began to pay for the building of mosques in countries around the world. An estimated US$ 45 billion has been spent by the Saudi Arabian government for mosques and Islamic schools in foreign countries. Ain al-Yaqeen , a Saudi newspaper, reported in 2002 that Saudi money may have helped to build as many as 1,500 mosques and 2,000 other Islamic centers. [31] Saudi citizens have also given a lot of money to mosques in the Islamic world, especially in countries where they see Muslims as poor and oppressed. Following the fall of the Soviet Union , in 1992, mosques in Afghanistan received money from Saudi citizens.

[30] The King Fahd Mosque in Culver City, California and the Islamic Cultural Center of Italy in Rome are two of Saudi Arabia's largest investments in foreign mosques as former Saudi king Fahd bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud gave US$ 8 million [30] and US$ 50 million [32] to the two mosques, respectively. Rules and behaviour in mosques Baitul Mukarram (Dhaka), the National Mosque of Bangladesh The structure resembles the Kaaba in Mecca . In a mosque, people should keep focused on worshiping Allah. For this reason, there are a number of rules about the correct behaviour in a mosque. Some of these rules are the same all over the world, such as no shoes should be worn in the prayer hall. Other rules are different from mosque to mosque. Prayer leader It is generally seen as good to have someone who leads the prayers, though this is not strictly necessary. [33] The person who usually leads the prayers is called imam. He must be a free and honest man. He should also be an authority when it comes to answering questions on religion.

[33] In mosques that were built or that are kept up by the government, the imam is selected by the ruler. [33] In private mosques, the community selects the imam, through majority voting . Interior of the Mezquita , a hypostyle former mosque with columns arranged in grid pattern, in Córdoba, Spain . Only men may lead prayers for men. [33] Women are allowed to lead prayers for congregations where there are only women. Attending a mosque In addition to washing, there are other rules that also apply to those who enter the mosque, even if they do not wish to pray there. It is forbidden to wear shoes in the carpeted area of the prayer hall. Some mosques also do not allow wearing shoes in other parts, even though these may not be devoted to praying. Islam requires that its believers wear clothes that show modesty . As a result, both men and women must follow this rule when they attend a mosque (though mosques may not always enforce the rules). Men are supposed to come to the mosque wearing loose and clean clothes that do not show the shape of the body.

Similarly, women who come to the mosque are expected to wear loose clothing, shirts, pants that cover to the wrists and ankles and cover their heads such as with a hijab . Many Muslims, regardless of their ethnic background, wear Middle eastern clothing associated with Arabic Islam to special occasions and prayers at mosques. [11] Mosques are places of worship. For this reason, those inside the mosque should be respectful to those who are praying. Loud talking or discussion of topics that could be disrespectful, is forbidden in areas where people are praying. It is also considered as rude to walk in front of Muslims in prayer or otherwise disturb them. [34] Men and women pray in different parts Muslims praying in the male section of a mosque in Srinagar , Jammu and Kashmir , India Islamic law requires men and women to be separated in the prayer hall. Ideally, women should pray behind men. Muhammad said, women should pray at home, not at the mosque. Muhammad thought women should not be forbidden in mosques. The second caliph Umar at one time stopped women from attending mosques, especially at night, because he feared they may be teased by males, so he made them to pray at home.

[35] Sometimes a special part of the mosque was railed off for women; for example, the governor of Mecca in 870 had ropes tied between the columns to make a separate place for women. [4] Many mosques today will put the women behind a barrier or partition or in another room. Mosques in South and Southeast Asia put men and women in separate rooms, as the divisions were built into them centuries ago. In nearly two-thirds of American mosques, women pray behind partitions or in separate areas, not in the main prayer hall; some mosques do not admit women at all. Although there are sections only for women and children, the Grand Mosque in Mecca is desegregated. [36] Non-Muslims in mosques A few scholars of Islamic law believe that non-Muslims may be allowed into mosques, as long as they do not sleep or eat there. Followers of the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence disagree. They say that non-Muslims may not be allowed into mosques at all. [33] Different countries have different opinions on the question. Nearly all the mosques in the Arabian Peninsula as well as Morocco do not allow non-Muslims.

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is one of only two mosques in Morocco currently open to non-Muslims. [37] In modern-day Saudi Arabia , the Grand Mosque and all of Mecca are open only to Muslims. Likewise, the Masjid al-Nabawi and the city of Medina that surrounds it are also off-limits to those who do not practice Islam. [38] For mosques in other areas, it has most commonly been taken that non-Muslims may only enter mosques if granted permission to do so by Muslims and if they have a proper reason. [11] In modern Turkey non-Muslim tourists are allowed to enter any mosque, but must obey the rules of decorum . Visiting a mosque is allowed only between prayers; visitors must wear long trousers and take off their shoes; women must cover their heads; no photos; no loud talk is allowed. No references to other religions are allowed (no crosses on necklaces, no cross gestures etc.). However, there are also many other places in the west as well as the Islamic world where non-Muslims are welcome to enter mosques. Most mosques in the United States , for example, report receiving non-Muslim visitors every month.

[39] Many Mosques throughout the United States welcome non-Muslims as a sign of openness to the rest of the community and to encourage conversions to Islam. [40] [41] Dogs Dogs are usually banned from entering mosques, but on 24 September 2008, the Muslim Law Council UK made special ruling, called a fatwa , which granted a blind Muslim permission to take his guide dog into the mosque. [42] Mosques as hostels It is common for a smaller mosque to serve as a hostel for Muslims on haj ( pilgrimage to Mecca). Sometimes mosques are used for refugees , or as temporary homes for homeless people. Obligations to neighbours in Islam are very strict, and specific. In the Qur'an Mohammed said that a person who helps others in the hour of need, and who helps the oppressed; that person God will help on the Day of Travail (agony). [43] There are other commands, such as helping the poor and being nice to people. An important part of being Muslim, or just being part of the mosque, is taking care of people who need help. A mosque is a social, as well as a religious, group.

A madrassa is a little different from a mosque. A madrassa focuses on teaching Islam, usually to children and young people. Mosques in Spain The Mezquita de Córdoba was a mosque. Today, it is the cathedral of Cordoba. When Spain was under Muslim control, some of the most beautiful buildings were mosques. After 1492, Spain was under Christian control. However, the Christians did not tear down the mosques. They simply put a crucifix in them to make them into churches. These mosques influenced the Renaissance architecture (way of building) in Europe. References ↑ GCSE Religious Studies: Complete Revision and Practice (Revised ed.). Coordination Group Publications. 2009. p. 96. ISBN 9781847624062 .

Question: The Hassan II Mosque, opened in 1993, with the world's tallest minaret, is in which country?
Answer: Morocco