Today we’ll fly all over the planet and visit the 10 most gorgeous-looking mosques!
1. The Holy Mosque/al-Haram Mosque, Mecca
This is the largest and probably most recognizable mosque on Earth. It is also the holiest site in Islam. The Holy Mosque can accommodate up to two million people during Hajj. That’s insane, considering a regular football stadium can fit maybe a hundred thousand? It’s absolutely massive.
2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
Unlike the Holy Mosque, this one can only fit about 40,000 people, but that’s still a ton. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque also looks much better, and, apparently, it has the world’s largest carpet.
3. Dome of the Rock Mosque, Jerusalem
Dome of the Rock is located in Old Jerusalem in a place the locals call the Temple Mount. The legend says that under the Dome lies the spot from where Muhammed ascended to heaven.
4. Hassan II Mosque/Grande Mosquée Hassan II, Casablanca
Wanna know why this mosque is so… vertical? There’s a powerful laser at the top, that points across the sea towards Mecca. Maybe if the Earth was flat it would work, but sadly she’s got curves, and that laser probably misses the spot. Still, the building looks amazing!
5. Sultan Ahmed Mosque/The Blue Mosque, Istanbul
Better known in the world as the “Blue Mosque”, got its name from the 20-something thousands of blue ceramic tiles covering the insides of the walls. Looks cool!
6. Qolsharif Mosque, Russia
This big boy was built over 400 years ago, just to be smashed to pieces by Ivan the Terrible. Nearly 400 years later, in 1996, it was fully rebuilt.
7. Nasir al Mulk, Shiraz
This mosque has one of the most unforgettable features the human eye can detect – wonderful colors! If you happen to be inside when the morning rays hit the stained-glass windows, you’ll feel as if you’re in some kind of a fairy tale.
8. The Great Mosque Of Xi’an, China
A mosque in China? There’s something you don’t see everyday… unless you live near The Great Mosque Of Xi’an, of course. As you can see, its design is quite unique for a mosque, in that it looks like a typical Chinese temple. Also, TIL, there are Chinese Muslims out there. Never would’ve thought.
9. Faisal Mosque, Islamabad
Is this really a mosque or a freaking spaceship launchpad? Just look at those spires, they’re like rockets ready to take off. And I very much like that design choice.
10. The Great Mosque of Cordoba, Spain
This last one is a real weirdo. Back in the 4th century is was a church, a few hundred years later, in the Middle Ages, the Muslims said it was a mosque, and then, eight centuries later, it went back to being a church. What is it now? I’m not entirely sure, but you can’t tell me this mosque-church doesn’t look gorgeous!
