The Faisal Mosque
Faisal Mosque, Pakistan's national mosque, is located in the capital city, Islamabad. The largest mosque in South Asia, located at the foothills of the Margalla Hills, is the fifth largest mosque in the world. King Faisal of Saudi Arabia is credited with naming it. This mosque features an 8-sided concrete shell infused with a Bedouin tent design.
Mosques are popular tourist attractions in Pakistan.
The mosque was constructed in 1976 after Saudi King Faisal granted $28 million. International competition won by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay. Minarets stand 260 feet high on the mosque, shaped like a Bedouin tent. There are eight sides to the sloping roof, which can hold 10,000 worshippers.
In total, 33 acres (130,000 m2) of construction are constructed, with the mosque dominating. In addition to being at the north end of Faisal Avenue, Margalla Hills are the westernmost foothills of the Himalayas. The national park provides a picturesque backdrop. The Faisal Mosque became the biggest mosque in the world in 1993. Faisal Mosque now ranks sixth in terms of capacity.
History[edit]
Air view
Faisal Avenue, Islamabad
The mosque was conceived during a 1966 visit by King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz, who supported the Pakistani government's initiative. There was an international competition in 1969, with 43 proposals from 17 countries submitted. The winning design was by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay. The project on 46 acres was carried out by Pakistani engineers and workers. Construction of the mosque began in 1976 with Saudi government funding through National Construction Limited of Pakistan, led by Azim Khan. Faisal bin Abdul Aziz, the assassinated king, played a significant role in funding the mosque and the road leading to it. King Khalid dedicated the mosque in October 1976[12] and construction began in 1978. It has information about the mosque written on it. The first prayer was held in 1988, despite the mosque having been completed in 1986. In addition to being a mosque, the mosque grounds also housed the International Islamic University until 2000. The dome structure was not traditional and initially drew criticism from traditional and conservative Muslims.
Capacity[edit]
The interior
There are approximately 300,000 worshipers at Faisal Mosque. There are four minarets of the mosque, each measuring 10 meters in diameter and 79 meters high (the tallest minarets in South Asia). There is room for 200,000 people on the mosque grounds.
Architecture[edit]
With abstraction, I sought to capture the geometry, proportion, and spirit of the Kaaba. Minarets are scaled to the corners of the Kaaba in proportion to the base, forming an unseen Kaaba form. The designer compares Shah Faisal Mosque to the Holy Kaaba. Each minaret's apex should be bound by the apex of the four-sided pyramid's base. Among the four minarets, the lower pyramid is considered a solid body.
Masjid design explained by Dalokay [15][16][17].
The Faisal Mosque
He created an eight-sided main hall instead of a dome. The main hall's corners were also capped with 80 m (260 feet) minarets. It is supported by concrete girders. Turkish architecture can be seen in the four minarets. The prayer hall is surrounded by a porticoed courtyard, according to Vedat Dalokay. A new location has been found for the International Islamic University. Among its amenities are a library, a museum, and a cafe. Decorative mosaics, calligraphy, and a Turkish chandelier designed by Pakistani artist Sadequain adorn the interior of the tent-shaped hall. An early Kufic script Kalimah is written in a mirror image on the west wall.
Mengu Ertel designed the calligraphic tiles on the Qibla Wall. Its interior is decorated in Turkish and Pakistani styles. A combination of classical Islamic architecture and contemporary design. The design is inspired by nomadic Bedouin tents. In spite of this, it retains an Ottoman-style minaret and the square shape of the Kaaba.