The most beautiful and significant mosques in the world – and how to visit them

1What a mosque is

The Arabic word masjid means "place of prostration". The Prophet ﷺ said: "The earth has been made for me a place of prayer and a means of purification" (al-Bukhari, Muslim). So you can pray anywhere. And yet the mosque holds a special rank: "The places most beloved to Allah are the mosques" (Muslim). And: "Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise" (al-Bukhari, Muslim).

From the very beginning the mosque was more than a prayer hall. In the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah people were taught, matters were discussed, guests were received and the needy were cared for. You can still feel this spirit today: in Quran classes for children, in the shared iftar during Ramadan, in the glass of water a stranger hands you.

2The three holy mosques

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not set out on a journey except to three mosques: the Sacred Mosque, this mosque of mine, and al-Aqsa Mosque" (al-Bukhari, Muslim). You can read more about the cities they stand in in the chapter on the most important cities of Islam.

Masjid al-Haram in Makkah

At the heart of Makkah stands the Kaaba, "the first House established for mankind, blessed and a guidance for the worlds" 3:96. Around it stretches the Sacred Mosque, the largest mosque in the world. Muslims face it in every prayer 2:144, and Hajj and Umrah lead here. Whoever sees the Kaaba for the first time rarely forgets that moment: the black cloth, the white circle of marble, people from every country walking around it, shoulder to shoulder, equal before Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ said that a prayer in the Sacred Mosque is better than a hundred thousand prayers elsewhere (Ahmad, Ibn Majah). Makkah is reserved for Muslims. How to prepare for the pilgrimage is explained in the chapter on Hajj and Umrah.

Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah

The Prophet ﷺ built his mosque after the Hijra together with his Companions, from mud bricks, palm trunks and palm leaves. Today it is a wide sea of marble, columns and great umbrellas that open over the courtyard by day. Beneath the green dome lies the resting place of the Prophet ﷺ, and between his house and his pulpit lies the Rawdah, "a garden from the gardens of Paradise" (al-Bukhari, Muslim).

The Prophet ﷺ said: "A prayer in this mosque of mine is better than a thousand prayers in any other, except the Sacred Mosque" (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Many visitors speak of the particular stillness and gentleness of this mosque, as if one wants to speak only softly.

Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem

Al-Aqsa Mosque was the first qibla of the Muslims and the destination of the Night Journey: "Glory be to Him who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose surroundings We have blessed" 17:1. On the Noble Sanctuary stand al-Aqsa Mosque with its dome and the Dome of the Rock with its golden dome. They recall the long chain of prophets, from Ibrahim to Isa, peace be upon them, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who united them all.

Many take the golden dome to be al-Aqsa Mosque. In fact it is the Dome of the Rock, built under the caliph Abd al-Malik and completed around 691/692 – one of the oldest surviving buildings of Islamic architecture. Al-Aqsa Mosque itself has a darker, lead-grey dome, and "al-Aqsa" is often used for the whole sacred compound.

Quba Mosque

Quba Mosque on the edge of Madinah is the first mosque the Prophet ﷺ founded after his arrival. Many scholars relate to it the verse: "A mosque founded on God-consciousness from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in. In it are men who love to purify themselves" 9:108. The Prophet ﷺ visited it every Saturday, walking or riding, and prayed there (al-Bukhari, Muslim). And he said: "Whoever purifies himself at home, then comes to Quba Mosque and prays in it, has a reward like that of an Umrah" (an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah).

3The mosques of the Emirates

Here at home in the Emirates, mosques are part of daily life like the sun and the sea. In every neighbourhood you hear the adhan, and many mosques deliberately open their doors to guests of other faiths as well. Hospitality here is not a formality but a matter of the heart.

Abu Dhabi – the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Whoever visits Abu Dhabi sees it from far away: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, gleaming white, with its many domes and minarets reflected in the pools around it. It opened in 2007 and bears the name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates. He wished for a mosque that would bring people together, and on its grounds he found his final resting place. May Allah have mercy on him.

Its architecture brings together influences from many parts of the Muslim world. The white marble is inlaid with floral designs in semi-precious stones, and the columns are crowned with golden palm fronds. In the main prayer hall lies one of the largest hand-knotted carpets in the world, and above it hang immense crystal chandeliers, among the largest of their kind. In the evening the façade is bathed in colours that change with the cycle of the moon.

The mosque is open to visitors of all faiths, entry is free, and there are free guided tours where you may ask anything about Islam and the mosque. Modest dress is expected; women wear a headscarf. At prayer time you may hear the adhan echo across the courtyard, a moment many guests never forget.

Al Ain – Sheikh Khalifa Mosque

Al Ain, the green oasis city in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, overlooked by Jebel Hafeet, is closely linked with Sheikh Zayed: he served here for many years as the ruler's representative before becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Among the city's great mosques is the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Mosque, one of the country's newer large mosques, named after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the second President of the UAE – may Allah have mercy on him. With its great dome, its minarets and its wide prayer hall, it is a place where the city gathers to pray. If you would like to visit, check the visiting times beforehand.

Dubai – open doors, open hearts

In Dubai, where our platform is made, Jumeirah Mosque is a landmark of encounter. Its style draws on the medieval architecture of Cairo, with two slender minarets and finely carved pale stone. Under the motto "Open Doors. Open Minds." the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding invites guests to visit the mosque, ask questions and talk over Arabic coffee and dates. No question is too simple, none too critical: that is exactly the idea.

In the heart of old Dubai, near the Creek, the textile souk and the historic Al Fahidi district, stands the Grand Mosque of Bur Dubai. With its sand-coloured walls, its many domes and a tall, slender minaret, it blends into the old town as if it had always been there. People have prayed on this spot for a long time; the present building is more recent and built in a traditional style. For guided visits Jumeirah Mosque is the better address – here you experience above all the prayer life of the old town, most beautifully from the water, when the adhan drifts across the Creek.

In the Al Safa district stands the Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque, named after the second caliph. Its domes and minarets recall the great Ottoman mosques of Istanbul, while inside, influences from different eras of Islamic architecture come together. Visitors are welcome here too at certain times; it is best to check ahead.

Sharjah – a love of Islamic culture

Sharjah is the emirate that has devoted itself especially to culture, books and Islamic art. In 2014 it was named Capital of Islamic Culture, and its museums, libraries and mosques reflect this love.

• King Faisal Mosque in the city centre is one of the great mosques of the Emirates and for decades has been a place where people of many nations meet in prayer.
• Al Noor Mosque on the Khalid Lagoon is built in the Ottoman style, with a large central dome and slender minarets. It is one of the mosques that deliberately welcome visitors of other faiths: on its tours you learn the basics of prayer and Islamic culture. In the evening, when it is reflected in the water, it is especially beautiful.
• Sharjah Mosque is one of the newest and largest mosques of the emirate, also inspired by Ottoman architecture and surrounded by gardens and water features.

Fujairah – Al Bidya Mosque

On the east coast, between the Hajar Mountains and the Indian Ocean, stands a small, simple building of stone and mud: Al Bidya Mosque. It is often called the oldest mosque in the UAE still in use. Its exact age is unknown, and estimates vary widely. Four small domes rest on a single central pillar. Whoever prays here feels that a house of Allah needs neither marble nor gold, only sincere hearts.

4Great mosques around the world

From al-Andalus to Indonesia, Muslims have built houses of prayer that rank among the most beautiful buildings of humankind. Here is a small selection.

The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

Built in the early 8th century under the caliph al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, it is one of the oldest great mosques in the world. It is famous for its gold-ground mosaics of landscapes, rivers and trees. In the prayer hall stands a shrine where, according to tradition, the head of the Prophet Yahya (John), peace be upon him, rests. The wide marble courtyard is a place of stillness in the middle of the old city.

Al-Azhar in Cairo

Al-Azhar Mosque was founded in the 10th century and is still a centre of learning today. Generations of students from all over the world have studied Quran, hadith and law in its colonnades. Visitors often see small study circles gathered around a teacher, as they have for centuries.

The Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo

High on the Citadel stands the Mosque of Muhammad Ali from the 19th century, also called the "Alabaster Mosque" after its cladding. With its domes and slender minarets it follows the Ottoman style and offers a wide view over Cairo.

Quite different is the Mosque of Ibn Tulun from the 9th century: plain, monumental, with a vast courtyard and a minaret with an external spiral staircase. It is considered one of the oldest mosques in Cairo largely preserved in its original form. Its calm is overwhelming.

The Mosque of Sultan Hasan in Cairo

Below the Citadel stands the Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan from the 14th century, a masterpiece of the Mamluk era. Four lofty halls open onto its courtyard, and in each one of the four Sunni schools of law was taught – a building that gathers the diversity of the schools under one roof. You can learn more about the schools in the chapter on the schools of law.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the Süleymaniye in Istanbul

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, built in the early 17th century, is known as the "Blue Mosque" for its blue Iznik tiles. It has six minarets and is a living place of prayer: at prayer times it is reserved for worshippers, and afterwards visitors stream back in.

The Süleymaniye was built in the 16th century for Sultan Süleyman to the designs of the great architect Mimar Sinan. It crowns one of the hills above the Golden Horn, surrounded by schools, a hospital and tombs, among them the sultan's and, close by, Sinan's own. Many regard it as the masterpiece of Ottoman architecture.

The Selimiye in Edirne

For Sultan Selim II, Sinan built the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne in the 16th century. Its immense dome seems to float above the hall, framed by four slender minarets. According to tradition, Sinan himself called it his masterpiece; today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Mezquita of Córdoba

In Córdoba, Abd al-Rahman I began in the 8th century the building of a mosque that was enlarged over generations. Its forest of columns with red-and-white double arches and its exquisite mihrab are among the high points of Andalusian art. Today the building is a cathedral and is visited as a historic monument, a quiet witness to the time when Córdoba was a city of scholars and libraries.

Al-Qarawiyyin in Fes

In 859 Fatimah al-Fihri, a devout woman from Kairouan, founded a mosque in Fes from which grew one of the oldest still-existing places of learning in the world. Al-Qarawiyyin lies deep in the lanes of the old city. The prayer hall is reserved for Muslims, but through the open gates you can glimpse the courtyard with its fountains and tiles.

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

Completed in 1993, the Hassan II Mosque stands partly on a platform over the Atlantic and has one of the tallest minarets in the world. Moroccan craftsmen shaped its cedar wood, carved plaster and zellige mosaics with masterful skill. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims may enter on guided tours.

The Great Mosque of Kairouan

The mosque of Kairouan in today's Tunisia goes back to the founding of the city by Uqba ibn Nafi in the 7th century; it received its present form mainly in the 9th century. Its massive square minaret is among the oldest in the world, and its plan became a model for many mosques in North Africa.

The Great Mosque of Samarra

In the 9th century the Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil built a mosque in Samarra, in today's Iraq, that was among the largest of its time. What survives above all are its massive outer walls and the famous minaret al-Malwiya, around which a ramp spirals upwards.

The Badshahi Mosque and the Faisal Mosque in Pakistan

The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore was built in the 17th century by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Red sandstone, white marble domes and a vast courtyard where countless worshippers gather on Eid make it one of the great buildings of the Mughal era.

The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad lies at the foot of the Margalla Hills. Its design by the Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay recalls a Bedouin tent, without a classical dome. It is named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.

The Jama Masjid in Delhi

The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who also built the Taj Mahal, built the Jama Masjid in Delhi in the 17th century. Red sandstone and white marble, three domes and a vast courtyard make it one of the largest mosques in India. For Friday prayer and on Eid the courtyard fills to its edges.

The Imam Mosque and the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan

On the wide Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan stand two jewels from the early 17th century. The Imam Mosque, formerly the Shah Mosque, is covered inside and out with blue tiles; beneath its dome an echo carries the voice through the space. The smaller Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque has neither minaret nor courtyard, but its dome, into which light falls through delicate windows, is among the most beautiful in the world.

The shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad

In Mashhad in north-eastern Iran lies the tomb of Ali ibn Musa al-Rida, a descendant of the Prophet ﷺ whom Twelver Shia Muslims honour as the eighth Imam. The extensive complex of courtyards, mosques and libraries is visited by a great many pilgrims every year. You can learn more about the different traditions in the chapter on Sunni and Shia.

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat

In neighbouring Oman, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat opened in 2001. Its prayer hall is laid with an enormous hand-knotted carpet, a great chandelier hangs above it, and its bright colonnades invite stillness. Visitors are welcome at set times.

The Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta

The Istiqlal Mosque, the "Mosque of Independence", is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. It was designed by the architect Friedrich Silaban, a Christian, and stands directly opposite Jakarta Cathedral, a beautiful sign of living together. Visitors are warmly received and often shown around by volunteers.

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei

In Bandar Seri Begawan a golden dome rises above an artificial lagoon. Completed in 1958, the mosque is mirrored in the water, and in the lagoon lies a replica of a royal barge.

The Great Mosque of Xi'an

In the old imperial city of Xi'an in China stands a mosque that looks like a Chinese temple: wooden pavilions with curved tiled roofs, quiet gardens, stone tablets with Chinese and Arabic inscriptions. Its founding is traditionally dated to the 8th century; most of the present buildings date from the Ming period. It shows how Islam can take on the architectural language of a place without losing itself.

The Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali

The Great Mosque of Djenné is the largest mud-brick building in the world. Its present form dates from 1907. Every year the whole town comes together to replaster the walls with fresh mud, a festival of community in which young and old lend a hand. Visitors usually admire it from outside, from the market square that spreads out before it.

The Grand Mosque of Paris and the Shah Jahan Mosque in Woking

Europe has its own mosque history too. The Grand Mosque of Paris was inaugurated in 1926, partly in memory of the Muslim soldiers who died for France in the First World War. Its garden, green-tiled roofs and minaret recall the mosques of North Africa and al-Andalus. Older still is the Shah Jahan Mosque in Woking, England, from 1889, the first purpose-built mosque in Britain. It is named after Sultan Shah Jahan, the ruler of Bhopal, who generously supported its construction.

5The elements of a mosque – a short tour

A mosque really needs nothing more than a clean floor and a direction. And yet over the centuries Muslims developed a language of forms of their own, in which every element serves a purpose. Once you know them, you can read any mosque like a book.

• Qibla wall: the wall that faces the Kaaba in Makkah (Quran 2:144). Worshippers stand in straight rows parallel to it, shoulder to shoulder. That is why many prayer halls are wider than they are deep.
• Mihrab: the niche in the middle of the qibla wall. It shows the direction of prayer, and the imam stands in front of it. The word already appears in the Quran: Zakariyya was praying "in the mihrab" when the angels called him (Quran 3:39) – there it means a prayer chamber. The niche as a fixed architectural feature only appeared after the time of the Prophet ﷺ and became one of the most precious places of Islamic art, with tiles, carved plaster and calligraphy.
• Minbar: the pulpit with steps, to the right of the mihrab, from which the Friday sermon is given. At first the Prophet ﷺ preached leaning against a palm trunk. When a wooden pulpit was built for him, the trunk cried like a child until the Prophet ﷺ went to it and embraced it (al-Bukhari).
• Minaret: the tower from which the call to prayer rings out. In the Prophet's ﷺ time Bilal called the adhan from a raised place; minarets as separate towers came later and took on a different shape in every region – square in Kairouan, spiralling in Samarra, slender as a pencil in Istanbul.
• Dome: it is not required – the first mosque in Madinah had none. But a dome widens the space, carries the voice of the reciter and draws the eye upwards. Inside it is often decorated with star patterns, verses or muqarnas, the honeycomb vaults of Islamic architecture.
• Sahn: the open courtyard, often surrounded by arcades, with a fountain in the middle. It gives light and air and becomes a prayer space on Fridays and Eid when the hall is full.
• Ablution area: here worshippers perform wudu, the ablution before prayer: face, hands and forearms, wiping the head, and the feet (Quran 5:6). In old mosques it is a fountain in the courtyard, in new ones a room of its own with seats and taps.
• Calligraphy and ornament: in prayer spaces Islamic art does without images of living beings. In their place come verses of the Quran in beautiful script, geometric stars that continue into infinity, and tendrils without end. Many see in this a quiet pointer to the infinity of Allah.

The next time you enter a mosque, look for the mihrab first. Then you know where every heart in that room is turning.

6How to visit a mosque respectfully

Whether you are Muslim or come as a guest, a few simple guidelines will help you feel welcome straight away.

• Dress: Choose loose clothing that covers your arms and legs. Women wear a headscarf; large mosques such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque provide suitable clothing if needed. Allah says: "O children of Adam, take your adornment at every place of prayer" 7:31.
• Shoes: Take off your shoes before the prayer hall. There are racks or bags for them.
• Wudu: If you want to pray, come with wudu or perform it in the mosque's ablution area (Quran 5:6). Guests who only want to look around do not need to perform ablution.
• Prayer times: If you only want to look around, plan your visit outside prayer times. Many mosques close to visitors shortly before and during the prayer.
• Women's sections: Many mosques have their own areas or entrances for women. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from the mosques of Allah" (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
• Photography: Ask first, never photograph worshippers up close, and do not walk directly in front of someone who is praying.
• Quiet and fragrance: Speak softly and silence your phone. The Prophet ﷺ asked people not to come to the mosque after eating raw garlic or onions (al-Bukhari, Muslim), a sign of consideration for others.
• Friday: On Friday at midday there is the Friday prayer with a sermon. "When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah" 62:9. Sightseeing is often limited on this day.

Tahiyyat al-masjid – greeting the mosque

The Prophet ﷺ said: "When one of you enters the mosque, let him pray two rak'at before he sits down" (al-Bukhari 444, Muslim). These two rak'at are called tahiyyat al-masjid, "greeting the mosque". How to pray them is explained in the chapter on prayer.

Supplications on entering and leaving

On entering, step in with your right foot and say: "Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik", "O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy." On leaving, step out with your left foot and say: "Allahumma inni as'aluka min fadlik", "O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty" (Muslim).

7Every mosque is a house of Allah

Whether a splendid dome in Abu Dhabi or mud walls in Djenné, marble in Makkah or a small prayer room in your neighbourhood, Allah says: "And the mosques belong to Allah, so do not call upon anyone along with Allah" 72:18. No building is sacred because of its gold, but because of the remembrance that lives within it.

The next time you pass a mosque, feel free to step inside. You are welcome, as one who prays, as one who learns, as a guest. And if you would like to hear the verses about the houses of Allah yourself, begin with Surah an-Nur, where it says: "In houses which Allah has permitted to be raised and in which His name is remembered" 24:36.