Journey Through the 11 Most Beautiful Mosques in the World

Have you ever imagined a building that’s both incredibly beautiful and a place of peace? Mosques are exactly that! They come in all shapes and sizes, some with huge domes that reach for the sky, and others with colorful tilework that shimmers in the sunlight.  These special buildings are places of worship for Muslims, but they’re also amazing works of art and architecture that people from all over the world travel to see.

Get ready to be amazed as we explore some of the most beautiful mosques in the world.

List of the Most Beautiful Mosques in the World

The following is the list of the most beautiful mosques in the world.

• Crystal Mosque
• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
• Masjid Wazir Khan
• Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
• Sultan Ahmed Mosque
• Hassan II Mosque
• Nasir al-Mulk Mosque
• Shah Mosque
• Great Mosque of Xi’an
• Putra Mosque
• Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

1. Crystal Mosque – Malaysia

The Crystal Mosque in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, is a beautiful mosque that looks like it sparkles. It’s shiny because it’s built with lots of glass, steel, and even some crystal. The mosque has four tall towers, each as tall as a 10-story building, and several big, round roofs.  The glass and steel make it look like it glows, especially at night when lights are turned on.  More than 1,500 people can fit inside the mosque at one time, which is plenty of space for big Islamic holidays and prayers.

The inside is also sparkly because they use glass and crystal inside too, like on fancy chandeliers and wall panels. This makes the whole place feel bright and airy. The big room for praying is decorated with beautiful Islamic writing and cool designs, and there are soft carpets on the floor so people are comfortable.  They even have air conditioning and a sound system to keep things cool and easy to hear. There are also screens that show what time prayers are and other announcements.

People come from all over the world to see how beautiful it is and take pictures. It’s especially neat at night when they turn on colorful lights that shine on the glass and crystal, making a magical sight you can see from far away. The mosque is located in a special park that has copies of famous mosques from around the world, so you can learn about Islam and different mosque designs too.

It’s a beautiful example of Islamic architecture with a modern twist.  It’s also an important place for Muslims in the area because they hold religious events, talks, and classes there.

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2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – United Arab Emirates

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi can fit over 40,000 people. It’s one of the biggest and most beautiful mosques in the whole world. They finished building it in 2007.

There are 82 domes of all different sizes, with the biggest one right in the middle. Four tall towers, each almost as tall as a 35-story building, stand around the mosque like proud guards. To make it extra beautiful, they used fancy materials from all over the world, like shiny marble from Italy, colorful glass pictures from Austria, and sparkly crystals from Germany.

The main room for praying can hold over 7,000 people. It has a huge chandelier that might be the biggest one in the world, all glittery with crystals and gold. The floor is covered with a massive carpet, so big it took two years to make by hand. The walls and ceilings are decorated with cool designs, flowers, and beautiful writing, making the whole place feel calm and peaceful.

There’s a big courtyard outside too, with special pools that reflect the mosque like a mirror. The mosque even has special lights that change colors depending on the moon, making it look magical at night.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a symbol of how different Islamic cultures can come together and share their ideas. People come from all over the world to see this amazing building and experience its peaceful atmosphere, making it a super important landmark in the United Arab Emirates.

3. Masjid Wazir Khan – Pakistan

Built between 1634 and 1641, Masjid Wazir Khan is a gorgeous mosque in the center of Lahore, Pakistan. It’s a great example of Mughal architecture, a fancy way of saying the building style from the Mughal Empire. This mosque is famous for its super detailed tile work and colorful paintings on the walls, showing how skilled craftspeople were way back then.

It’s about the size of a football field and has a big open space in the middle called a courtyard. This courtyard is surrounded by a hallway with a bunch of small rooms. These rooms were once used for teaching people about Islam.

The entrance to the mosque is like a big decorated doorway with beautiful paintings and tile work, leading you into the big courtyard. There are five domes on top of the mosque, with the biggest one right in the middle. 

The outside of the mosque is covered in colorful tiles forming all sorts of neat patterns, like flowers and geometric shapes. The colors are mostly blue, green, and yellow and look really bright.

The walls and ceilings are covered in beautiful paintings of flowers, Islamic writing, and cool designs. There’s a special spot on the wall that shows the direction to Mecca, the holy city for Muslims, and it’s decorated extra fancy.

The main room for praying is big and can fit a lot of people. The walls and floors here are also decorated with beautiful tiles and paintings, making it a peaceful and inspiring place to pray. Soft carpets cover the floor for extra comfort.

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4. Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque – Cyprus

The Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque in Northern Cyprus is a super cool building with a long history. It started out as a church called Saint Nicholas Cathedral way back in the 14th century. Back then, Cyprus was ruled by the Lusignan family, who liked to build things in the Gothic style, popular in Europe then. The church had pointed arches, tall ceilings with ribs, and fancy outside supports. It also had stained glass windows, which were pretty special back then.

Then, in 1571, the Ottomans took over the city and changed the church into a mosque. They renamed it after Lala Mustafa Pasha, their leader, and added a tall, skinny tower called a minaret. This minaret sticks out from one corner of the building and offers a great view of the city.

Even though it’s a mosque now, the inside of the building still has that Gothic feel. The high ceilings and thin columns make it look really big and open. They took out the Christian altar and put in a mihrab instead, which shows the direction Muslims pray towards. They also added a minbar, a special platform for speeches, and carpets on the floor.

So, the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque is like a puzzle with two pieces. One piece is the old Gothic church, and the other piece is the Ottoman minaret. It’s a neat example of how buildings can change over time and show different cultures that have been in one place.

5. Sultan Ahmed Mosque – Turkey

Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also called the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey is a beautiful mosque with bright blue tiles inside. They built it between 1609 and 1616, and it’s one of the most famous examples of Ottoman architecture, a fancy way of saying the building style from the Ottoman Empire. 

The Blue Mosque gets its nickname from all the blue tiles that cover the walls inside. The whole building mixes Islamic and Byzantine styles together, which is what Ottoman architecture is known for. On the outside, the mosque is huge and balanced, with one big dome in the center, eight smaller domes around it, and six tall towers called minarets. Back when they built it, having six minarets was super special.

There’s a big open courtyard in front of the mosque with a fountain in the middle for people to wash up before praying. Walk through a covered hallway with arches and you’ll find the grand entrance leading into the main prayer hall. 

The high ceiling is decorated with more than 20,000 handmade blue tiles, which is why they call it the Blue Mosque. The walls are covered in cool patterns and beautiful writing in Arabic, which is the language of the Quran, the Islamic holy book. Over 200 windows let in lots of natural light, making the whole place feel calm and peaceful.

There’s a special spot on the wall called the mihrab that shows the direction of Mecca, the holy city for Muslims, and it’s decorated extra fancy. The platform where the religious leader speaks, called the minbar, is also very ornate. Soft carpets cover the floor for comfort, and huge chandeliers hanging from the ceiling make the place look even more majestic.

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6. Hassan II Mosque – Morocco 

Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco can fit over 100,000 people. They finished building it in 1993 and it took over 7years. More than 10,000 talented craftworkers helped put it together. The mosque shows off Morocco’s long history of beautiful buildings and their modern-day engineering skills.

The mosque is built on a special spot sticking out into the ocean, almost like it’s floating on water. This cool location reflects a part of the Quran, the Islamic holy book, that talks about God’s throne being built on water. Inside the mosque, there’s a huge space for prayer that can hold 25,000 people, and outside in the courtyard there’s room for another 80,000.

The most eye-catching part is the minaret. This minaret is the tallest one in the world, reaching almost 700 feet high. You can see it from miles around, and at the very top, there’s a special laser beam that points towards Mecca, the holy city for Muslims. The rest of the outside is decorated with beautiful mosaics, fancy marble, and carved stone, just like traditional Moroccan buildings.

The main room for praying is enormous and has a special roof that can open up to the sky. This way, people can pray inside or outside, depending on the weather. The inside walls are covered in colorful tilework, fancy moldings, and carved cedar wood. The ceiling is like a work of art, with intricate designs and gold paint, showing off the skills of Moroccan craftspeople.

There’s a special spot on the wall called the mihrab that shows the direction of Mecca, and it’s decorated extra fancy with marble and wood. Even though it’s a holy place, the mosque also has some modern features, like heated floors and automatic doors for easy access.

7. Nasir al-Mulk Mosque – Iran

The Pink Mosque, also known as the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, is a dazzling sight in Shiraz, Iran. Built in the 1800s, it’s famous for its amazing architecture and colorful light show.

From the outside, the mosque looks like many others, with beautiful tiles and a grand entrance. But step inside, and everything changes. The secret lies in the stained glass windows. When the morning sun shines through, the windows cast a magical glow, filling the entire prayer hall with colorful light. This light show makes the walls and carpets appear pink, hence the nickname “Pink Mosque.”

The walls and ceilings are decorated with intricate tilework in all sorts of flower and geometric patterns. The colors are mostly pink, blue, and yellow, making the whole place feel beautiful and peaceful. There’s even a special spot on the wall with fancy tilework that shows the direction Muslims pray towards, and a decorated platform where the religious leader speaks.

The Pink Mosque is more than just a place to pray. It’s a piece of art that shows how skilled Iranian crafters were way back then. 

8. Shah Mosque – Iran

Shah Mosque, also known as the Imam Mosque is a sparkling mosque in Isfahan, Iran. It’s one of the most important buildings in Iran’s history and took around 18 years to build, starting in 1611. The mosque is so beautiful it’s even a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means it’s super special and protected.

The entrance to the mosque is grand and impressive. It’s like a big, open hall with a vaulted ceiling, decorated with fancy blue and turquoise tiles. There are also cool writings and flower designs on the walls, showing off the amazing skills of Persian crafters. This entrance leads you into a courtyard surrounded by four more halls, all decorated with those same beautiful tiles and detailed carvings.

The whole mosque is built in a balanced way that’s pleasing to the eye. The main dome is super tall, almost 175 feet, and covered in shiny blue tiles that change color depending on the sunlight. The inside of the dome is just as amazing, with swirling flowers and geometric patterns that show how skilled the builders were back then.

One of the things that makes this mosque special is its colorful tiles. They use a technique called “Haft Rangi” which means “seven colors” in Farsi, the language spoken in Iran. These tiles cover the walls, ceilings, and even the tall towers on the corners, called minarets. 

The Shah Mosque is more than just a place to pray; it’s a symbol of how artistic and cultured Iran was during the Safavid dynasty.

9. Great Mosque of Xi’an – China

The Great Mosque of Xi’an looks more like a Chinese temple than a mosque with domes and towers. Built way back in 742, it’s seen many changes over the years, but it’s still a symbol of how Chinese culture and Islam influenced each other throughout history.

This mosque is special because it doesn’t look like most mosques. Instead of round domes and tall towers, it has big squares, courtyards, and archways, just like traditional Chinese buildings. The whole thing covers a huge area and is divided into four main courtyards, each with its own unique feel. It’s like a beautiful puzzle where Chinese and Islamic styles fit together perfectly.

The entrance is a decorated archway with cool Chinese designs. Step through, and you’ll find a peaceful courtyard with pretty gardens and old trees. Walk through more beautifully decorated hallways and gates, and you’ll explore each courtyard until you reach the final one.

In the last courtyard, you’ll find the main prayer hall, a big room where up to 1,000 people can pray. The ceiling is made of wood with fancy carvings, showing off the skills of the people who built it way back then. The roof is covered in green tiles, and the walls have both Arabic writing and pictures of Chinese flowers. It’s a neat mix of Chinese and Islamic art.

The Great Mosque of Xi’an isn’t just a place for Muslims to pray; it’s also a piece of history and a beautiful place to visit. People come from all over the world to see this unique blend of cultures and experience its peaceful atmosphere. The way it mixes Chinese and Islamic styles makes it a one-of-a-kind landmark in Xi’an, showing off the city’s rich and diverse heritage.

10. Putra Mosque – Malaysia

Putra Mosque is one of the most beautiful and important buildings in Putrajaya, Malaysia. They finished building it in 1999 and named it after the very first Prime Minister of Malaysia. This mosque is special because it shows off Malaysia’s Muslim history and how modern the country is today.

The design of the Putra Mosque is like a mix of different Islamic styles. You can see influences from the Ottoman Empire, Malaysia itself, and a place called Moorish. The most eye-catching part is the pink dome, made from a special kind of rock with a rosy tint. 

In front of the mosque, there’s a big open space with pretty gardens, water fountains made of marble, and a clean white floor. This peaceful spot creates a nice contrast with the pink mosque itself.

Head inside and you’ll find a prayer hall that can fit up to 15,000 people. The walls are decorated with cool writing and geometric shapes, and the big dome in the center has a beautiful blue and gold inside, almost like the sky.

Here’s the coolest part: the mosque looks like it’s floating on water. It’s built right next to a lake, and especially around sunset when they turn on the lights, it looks like it’s glowing on the water.

11. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque – Oman

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the biggest and most impressive mosques located in Muscat, Oman. It was finished in 2001 and named after the Sultan of Oman at the time, Sultan Qaboos. The mosque shows off both Oman’s Islamic traditions and modern design in a beautiful way.

The outside of the mosque is made of white sandstone, giving it a clean and elegant look. The main attraction is the dome in the center, almost as tall as a 16-story building. It’s decorated with cool patterns and quotes from the Quran, the Islamic holy book. There are also four smaller domes and four tall towers called minarets, reaching over 300 feet high. They’re all covered in fancy carvings and Islamic designs.

In front of the mosque, there’s an open space with a marble floor, pretty gardens, fountains, and even pools reflecting the sky. 

The main prayer hall has room for up to 20,000 people. The ceiling is decorated with chandeliers, soft carpets cover the floor, and the walls are covered in cool carvings. There’s even a special spot on the wall with fancy tiles that shows the direction Muslims pray towards, and a decorated platform where the religious leader speaks.

But the most amazing thing inside might be the huge chandelier. It’s one of the biggest in the world, made with tons of crystals that sparkle like crazy.

Conclusion

From the vibrant mosaics of the Pink Mosque to the sky-reaching minaret of the Hassan II Mosque, our journey through the most beautiful mosques in the world has come to an end.

The next time you travel the world, keep an eye out for these architectural wonders. You might just be surprised by the beauty and peace you find within their walls.

FAQs

Which Is the No. 1 Mosque in the World?

The Grand Mosque of Mecca comes on No. 1, it can accommodate millions of worshippers during Hajj.

What Is the Most Luxurious Mosque in the World?

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Abu Dhabi, UAE) is known for their opulent features and lavish materials. This mosque boasts the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and extensive use of precious stones like jasper and amethyst.

Which Country Has No Mosque?

Bhutan is a country without mosques, along with Monaco and Slovakia. The country’s existing Muslim community, as well as other non-Buddhist religions, worship at a tiny prayer hall in Jakar.

Which U.S. States Have The Most Mosques?

Looking at the total number of mosques, these states tend to have the most:

• New York
• California
• Texas