7th Largest Mosque of the World
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. Epitomizing 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.
Other Important Mosques in the World
Masjid al-Haram
With a capacity of 4 million and an area of 356 thousand sq. meters, Masjid Al Haram mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world and a focal point for Muslims across the globe. Located in Makkah, the Mosque surrounds the holy Kaaba, the heart of Muslim pilgrimages that are Hajj and Umrah. Also known as The Great Mosque or Forbidden Mosque, it also has six minarets, all standing at about 89 meters.
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
As it is built by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the heart of the city of Madinah; hence, it is also popularly known as Prophets Mosque. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is now one of the largest mosques in the world. The area of the mosque is about 400 thousand square meters and has a capacity of 1.5 million. The mosque is also a major pilgrimage site for Muslims and remains open 24/7.
Hagia Sophia Mosque
Located in Istanbul, Turkey, Hagia Sophia, also called the Church of the Holy Wisdom or Church of the Divine Wisdom, was originally built as a Christian church in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian. Over centuries it became a mosque, a museum, and a mosque again. The changes are reflected in the architecture, and its minarets have inscriptions of Islam as well as the grand mosaics of Christianity.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Sultan Ahmed Mosque is also located in Istanbul, Turkey, next to Hagia Sophia mosque. The mosque was constructed during the period 1609 and 1616 under the rule of Ottoman ruler Ahmed I. The interior of the mosque is adorned by hand-painted blue tiles; hence the mosque is also known as the Blue Mosque. Due to its magnificent reflection of Islamic traditions, it is considered the last great mosque of the classical period.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
As the name suggests, the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is located in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. It is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and is among the primary places to offer daily prayers. In the eid, it was visited by more than 41,000 people.
In Islam, mosques are pivotal to offering prayers and helping individuals in coming close to Allah. The mosques mentioned are not just beautiful tourist attractions but carry great significance in Islam. Therefore, we highly recommend you to visit them once in your lifetime.
