Shah Faisal Mosque (Islamabad)

Pakistan / Federal Capital Area / Islamabad
 architecture - Do not use this category, mosque, interesting place
The Shah Faisal Masjid (Urdu: شاه فيصل مسجد) in Islamabad, Pakistan, is among one of the largest masjid in the world. It is a popular masjid in the Islamic world, and is renowned for both its size and its architecture covering an area of 5,000 square meters with a capacity of 300,000 worshipers.

The masjid is situated at the end of Shaharah-e-Islamabad, against the backdrop of the picturesque Margalla Hills. This placement defines its importance, positioning it on elevated terraced land ensures its visibility during day and night for miles around. The mosque is dedicated to the memory of the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia who graciously defrayed the cost of the project as a gift to the people of Pakistan.

Masjid at its inception was conceptualised as the national Masjid of the newly formed Islamic nation and was intended to symbolise the hopes and aspiration of Pakistan. The Turkish architect, Vedat Dalokay's design was selected through an international competition.

Dalokay looked to modern as well as medieval Islamic design principals to arrive at a concept that best reflected the people's aspirations. Instead of traditional domes usually associated with Masjid, the main prayer hall is an eight faceted concrete shell representative of a desert tent. An impressive engineering feat, the shell reaches a height of 131'- 3" (40m) and is supported on four giant concrete girders. The surface is faced in white marble and decorated inside with mosaics and a spectacular Turkish style chandelier. The hall can accommodate 10,000 worshippers.

Masjid is flanked by four tall minarets measuring 300' - 0" (90m). Influenced by Turkish architecture, the minarets are slender and pointed, the form an abstraction derived from a square base formed by the intersection of two planes.

The entrance is from the east and is preceded by a main courtyard with porticoes. The porticoes can accommodate 24,000 worshippers while the courtyard can provide additional space for 40,000 people. The International Islamic University was housed under the main courtyard. The University is currently in the process of relocating to a new campus that was inaugurated in 2000.
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Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faisal_Mosque
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Coordinates:   33°43'47"N   73°2'16"E

Comments

  • The Shah Faisal Masjid (شاه فيصل مسجد in Urdu) in Islamabad, Pakistan, is one of the largest mosques in Asia. It is a state National Mosque. It is a well-known masjid in the Islamic world and is renowned for both its immense size and its architecture. It holds the title for being the largest mosque in the world, interms of area.
  • The impetus for the mosque began in 1966 when the late King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia suggested it during a visit to Islamabad. In 1969, an international competition was held in which architects from 17 countries submitted 43 proposals. After four days of deliberation, Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay's design was chosen. Construction of the mosque began in 1976 by National Construction of Pakistan, led by Azim Khan, and was funded by the government of Saudi Arabia, at a cost of over 130 million Saudi riyals (approximately $120 million USD today). King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz was instrumental in the funding, and both the mosque and the road leading to it were named after him after his assassination in 1975. The mosque was completed in 1986, and used to house the International Islamic University. The mausoleum of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, whose 1988 funeral at the site was the largest in the history of Pakistan, is located adjacent to the mosque. Many conservative Muslims criticised the design at first for its non-conventional design and lack of the traditional dome structure, but virtually all criticism was eventually silenced by the mosque's scale, form, and setting against the Margalla Hills upon completion
  • ITS A VERY BEAUTIFUL MOSQUE OF PAKISTAN.
  • I visited this Masjig lot of time. That's really nice Place. Junaid Atari. http://blacksmoke.fi.st
  • i love it its very beatiful because it is Allah's home (mosque are the home of true Go)
  • Assalam – O – Alaicum , To All The Muslims Of The World . Whenever Talking About The Religion ISLAM & When You Talk About Creator Always Called The Creator With The Glorious 100 Names Of ALLAH Or ALLAH , But Never Called The Creator With The Name Called GOD , Because There Is No Name Of ALLAH As God , Except The Marvelous 100 Names Of ALLAH . I Respect All Other Religion & Know Whom They Worship Are Called GOD Or Gods . Love You All . Hercules's
  • الصراحة مسجد ماشاء الله علية ويرحم الله من تكفل في بناه
  • its very beautiful musque.we all pakistani very thnx full to sir shah faisal who gave us very nice gift
  • veri beutiful and nice masjid
  • g 6 2
  • i love this masjid and i visit this masjid 26 years before in 1989 and i want to see it once again
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This article was last modified 13 years ago