10 Most Beautiful Mosques in the World: Eid Special

Eid Special: 10 Most Beautiful Mosques in the World

"Moseak, muskey, moschy, mos’keh." This is how the word ‘mosque’ was spelt in the English language between the 15th and 17th centuries. It wasn't until the early 1700s that the present spelling of mosque came into being, stemming from the Middle French word "mosquee," which had come by way of Italian and Old Spanish from the Arabic word "masjid."

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1. **Masjid Al-Haram (Mecca, Saudi Arabia)**
Built to hold the Ka’ba, the holiest shrine in Islam, Masjid Al-Haram (also called the Grand Mosque or the Holy Mosque) has a rectangular central courtyard that receives millions of pilgrims every year for Hajj and Umrah. It is the world’s largest mosque and the world’s most expensive building.

2. **Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Istanbul, Turkiye)**
Popularly known as the Blue Mosque due to its interior blue tiles, this 17th-century mosque is a blend of Ottoman and Byzantine architecture, considered the last great mosque of the Classical period.

3. **Masjid al-Nabawi (Medina, Saudi Arabia)**
Also known as the Prophet’s Mosque, it was built by Prophet Mohammad in 622 CE. The main complex has 42 gates and is known for its splendid green dome.

4. **Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque (Brunei)**
Surrounded by an artificial lagoon, this mosque features Italian marbles, chandeliers, and a glass mosaic with real gold leaf that makes up the main dome.

5. **Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Abu Dhabi)**
The largest mosque in the UAE, it features gold-plated chandeliers, a vast marble mosaic courtyard, and reflective pools.

6. **Bou Inania Madrasa & Mosque (Fez, Morocco)**
This congregational mosque is the only one in Morocco and boasts intricate tilework, marble floors, and green-tiled roofs.

7. **Jama Masjid (Delhi, India)**
Clad in red sandstone and white marble, this mosque is adorned with black marble inlays and fine Arabic inscriptions.

8. **Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque (Shiraz, Iran)**
Known as the Rainbow Mosque, it features stunning stained glass windows that create intricate designs at sunrise.

9. **Cordoba Mosque (Cordoba, Spain)**
A UNESCO World Heritage site, it blends Islamic and Christian architecture, featuring a forest of columns with red and white arches.

10. **Tilla-Kari Madrasa and Mosque (Samarkand, Uzbekistan)**
Completed in 1660, it boasts lavish gilt decoration, brilliant blue and gold colors, and intricate multi-colored motifs in its marble mihrab.

As Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, let’s marvel at the architectural wonders of these mosques that stand as symbols of faith, culture, and heritage around the world.