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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Quba Mosque or Masjid al-Quba

Quba Mosque or Masjid al-Quba

The Quba Mosque (Quba' Masjid or Masjid al-Quba, Arabic: مسجد قباء) just outside Medina, Saudi Arabia, is the first Islamic mosque ever built and the oldest mosque of Saudi Arabia. Its first stones were positioned by the prophet Muhammad on his emigration from the city of Mecca to Medina and the mosque was completed by his companions. Muhammad spent more than 20 nights in this mosque (after migrating) praying qasr (a short prayer) while waiting for Ali whose house was behind this mosque.

Masjid-al-Haram (Mecca), Masjid al-Nabawi (Medina) and Masjid-al-Aqsa (Jerusalem), are the holiest sites in Islam.

According to Islamic tradition, offering 2 Raka'ahs of nafl prayers in the Quba Mosque is equal to performing one Umra.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quba_Mosque

Masjid al-Qiblatain


Masjid al-Qiblatain (المسجد القبلتین) (Mosque of the two Qiblas) is a mosque in Medina that is historically important for Muslims as the place where the prophet Muhammad is said to have been commanded to change the direction of prayer (qibla) from Jerusalem to Mecca. Thus it uniquely contains two prayer niches (mihrabs).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masjid_al-Qiblatain

Al-Masjid al-Nabawi

Al-Masjid al-Nabawi, Medina Saudi Arabia

The Mosque of the Prophet ( Arabic: المسجد النبوی ) [IPA /mæsʤıd ænːæbæwı], in Medina, is the second holiest mosque in Islam. It is the final resting place of Muhammad. Masjid al-Haram in Mecca is the holiest mosque; the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is the third holiest in Islam.

The original mosque was built by Muhammad. Subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated it. The most important feature of the site is the green dome over the center of the mosque, where the tomb of Muhammad is located. Constructed in 1817 and painted green in 1839, it is known as the Dome of the Prophet.[1] Early Muslim leaders Abu Bakr and Umar (Umar ibn al-Khattab) are buried in an adjacent area in the mosque.

The edifice was originally Muhammad's house; he settled there after his Hijra (emigration) to Medina, later building a mosque on the grounds. He himself shared in the heavy work of construction. The original mosque was an open-air building. The basic plan of the building has been adopted in the building of other mosques throughout the world.

The mosque also served as a community center, a court, and a religious school. There was a raised platform for the people who taught the Qur'an.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Masjid_al-Nabawi

Al-Masjid al-Haram


Al-Masjid al-Haram (also known as al-Haram Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, Haram al-Sharif, Masjid al-Sharif and the Haram) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the holiest mosque in the world and the main destination of the Hajj pilgrimage.

The mosque complex covers an area of 356,800 square meters and can accommodate up to 820,000 worshippers during the Hajj. The Masjid al-Haram ("Holy Mosque") is the only mosque that has no qibla direction, since Muslims pray facing the Ka'ba in the central courtyard.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/saudi-arabia/mecca-haram-mosque.htm

Djenné's Grand Mosque


The mosque in Djenne dominates the village, overshadowing all the other mud-brick structures built in the Sudanic style. When we were in Djenne, the huge mosque's mud walls still had not been resurfaced. Every year after the rainy seasons the villagers take great pride in participating in this ritual, keeping the world's largest mud structure repaired. The wooden posts adorning the sides enable workers to climb up the massive building during the restoration process. The June 2001 issue of National Geographic details the restoration of the mosque.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Faisal Mosque, Islamabad Pakistan

Faisal mosque

Faisal mosque, the largest and the most beautiful mosque of Pakistan. It is the largest mosque of South-Asia. Located very aesthetically at the footprints of Margallah hills, it gives the very best of Islamabad. The mosque was a dream made true by His Excellency [Late] King Faisal of Saudia Arabia. The very elegant and pleasing design was a masterpiece by the Turkish architect Vedat. And due to the great interest and force of His Excellency [Late] king Faisal, this mosque is named Faisal Mosque.

The mosque holds beautiful Islamic artifact work done by famous Pakistani artists Gulgee and Sadiqain[whose page does not exist on wikipedia unfortunately]. And the mosque used to hold the campus of International Islamic University that is one of the premium educational institute of Pakistan. Another great thing about Faisal Mosque is that it hosts Dawah academy, an academy that promotes peaceful teaching of Islam. This academy prints and distributes very professionally managed weekly sermon freely on Friday prayers. There is a shop in Faisal mosque that sells very good books like Masnawi of Maulana Rumi, Harun Yahya books, and other great books.

In the evenings - whether it be winter, summer, spring or autumn - it is a great feeling to walk in the corridor of Faisal Mosque and after that one can have tea or cold drinks and samosas from the mini-cafe there.


http://islamabad.metblogs.com/