The Greatest Islamic Monuments
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: Yusuf Easa
Contents 1 7 2 3 Afghanistan Herat Masjid 06 Minaret of Jam 07 Herat Citadel 08 Shrine of Hazrat Ali Shahe-e Doh Shamshira Mosque Jami s tomb Shrine of the Cloak Old city of Herat Algeria Maqam Echahid Tlemcen Grand Mosque Ketchaoua Mosque Bahrain Al-Fateh Mosque Beit al-quran 8 9 10 China Mosque of Xi an Bosnia and Herzegovnia Mehmed Pasa Sokolovic Bridge Stari Most Egypt Mosque of Abu Abbas al-mursi Al-Azhar University Montaza Palace Aqmar mosque Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque Cairo Citadel Citadel of Qaitbay Gibraltar Ibraham- al- Ibrahim Mosque 4 5 6 Bangladesh Ahsan Manzil Sixty Dome Mosque Lalbagh Fort Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque Brunei Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque Istana Nurul Iman Burkina Faso Bobo Dioulasso Grand Mosque 11 India Agra Fort Taj Mahal Charminar Chowmahalla Palace Buland Darwaza Tomb of Muhammed Ghaus Humayun s Tomb Red Fort Akbar s Tomb Jahaz Mahal Shahi bridge
12 13 14 15 16 Qutb Minar Bara Imambara Jama Masjid Indonesia Baiturraham Grand Mosque Masjid Agung Palembang Great Mosque of Demak Iran Jameh Mosque of Isfahan Shah Cheragh Noushabnad Underground City Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque Eram Palace and Garden Golestan Palace Soltaniyeh Dome Nasir al-mulk Mosque Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse Iraq Imam Ali Mosque Wadi of Peace Mosque of Samarra Al-Shaheed monument Fortress of al-ukhadir Imam Husayn Shrine Citadel of Erbil Jerusalem Dome of the rock Al-Aqsa Mosque Lebanon Citadel of Tripoli 17 18 19 20 21 22 Malaysia Negara Masjid Putra Mosque Moroccan Pavilion Mali Great Mosque of Djenne Morocco Hassan II Mosque Ksar of Ait ben Haddou Bahia Palace Chefchaouen Round Minaret of Moulay Idriss Hassan Tower University of al-qaraouiyine Oman Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Misfat al Abreyeen Al Alam Royal Palace Al Hazm Castle Pakistan Tomb of Jahangir Badshahi Mosque Wazir Khan Mosque Minar- E- Pakistan Shalimar gardens Faisal Mosque Lahore Fort Qatar Hamad International Airport
23 24 25 26 27 28 Russia Nord Kamal Mosque Saudi Arabia Prophet s Mosque Quba Masjid Kasba Masmak fort Jawatha mosque King s fountain Old Dir iyah Dumat al-jandal Jeddah tower Great Mosque of Mecca Kingdom Centre Mada in Saleh Ibrahim Palace Spain Mezquita Cathedral Alhambra Syria Great Mosque of Damascus Citadel of Aleppo Tunisia Great Mosque of Kairouan Turkey Suleiman Mosque Rustem Pasha Mosque Blue Mosque Cinili Kosk Hagia Sophia 29 30 31 32 Topkapi palace Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque Dolmabahce Palace New Mosque Bayezid II Mosque Grand Mosque of Bursa Turkmenistan National park of Independence Mausoleum of Turabek-Khanum UAE Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Burj al-arab Hotel Burj Khalifa Jumeirah Mosque Uzbekistan Mir-I-Arab Medressa Registan Square Shah-I-Zinda Necropolis Kalta Minor Minaret Yemen Al-Muhdhar Mosque Dar al-hajar Sana a Brick buildings of Zabid Al Saleh Mosque Shaharah bridge
6 Greatest Islamic Monuments Afghanistan Herat Masjid The Herat Masjid stands at 800 years old and is one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in Central Asia. From the tile mosaic to the inspired usage of intricate detailing and bright colours, it serves as a hymn in praise of Allah. The Herat Masjid was built on the site of two smaller Zorastrian fire temples that were lost to natural disasters. Construction was started by Ghiyas Ud-Din Ghori and after his passing, it was continued by his brother Muhammad of Ghor. This was confirmed by an inscription that was uncovered during a restoration attempt in 1964. Did You know? Well known Timurid leader Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqara was once the ruler of Herat
Greatest Islamic Monuments 7 Shams al-din kart started to rebuild the mosque in 1306 as a result of its destruction at the hands of Genghis Khan in 1221. This effort however was severely hampered by an earthquake in 1364. The mosque was largely left untouched during the time of the Timurid rulers. It was Jalal al- Din Firuzshah a prominent ruler under Shah Rukh that was credited with replacing the ruined building with an entirely new building that had surrounding gardens. The detailing work was so length that it alone took five years to complete, bringing in workers from across the empire. The mosque was given one last renovation under the Mughal Empire by Prince Khurram. While many of the mosaics have a Timurid origin, the mosque has its own designs in colours and calligraphy. Two huge minarets flank the main entrance and almost every square centre is covered in beautiful mosaics that have blue bands of Quranic script. The workshop (an on-going restoration project since 1940) is in a courtyard to the left of the main entrance. The courtyard also features the remnants of the original Ghorid decoration that is inlaid with Timurid tiling which shows the change in artistic styles the mosque has witnessed.
8 Greatest Islamic Monuments Minaret of Jam Before war and conflict came to Afghanistan and political instability made the place a hostile zone for all travelers, societies and empires flourished, leaving behind traces of their greatness. One such example of their legacy is the Minaret of Jam. Located in a deep river valley between towering mountains in Afghanistan, the Minaret of Jam is a 62 meter tall minaret made entirely of bricks that dates back to the 12th century. What makes this monument a testament to Islamic architecture is the intricate brick work, stucco and glazed tile decoration. The tiles themselves have alternating bands showing geometric patterns and naskhi calligraphy, kufic calligraphy and verses from the Quran. Sadly though, the minaret is in danger of erosion because of the river Jam and Hari Rud, while under constant threat of looters and illegal excavations occurring around the monument.
Greatest Islamic Monuments 9 Did You know? Due to its location, the Minaret of Jam is also on the list of World Heritage in Danger
10 Greatest Islamic Monuments Herat Citadel The Citadel of Herat or Qala Iktyaruddin can be found in the centre of Herat in Afghanistan. Dating back to 330 BC, it served as a base when Alexander the Great and his armies arrived after the battle of Gaugamela. From then on, there were many empires that have used the citadel in the past 2,000 years and it is also why the Citadel has been destroyed and rebuilt in the many centuries that followed. Civilization settled down in Herat as early as 6th century B.C. There is a mound that can be found in the north part of the Old City, known as Kuhandazh. This mound is thought to be the site where Alexander the Great built his fort in 330 B.C. Half a kilometre south of the Kuhandaz lies the walled city. Aligned with the cardinal axes, Arab geographers note that the city had four gates that head into crossing commercial avenues and a square citadel. It is this citadel that is commonly referred to as the Herat Citadel. The Citadel was ruled by many empires including (but not limited to) the Parthians, Kushans, Hephthalites, Umayyads, Tahirids, Samarids, Ghaznavids and Ghurids. Herat initially thrived with the Silk Road trade from Levant to India and China, only becoming more important during the Ghurid dynasty of 1175. This city was among many that fell to the Mongol invasion but was rebuilt by the Kartid governors in mid-thirteenth century.
Greatest Islamic Monuments 11 Between 1299 and 1300 Kartid Amir Fakhr al-din reinforced the citadel s walls, ramparts, moats and towers. He also added a walled maidan to the west of the citadel, serving as an open air mosque or idgah. His successor Ghiyath al-din would build two palaces to the east. Though it was all destroyed by Timur s army in 1380, the Citadel was reconstructed once again when Shah Rukh had to move his capital to Herat. He also added to the construction by reinforcing the citadel in stone and fired brick. He also covered the exterior of the Herat Citadel in glazed tiles. During the 18th century, the citadel would have multiple uses under the Hotaki dynasty and Durrani Empire. It would suffer some damage during the Anglo-Afghan war of 19th century. Due to the conflict in the 19th century, the Arg-e Herat, a modern citadel was immediately built to the north, to take over its defensive role. In 1953 the Citadel was nearly destroyed when Herat s army commander ordered its demolition. It was due to the intervention of King Zahir Shah that the demolition was halted. The Citadel would undergo some restoration work between 1976 and 1979. In later years, it would incur more damage due to decades of war and neglect.
12 Greatest Islamic Monuments It was between 2006 and 2011 that the Citadel was completely renovated. The new restoration effort involved hundreds of Afghan craftsmen, with funds provided by the German and U.S governments. When the older compound on the east was excavated, it revealed two courtyard structures. This rectangular plan measured at 18 x 42 metres. The plan is protected by 13 semi-circular towers. This area is known as the Upper Citadel, with a distinctive look thanks to the usage of fired bricks. The Kartid additions on the west are called the Lower Citadel. This section has walls made of baked bricks and has a few Timurid period military structures. It also features nine circular towers (only six have survived) found on the south and west walls. The well known Malik tower is believed to be named after a Kartid malik. The tower also retains some segments of its Timurid glazed tile decoration and parts of a Kufic inscriptive band.
Greatest Islamic Monuments 13 In 1970 an Ethnographic Museum, a Handicraft Workshop, a Military Museum and an Archaeological Museum were set up inside the Lower Citadel. The biggest attraction is the Citadel s curtain wall topped with battlements. The Upper Citadel was opened to visitors as an Open Air Archaeological Museum with a northern section remade into a traditional residence. A total of 1,100 items from the Herat region are inside the museum at the citadel, of which 250 are on display for the public.
14 Greatest Islamic Monuments Shrine of Hazrat Ali Another beautiful mosque that is popularly referred to as the Blue Mosque, the Shrine of Hazrat Ali is one of the many beautiful buildings in Afghanistan. Many of the local population believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib (one of the most important people in Islalmic history) is buried here. It was Ahmed Sanjar of the Seljuk dynasty that built the first shrine in this area, which was among the many buildings lost to the Mongol invasion of 1220. Later, in the 15th century Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqarah constructed the Mosque that is seen here and is the most important landmark in the Mazar-I-Sharif. The mosque is very noticeable thanks to the iconic twin blue domes that dominate the Herat skyline. The rich blue tiling that covers the surface of the shrine is a modern design. The Timurid decoration fell into a state of disrepair, when the building was covered
Greatest Islamic Monuments 15 in a simple whitewash till the 1860s. It was thanks to Sher Ali Khan that the mosque was restored. There are many tombs of varying sizes and dimensions that were added over the years. These tombs contain a number of notable Afghan political and religious leaders over the years. People like Wazir Akbar Khan and Sher Ali Khan are buried here. It is thanks to these additions that the mosque now has its irregular dimensions. The doves that inhabit the shrine complex are well known throughout Afghanistan. Many believe that the site is so holy that should a grey pigeon make its home here, it would turn white in 40 days. Another belief states that every seventh pigeon is said to contain a spirit. Did You know? There are some who believe that the founder of Zoroastrianism, Zoroaster is buried here.