Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan is the biggest mosque of South Asia and the sixth largest mosque in the world with covered area of 5000 square meter (54,000 square feet), and room for containing as many as 300,000 worshipers in its main prayer hall, porticoes, courtyard and adjoining grounds. It is considered as the National Mosque of Pakistan. Shah Faisal Mosque was remained the biggest mosque in the world from 1986 to 1993 when taken over in size by the completion of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco.
Sited at north end of one of Faisal Avenue, the Shah Faisal Mosque is positioned at the northern-most end of the Islamabad on an elevated area near Margalla Hills. This positioning enables the mosque to be seen from miles around with a beautiful background of the Margalla Hills. It represents great importance of the Faisal Mosque.
CONTENTS AT A GLANCE
History
The mosque was named Shah Faisal Mosque due to the late King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia who suggested building a national mosque in Islamabad during his visit in 1966 and later largely supported funding for the construction. The government Saudi Arabia provided 130 million Saudi Riyals donation for the mosque. Work on mosque was started in with an international competition held in 1969, in which architects from 17 different countries submitted 43 designs for the Mosque. The accepted design was created by a Turkish architect, Vedat Dalokay who recieved the Agha Khan Architectural Award for this assignment. The construction work for the mosque under supervision of Azam Khan was started by National Construction of Pakistan in 1976. It was completed in 1986 at a cost of 130 million Saudi Riyals and is designed similar to a desert Bedouin’s tent.
Building
The design made by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay not only reflects modern but also the basic Islamic principles of design. This unique mixture of traditional Islamic construction style and modern building principles has made Shah Faisal Mosque very popular throughout the world.
Instead of using traditional domes Vidat Dalokay designed an eight sided main hall that looks like an Arab Bedouin’s desert tent. Additionally he added four minarets all of 90 meters (300 feet) on all four corners of main hall. The main structure of building is a main prayer hall and four minarets. The giant structure of 40 meters (131 feet) high hall is supported by four concrete girders.
At the entrance of mosque there is a small courtyard containing a small round water pond with fountains and introductory plaque inside it. Next to this courtyard, on the left hand are stairs leading to main courtyard of mosque and going straight leads to another but comparatively larger water pond with fountains. On the left side of this pond is ablution place for worshipers. This second water pond looks very beautiful. Stairs goes to main courtyard from all four corners of this pond.
There is an adjoining ground on east of mosque that contains mausoleum of a former president Gen. Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan. Another ground is located at front side of mosque but it is a smaller one. There is also a water pond with fountains at frond side of the building.
What to Do
The main courtyard of building presents a beautiful picturesque view of Margla Hills. You are free to visit all areas of the building and take photographs. Some restrictions are for the inside of main prayer hall that is opened only at the times of prayers and photography is not allowed in it. This place is very peaceful. Although the mosque is not a picnic place but still it is open for families, students, tourists, delegations and foreigners to visit. There are no charges for anyone to enter but you can give donation for mosque if you want.
Instructions for Visitors
Mosques are holly places for Muslims. Anyone is free to visit the Faisal Mosque but there are some restrictions and rules one need to follow when visiting the mosque.
- Leave your shoes at entrance
- Avoid eating, dancing, singing or making noises
- Dress properly (especially ladies), otherwise you wouldn’t be allowed to enter
Photo Gallery
Map
Map of Shah Faisal Mosque – Click to see more details
