Largest Mosques in the World Muslims hold mosques sacred, which is why they take great care in building these intricate structures as symbols of devotion and reverence.
At dawn, when the whistle blows, teams of young men begin running up the mosque’s facade carrying baskets full of wet clay to reinforce its walls against the scorching summer heat. This process helps shield its earthen mud walls against excessive UV rays.
Masjid An-Nabawi (The largest Mosques in the World)
The Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid An-Nabawi) in Medina is the world’s second-largest mosque. Built to commemorate Muhammad’s birthplace and burial within its Green Dome, this building has seen much expansion over time and now accommodates up to one million pilgrims during Hajj season each year. With its eye-catching ocher mud walls that feature buttresses punctured with spikey wooden struts giving it an eye-catching look and unique interior spaces it makes an impressive first impression for visitors entering its interior.
One French journalist who visited soon after its completion described it as looking like “something between a hedgehog and church organ”, yet many still consider the mosque beautiful.
This mosque was crafted of sun-baked mud bricks covered with a thick layer of mud plaster. Bundles of rodier palm (Borassus aethiopum) sticks extend from the walls acting as scaffolding while ceramic half-pipes protrude from its roofline to channel away rainwater away from walls, giving this structure its distinctive character and appearance.
Every year, Djenne comes together for the crepissage festival which marks an elaborate task but also celebrates their culture and religion.
The mosque is situated between two large squares that were once filled with markets and caravanserais; today they serve as busy pedestrian plazas and shopping districts. Furthermore, its adjacent museum houses an impressive collection of Islamic art and manuscripts such as Shahnama (Book of Kings). Furthermore, you will find restaurants and gift shops on site – making this mosque truly inspiring place that must be seen first-hand!
Djamaa el Dazair (Largest Mosques in the World)
The world’s biggest mosques are architectural marvels that also hold deep cultural and historical significance for Muslims worldwide. Serving as places for spiritual growth, as well as representing their faith. These top largest mosques by size will take your breath away! This exploration reveals some of Islam’s most remarkable landmarks – which may take a closer look and may leave you speechless!
Djamaa el Dazair (Largest Mosques in the World)
This stunning mosque in Algiers in northern Africa is an outstanding piece of Islamic architecture. With an estimated capacity for 41,000 worshippers at once and featuring Moorish as well as other forms of Islamic design styles. Its beauty can only be rivalled by the stunning Green Dome that crowns this masterpiece of mosque design.
Djamaa el Dazair stands as an incredible testament to how Islam and other cultures can co-exist harmoniously. Producing such stunning structures as this 18th-century mosque in Algeria. If ever given the chance, don’t miss seeing it!
Masjid al-Haram
Masjid al-Haram is the world’s largest mosque and serves as an integral religious site for all Muslims worldwide. Situated in Mecca’s holy city of Medina and surrounds the Kaaba (which Muslims revere as their holiest site). It can accommodate up to four million pilgrims during the Hajj season each year. Featuring four minarets it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
Imam Reza Shrine (The largest Mosques in the World)
If you are Muslim, chances are good that you have heard of and visited the Imam Reza shrine before. It is an enormous complex consisting of a prayer hall, library, university, and various other buildings dedicated to Twelver Shiite Muslims’ eighth Imam as a way of honoring martyrs for their beliefs who died fighting them.
Uganda National Mosque
Completed in 2006, Uganda National Mosque is an impressive building that can hold up to 40,000 people and features two domes and five minarets. A great example of Islamic architecture, this magnificent mosque showcases many beautiful details such as its second-largest hand-woven carpet and 14-meter chandelier.
Masjid al-Haram
Religion and spirituality have long inspired people worldwide to build impressive structures, with mosques becoming symbols of reverence and devotion for millennia. With some being built at truly massive sizes capable of housing more people than an entire nation!
The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s best-known and largest mosques. Known as Masjid al-Haram due to its main feature – Kaaba (an ancient stone tomb said to have been touched by Prophet Mohammad). Covering 400,800 square meters it can accommodate over 4 Million pilgrims during Hajj!
This mosque is considered to be of paramount significance in Islam and one of its holiest shrines worldwide. Open only to Muslims, non-Muslims are not permitted inside. Originally built by Umar ibn al-Khattab in 638 AD but later extended by various Muslim rulers over time – most significantly during Sultan Selim II’s 1571 commission of architect Sinan for renovation work; during which he replaced flat roof with domes decorated inside with calligraphy as well as new support columns – replacing flat roof with domes decorated inside with calligraphy inside and new support columns placed.
Grand Jamia mosque
As with many of the buildings on this list. The Grand Jamia mosque is an elegant structure that combines different architectural styles to great effect. Featuring an ornate dome and plenty of windows that bring in plenty of light. It can hold up to 100,000 worshipers at any one time and has become a popular tourist attraction.
Building this mosque was no simple task. Constructed on an expansive mud platform that rose ten feet off the ground level. And constructed from sun-baked mud bricks baked under direct sunlight for several months before completion. Its unique construction drew both praise and criticism from visitors. One French journalist writing shortly after it had opened described its appearance as looking like something between a hedgehog and a church organ!
Imam Reza Shrine
Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran completes our list of the world’s largest mosques. This spectacular structure was constructed around Imam Reza’s tomb as well as Goharshad Mosque, museum, library, four seminaries, and Razavi University of Islamic Sciences on its sprawling land area.
This stunning mosque is an exquisite example of Islamic architecture with its magnificent grandeur. Constructed using marble, porphyry, and Iznik tiles. Its splendor makes this site worthy of inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
No surprise that this exquisite building is Asia’s largest mosque with an estimated capacity of nearly 40,000 people. The architecture combines both modern and traditional elements and features an eye-catching seven-story main tower topped by a gigantic dome reaching 99 meters high – representing Allah’s 99 names.
Every April, residents of Djenne come together to add a layer of clay to the walls of their mosque – not only as necessary maintenance to prevent crumbling but also as an act of solidarity and faith. This tradition, known as dressage, serves not only as a ritual but as a festival celebrating culture, heritage, and community in Djenne.
This massive mosque was constructed during the 1980s. To commemorate Algeria’s War of Independence and has become one of the world’s largest. With a capacity for over 30,000 worshippers and 42,000 square meters covered. Its most striking features are 618 octagonal columns and six kilometers of calligraphic writing engraved using lasers.
This list would not be complete without including the Sultan Qaboo Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman. Constructed over six years, this lavish structure boasts everything a mosque could ever desire. From an enormous chandelier that may or may not be the world’s largest chandelier. To its second-largest hand-woven carpet – this mosque truly stands as an architectural marvel.
Djamaa el Dazair Mosque ( Largest Mosques in the World)
The Djamaa el Dazair Mosque is a stunningly beautiful complex. That sits on an entire island with the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. The incredibly grand design is a perfect example of Islamic architecture at its best, with its many towers and domes. All of these are lit up with a variety of colors to create a warm and welcoming space for worshipers.