Published by: Masha Books Copyright Masha Books All rights are reserved and unauthorized production in any manner is prohibited First Printed in India: 2018 Project Designer: Masha Books Project Author: Jason Luke Starr
Contents Herat Masjid 6 Tlemcen Grand Mosque 10 Ketchaoua Mosque 12 Al Fateh Mosque 14 Sixty Dome Mosque 16 Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque 18 Bobo Dioulasso Grand Mosque 20 Mosque of Xi an 22 Mosque of Abu Abbas Al-Mursi 24 Jama Masjid 26 Baiturraham Grand Mosque 28 Masjid Agung Palembang 40 Great mosque of Demak 42 Jameh Mosque of Isfahan 44 Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque 46 Nasir al-mulk Mosque 48 Imam Ali Mosque 50 Mosque of Samarra 53 Blue Mosque 55 Al Aqsa Mosque 58 Negara Masjid 60 Putra Mosque 62 Great Mosque of Djenne 64 Prophet s Mosque 67 Hassan II mosque 70 Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque 73 Badshahi Mosque 75
Wazir Khan Mosque 79 Faisal Mosque 80 Nord Kamal Mosque 82 Quba Masjid 84 Great Mosque of Damascus 86 Great Mosque of kairouan 88 Al-Zaytuna Mosque 90 Suleiman Mosque 92 Great mosque of Mecca 94 Rustem Pasha Mosque 96 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque 98 Al Muhdhar Mosque 100 Shah Faisal Mosque 102 Zahir Mosque 104 Qolsarif Mosque 106 Crystal Mosque 108 Imam Reza 110 Great Mosque of Kufa 112 Imam Hussain Mosque 114 Ibn Tulun Mosque 116 Taj- Ul-Masajid Mosque 118 Koutoubia Mosque 120 Umayyad Mosque 123 Bursa Grand Mosque 125 Sultan Masjid 128 Taj Ul Mosque 130 Gronzy Central Dome Mosque 132 Baitul Futuh Mosque 134 Istiqal Mosque 136
Introduction When the Muslim Empire expanded to different parts of the world, they brought with them, their culture, their knowledge and their religion. Many of the countries brought under the Empire began to convert to Islam and in doing so, constructed many places to practice Islam. From east to west, the mosque and the many forms it takes is the quintessential Islamic building. Mosque or Masjid is the gathering place for prayer and throughout the week it is used as a place for prayer, reflection or a place to rest. The style, decoration and layout of the mosque provide a great deal of insight about Islam in general. In addition, it can also tell us about the period and the region wherein the mosque was constructed. The architecture of a mosque is strongly influenced by the traditions of the time and place it was built. Though this can lead to many variations, there are certain architectural features in mosques that are seen all over the world. Sahn (courtyard)- In many mosques, it is important to have a large prayer hall so as to accommodate the male population of a city or a town. These halls are connected to a courtyard called the Sahn. Mihrab (niche)- The Mihrab is an essential element of a mosuqe s architecture, as it denotes the direction of Mecca, where all Muslims pray. The direction of Mecca is called the qibla. The Mihrab is usually a relatively shallow niche. Minaret (tower)- the more visible feature of a mosque s architecture is the Minaret. The Minaret is a tower that is attached or is adjacent to a mosque, from which the call to prayer is announced. The form of the Minaret differs greatly from each mosque like the famous spiral minaret in Samarra and the pencil minarets in Turkey. Qubba (dome)- perhaps the most noticeable feature of the mosque is the Qubba. Though the dome does not have a ritual requirement like the minaret, the interior decoration of a dome uses various geometric, vegetal and stellate motifs that inspire many. While most mosques are known to have one dome, some mosques like the Great Mosque of Kairouan have three domes.
Herat Masjid The Great Mosque of Herat or Herat Masjid or Friday Mosque, otherwise known as the Masjid-I Jami is a mosque found in the Herat Province of North-West Afghanistan. It was Sultan Ghayas-Ud-Din Ghori whom laid down the foundation in 1200 CE. and it was extended by many rulers as leadership of Herat changed hands from the Timurids to the Safavids, the Mughals and then the Uzbeks. While it is true that many of the glazed tiles were replaced in the times that followed, the mosque gained its present from nearing the end of the 15th century. The Herat Masjid was not always the largest mosque in the area as the Mosque and Madrasa of Gawharshad was built by the Timurids at the northern part of the city. However, this monument and Herat is one of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan others were lost in 1885. History The site of the Herat Masjid used to be occupied by two Zoroastrian fire temples, which was lost to an earthquake and a fire. The mosque construction was begun by Ghiyas Ud-Din Ghori in 1200 CE. After his death the construction of the building was continued by his brother Shihab al-din. Proof of this is confirmed by an inscription on the eastern Ghurid portal. This inscription was discovered in 1964 during a restoration effort and by the sixteenth century Timurid historian Kawandamir in his Khulasat al-akhbar. Fun fact The Friday mosque is believed to be the first mosque in Herat where Friday congregation was held. 6
In 1221, when Genghis Khan conquered the province and much of Herat, the building fell to ruin as a result. It was thanks to the efforts of Shams al-din Kart that rebuilding efforts were undertaken. Construction however, did not start till 1306. A few decades later in 1364 an earthquake rocked the site and almost completely destroyed the building. The site was left to ruin for a while, despite many effort to rebuild the mosque. In 1397, the Timurids redirected Heart s growth to the northern part of the city. This and the construction of a new mosque in Gawhar Shad s Musalla was the end of Herat Masjid s patronage by a monarchy. The ruins were replaced by a whole new building that had gardens around it. This was done by Jalal al-din Firuzshah, a prominent emir under Shak Rukh between 1405-1444 CE. Decorating the mosque alone took more than five years due to the emir bringing in workers from across the empire. The mosque would undergo another renovation by the Mughal Empire during Prince Khurram s time. The plan for the new mosque was meant to correct the irregularities of the original mosque layout and reconstruct certain elements that were entirely lost by the 1940s. By 1945 a program was launched to rebuild the mosque after it had undergone a tumultuous time. The program rebuilt the walls and rooms and worked to expand the north eastern section of the mosque from the original 101 meters to 121 meters. The program also replaced all the materials from the Timurid and Mughal empires with locally available materials. The inscribed Ghorid portal is located south of the existing main entrance to the mosque. An example of Timurid Mosaics 7
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Description The mosque was designed in a rectangular form with a large veranda found in the middle. There are some unique ornaments found in the mosque but most of them were removed and replaced with newer decorations. Visitors to the site enter through a park on the eastern side, leading to a large richly tiled façade. The reconstructed mausoleum can be found behind the northern iwan. The mosque has arched walls around a central courtyard that spans a length of 100m. Two large minarets flank the main iwan, with the square center having blue bands of Quranic script. The minarets have repeated bands of stylized flowers, geometric patterns and arabesques. The mosque was supposed to have another appearance as the Ghorids preferred plain brick instead of stucco decoration. The exterior and the courtyard walls are decorated in pink bricks covered with plaster and features a lot of blue tile work, with floral motifs. The mosque was decorated by the Timurids, who used bright mosaic, but were lost by the early 20th century. The tiles that now adorn the mosque are a product of the tile workshop that mosque has. While most tiles are based on the original Timurid s the workshop has also introduced their own designs, colors and calligraphy. Surrounding the courtyard on all four sides are the domed prayer halls. The halls are seven bays deep in the west, eight bays deep in the east and five bays deep at the north and south sides of the courtyard. The bays are enclosed in certain section to create rooms and corridors. The tomb of Ghiyath al-din Muhammed bin Sam that used to be seen at the north of the courtyard was rebuilt into an octagonal hall with circular niches on the interior walls. Visitors can enter through the three sided projection at the northern mosque wall. The wall itself is carved with three deep niches and has two minarets, acting as a crown of sorts. The blend of traditional and modern styling has led to the creation of gems from the contemporary Islamic abstract expressionism. The mosque workshop can be found in a courtyard to the left of the main portal entrance in the garden. The reflecting pool at the courtyard center was removed during the later restorations. The mosque courtyard also has a few remnants of the original Ghorid decoration with Timurid tiling. This was done on purpose to showcase the different artistic styles the mosque was witness to. 9
Tlemcen Grand Mosque Considered to be one of North Africa s most important Islamic building, the Tlemcen Grand Mosque is a fine example of the Almoravid dynasty s architecture. History The Almoravid dynasty was an imperial Berber Muslim dynasty centered in Morocco. The dynasty was established in the 11th century at had stretched to cover the western region of Maghreb and al- Andulas (Muslim Spain, Muslim Iberia). The mosque was first constructed by the sultan Yusuf Ibn Tashfin in 1082 and it was substantially reconstructed and enlarged by his son Ali Ibn Yusuf. Many remember Ali Ibn Yusuf when he ordered the extension of the famous al-karaouine University from 18 to 21 aisles. The Andalusian architects who were hired to do the job were the same people that worked for the reconstruction of the mosque in 1136. Sultan Yaghmoracen who founded the Abdalwadid dynasty of Tlemcen added another section to the mosque by constructing a minaret and dome in the 13th century. The Zayyanid or Abd al-wadids dynasty was a Berber Zenata dynasty. Founded by Yaghmurasen Ibn Zayn, the kingdom ruled Tlemcen from 1235 to 1556. At the height of its power, the kingdom reached the Moulouya River on the west, Sijilmasa to the south and Soummam river to the east. 10
Description Despite undergoing reconstruction more than once, the mosque retains some of the early features that were in the original mosque. This includes the mihrab, the elaborately decorated in stucco and carved stone and a fine cupola with a large chandelier. Many visitors have stated that the inside of the mosque fills them with a sense of reverence. A notable feature of the mosque is the 133 steps that lead to the top of the minaret. This area is the oldest part of the Maghreb and the highest are in town. Fun fact Yusuf Ibn Tashfin Yusuf Ibn Tashfin was the founder of the Moroccan Almoravid Empire 11
Ketchaoua Mosque Located in Algeris, Algeria, the Ketchaoua mosque stands as a fine example of Ottoman architecture. Built during the 17th century, the mosque is located at the foot of Casbah (a fortress) and is near the National Library of Algeria. The architecture of the mosque is a combination of Moorish and Byzantine architecture. History The fortress located beside the Mediterranean Sea shore acts as a unique medina that existed before the construction of the mosque at its centre. The fortress overlooks the islands where a Carthaginian trading post was created in 6th century BC. The Berbers, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Spaniards have all had control over the fortress and each one has left their mark there. The mosque was constructed in 1612, during the Divan period by Hasan Pasha. It would later be converted into a church by the French in 1845. It was only after 1962 did the mosque go back to its original purpose. An important fact about the mosque is that despite transitioning between two different faiths for four centuries, it has retained its original grandeur. This has led many historians and travelers to refer to the mosque as one of the most gorgeous buildings in Algeria. More than 10 million books are housed inside the National Library of Algeria Charles Valee also built the largest Roman theatre in Algeria The history of the Ketchaoua mosque plays an important role in the history of the Casbah. The mosque is exactly located at the intersection of the roads from lower Casbah, leading to the five after of Algeris city. In 1838, the mosque was converted in to a cathedral and named the St. Philippe Cathedral by the French. Later in 1840 after the conquest of Constantine by France, Marshal Sylvian Charless Valee had a cross fixed at the top of the cathedral. It was only in 1962 that the cathedral reverted back into a mosque, as it was a moment of significant religious and cultural importance. The re-dedication of the cathedral to a mosque was done in the first year of Algerian independence, an event held at Ben Badis Square. Besides the mosque, there are also the remains of old mosques, Ottoman-style palaces and a citadel. 12
Description Entrance to the mosque is through a flight of 23 steps. An ornamented portico is seen at the entrance, supported by four black veined marble columns. The arcades found inside the mosque are built with white marble columns. Many of the white columns found here are part of the original mosque. The beauty of the mosque s chambers, ceilings and the minarets are further enhanced by the beautifully designed Moorish stucco work. There are two octagonal minarets that overlook the Casbah public square. The minarets are a blend of Byzantine and Moorish designs. Also the remains of San Geronimo are enshrined in a tomb in on the of the mosque chambers. 13
Al Fateh Mosque The Al-Fateh Islamic Center or Al Fateh Grand mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world. Covering an area of 6500 square meters, it is easily capable of accommodating 7000 people at a time. The mosque was constructed by the late Sheikh Bin Salmal al Khalifa in 1987 and was named after the founder of Bahrain, Ahmed al-fateh. History Construction of the mosque started in 1984, taking four years to complete. It was opened in 1988 by Salman al-khalifa. Isa Bin Salman al-khalifa was the first Emir of Bahrain from 1961, who became emir after the death of his father. During his time as the Emir, Salman al- Khalifa helped greatly in the economic transformation of Bahrain into a modern nation. He also made the country a key financial centre in the Persian Gulf area. Main Prayer Hall 14
Description Al-Fateh means opener or conqueror in Arabic. The mosque is the largest mosque in Bahrain and is located next to King Faisal Highway in Juffair, a town in the capital city of Manama. The fiberglass dome that is built on top of the mosque weighs a total of 60 tonnes and is currently the world s largest fiberglass dome. The mosque was built using marble from Italy, glass from Austria, doors made of teak wood imported from India and features some of the best examples of interior designs. The central chandelier is surrounded by many hand-blown round lamps that were made in France. Throughout the mosque are calligraphy writings that are written in a very old type of style called Bahrain. The mosque is also the site of the National Library of Bahrain. The library of the Al-Fateh mosque, housing over 7000 books with some being at least 100 years old or more. The books here include copies of books on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, the Global Arabic Encyclopedia, the Encyclopedia of Islamic Jurisprudence and Al-Azhar journals. The Al-Azhar journals in particular have been printed more than a hundred years ago. 15