Lotfollah Mosque of Isfhan tops world's most beautiful mosques: Report

Monday 03 Aug 2015 - 10:16 Makkah mean time-18-10-1436

(Image from AP)

Jeddah, (IINA) - Celebrating the Islamic architecture,  Britishthe daily The Telegraph has published a photo gallery of the world’s most beautiful mosques, showing the marvelous designs of the centuries-old places of worship.
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in the Iranian city of Isfhan topped the list of the world’s 25 most beautiful mosques for its architectural unusualness, OnIslam reported.
The mosque, which was built in the early 17th-century under Shah Abbas I, does not have a courtyard or minaret, making it architecturally unusual.
The Iranian mosque was never intended for public use, instead it was dedicated for prayer by members of the Shah’s harem, according to the newspaper.
Another Iranian mosque, Nasir al Molk in Shiraz, was ranked as the second most beautiful mosque by the Telegraph.
Known for its magnificent architecture, the Blue Mosque in the Turkish capital, Istanbul, came in the third place in the list.
Built under the reign of the Ottoman ruler Ahmed I between 1609 and 1616, the mosque was described as being “majestic, magnificent and utterly beguiling.”
The Turkish mosque “has six needle-like minarets that form an essential part of Istanbul’s skyline, and is an unmissable part of any break to the city,” the Telegraph said.
The Blue Mosque was followed by Turkey’s Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofia) that was ranked the fourth.
A church for over 1,000 years and a mosque for 500 more, Hagia Sophia is the most spectacular building in Istanbul. It was turned into a mosque after Constantinople was taken by Sultan Mehmet II in 1453.
In the 20th Century, Hagia Sophia was turned into a museum accessible to all by the secular founders of modern Turkey.
In Egypt, the Blue Mosque and Ibn Tulum Mosques, both located in Cairo, were ranked the 5^th and the 6^th among the world’s most beautiful mosques.
Built in the 14th century, the Amir Aqsunqur Mosque or Blue mosque was reopened in Cairo last May following a 13-year closure to repair earthquake damage.
According to the Telegraph, the mosque is part of a funerary complex, containing the mausoleums of its founder Shams El-Din Aqsunqur and his sons. Its current aesthetic “reflects the Ottoman style, especially in the Iznik tiles depicting cypress trees and vases holding tulips”.
The Two Moroccan mosques Grand Hassan II Mosque and Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech were ranked the 7^th and the 25^th by the Telegraph.
“The Grand Mosque Hassan II proudly supports the world’s tallest minaret, at 210 metres,” said the newspaper in its description of the mosque.
“The World’s third largest mosque, it is the only such building in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter. It stands proud on the seafront in Casablanca, and the seabed is visible through the glass floor in the hall.”
Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah were among the top 10 most beautiful mosques.
They were followed by the two Malaysian Mosques Ubudiah Mosque in the royal town of Kuala Kangsa and Sultan Salaheddine Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque.
Three mosques in the Muslims-majority country of Pakistan were ranked the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th by the Telegraph.
The Pakistani Faisal Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque and Badshahi Mosque were included in the list due to their unique designs that lure thousands of tourists.
Indian mosques such as Taj-ul-Masajid and Jama Masjid were named along with Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Masjid Sultan Qaaboos in Oman, Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq and Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque in north Cyprus.
The list also included Umayyad Mosque in Syria, Great Mosque of Herat in Afghanistan and Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba in Spain.
SM/IINA

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