Masjid al-Haram

Kul Sharif Mosque

In the second of October 1552 after two grueling siege and brutal assault, knocking Arskii Gates, Russian troops stormed into the burning Kazan. At the city»s streets and squares were battles. Path to the Khan»s palace stood in the most powerful Russian resistance at the walls of the mosque Kul-Sharif.

Path to the Khan»s palace for Russians blocked up the most powerful enemy opposition at the walls of the mosque Kul-Sharif. Madrassa students, led by Seid Kul-Sharif survived several attacks of Russians. But soon the defenders of the Muslim center of the Volga were defeated, and Kazan was captured.

Why we started a conversation with the Kul-Sharif Mosque in Kazan? The fact that Tsar Ivan IV, conquered Kazan, was fascinated by the many buildings of the city, including the mosque Kul-Sharif. Historical sources say that Ivan IV ordered the architectors Posnikov and Barma to build a church like Kazan mosque Kul-Sharif in downtown of Moscow. This church was supposed to symbolize the victory over Kazan by Ivan IV (of Muslims), which opened the way to the Caspian Sea and the transformation of Moscow Empire into the Russian Empire.

 There are two symbols of the victory of Russian over the most type seat layout obstacle to the proliferation of Russian and South — Muslims (Tatars, Bulgars). One of these symbols — rising in the center of Moscow Church of the Intercession (St. Basil), 1556-1559, the second — was destroyed Kul-Sharif mosque in Kazan, a gem of Islamic architecture in the Volga Region of XVI century. In many russian historical sources the mosque Kul Sharif is called «Kulsharifovoy”. Many scientists who conducted research on the mosque (Michael Khudyakov, S. Aidarov), argue that the mosque had not disappeared without trace after the Russian invasion. It was rebuilt in stone Blagoveshenskiy sobor. Although there is no precise image of mosque Kul-Sharif, but the draw of Jenkinson we can judge that the mosque had many minarets. The number of minarets is determined from 6 to 8. The mosque consisted of the central tent, surrounded by eight smaller tents. According to another version, the mosque Kul Sharif is similar to the mosque — madrasah called Mihrima-Sultan, built in 1578 in Edirnekapi in Istanbul.

Badshahi Mosque

The Badshahi Mosque or the 'Royal Mosque' in Lahore, commissioned by the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1671 and completed in 1673, is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world.
Badshahi mosque is one of the few significant architectural monuments built during Emperor Aurangzeb's long rule from 1658 to 1707. It is presently the fifth largest mosque in the world and was indisputably the largest mosque in the world from 1673 to 1986 when the Faisal Mosque was constructed in Islamabad. Although it was built late in the Mughal era in a period of relative decline, its beauty, elegance, and scale epitomize Mughal cultural achievement like no other monument in Lahore.
At the time of its construction, and even many years later, the famous River Ravi skirted the ramparts of the Mosque and the Lahore Fort (Shahi Qila) just in front of it. A stream still flaws there and is known as the "Buddha Darya" or the Old River. During the Sikh rules, when Lahore was ruthlessly plundered, many a gems and decorative and ornamental plates both from the Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort were removed and sent to Amritsar for the construction of the Golden Temple.
In the chambers above the gate of the mosque are housed relics attributed to Muhammad (PBUH), the Muslims' Holy Prophet, His Daughter and His Son-in-Law and are said to have been brought to the sub-continent by Amir Taimur. Owing to the religious sensitivities and respect, photography of the relics is strictly prohibited.
Outside the Badshahi Mosque, near its steps lies the tomb of the poet-philosopher Dr Sir Allama Muhammad lqbal famously known as Mazar-e-Iqbal. The mausoleum is a mixture of Afghan and Moorish styles of architecture and is constructed entirely of red sandstone, which was brought from Rajasthan. The tomb near the entrance of the mosque was constructed as a mark of respect and pay homage to this great man who gave the very concept of a separate Muslim state for the Muslims of the British India

Masjid e Tooba Karachi

Masjid e Tooba or Tooba Mosque (Urdu: ???? ??????) is in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, and is locally known as the Gol Masjid.

Masjid e Tooba was built in 1969 in Defence Housing Society Karachi, Karachi. It is just off main Korangi Road. Masjid e Tooba is often claimed to be the largest single-dome mosque in the world. It is also major tourist attraction in Karachi. Masjid e Tooba is built with pure white marble. The dome is 72 meters (236 feet) in diameter and is balanced on a low surrounding wall with no central pillars. Masjid e Tooba has a single minaret standing 70 meters high. The mosque is the 18th largest in the world with the central prayer hall having a capacity of 5,000 people.

It was built keeping acoustics in mind. A person speaking inside one end of the dome can be heard at the other end. This mosque was designed by Pakistani architect Dr Babar Hamid Chauhan and the engineer was Zaheer Haider Naqvi.

Malacca Straits Mosque

Standing on a man-made island named Pulau Melaka, above the waters of the Straits of Malacca, Masjid Selat Melaka really looks like it’s floating when the tide is high. The mosque was built between 2003 and 2006 and officiated in November 2006 by Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, the country’s Yang Di-Pertuan Agong at that time. Its design idea came from the state’s former Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam, who was inspired by a floating mosque he had seen during his trip to Jeddah.
The mosque’s most prominent feature is its 30-metre-high minaret which also functions as a lighthouse, acting as a guide for boats, ships and aircrafts. A massive golden dome with blue trims which is visible from a distance sits above its main prayer hall. The building incorporates Middle Eastern architectural style peppered with Malay decorative elements such as the use of bamboo as part of its structure and a beautifully-carved pulpit made out of teak wood. The mosque is quite a spectacular sight at night when the whole building lights up.
Masjid Selat Melaka is equipped with various facilities which include a multipurpose hall, a library and a learning centre.

Baitul Mukarram

It is the National Mosque of Bangladesh. Its construction began on 1960, and has been going on in phases. Architect T Abdul Hussain Thariani was commissioned to design the mosque complex. The plan included shops, offices, libraries and parking areas within the complex. The design of the mosque reflects the architecture of the period as can be seen from the use of a white and almost cube-form for the main building. A Mosque without a dome over the roof of its main prayer hall must have been a unique experiment. The main building is eight storied and 33 meters high from the ground level. The area of the main prayer hall is 2464 SQ meters with a mezzanine floor of 171 SQ metres at the eastern side. Verandas surround the hall on three of its four sides. The mihrab of the hall is rectangular instead of semi-circular. Excessive ornamentation is avoided throughout the mosque, since minimizing ornamentation is typical of modern architecture. The Baitul Mukarram mosque is modern in its architectural style. It has found its place in the hearts of the Muslims because of the resemblance of its form to the Holy Kaaba at Makkah.

Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid of Delhi is the largest mosque in India. The Jama Masjid stands across the road in front of the Red Fort. Built between 1644 and 1658, Jama Masjid is one of the last architectural works of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The spacious courtyard of the Jama Masjid holds thousands of faithful. Jama Masjid is located on a mound in the heart of the old city and projects beautifully into the Old-Delhi skyline. Jama Masjid Mosque was built in red sandstone and marble by more than 5000 artisans. Originally called the Masjid-i-Jahan-Numa, or "mosque commanding view of the world", the Jama Masjid stands at the center of the erstwhile capital city of the Mughals, Shahjahanbad.

The Jama Masjid was completed under the supervision of Saadullah Khan, the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan. A sum of Rs 10 lakhs was spent on the construction of the Jama Masjid. The Jama Masjid is built on a red sandstone porch, about 30 feet (10 m) from the level of the ground and is about 1400 square yards (1200 m²) in extent. The Jama Masjid has three gateways, four towers and two minarets. The gateways in the north and south are led by a fleet of steps. The main entrance is on the eastern side facing the red fort. It was probably used by the emperors. The tower of the Jama Masjid is made up of five distinctive storeys. Each one of the storeys has a projecting balcony. The adjoining edifices are beautifully done with calligraphy.

The first three storeys of the Jama Masjid tower are made of red sandstone and the fourth one is made of marble, while the fifth is made of sandstone. The Jama Masjid is covered with intricate carvings and has verses inscribed from the holy Koran. The grand Red fort (Lal Qila) stands on the eastern side of the Jama Masjid. The main prayer hall of the Jama Masjid is made up of high cusped arches and marble domes. The cabinet in the north gate of the Jama Masjid contains a collection of Muhammad's relics - the Koran written on deerskin, a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals and his footprints, implanted in a marble block.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918-2004) was well known for his contributions as a leader of strong will, insight and vision.  After achieving the foundation of the United Arab Emirates, Zayed was able to instigate and realize great contributions to his country which dramatically altered the life and destiny of his citizens on an economical, intellectual and social level.  He was able to build a modern and sophisticated country while preserving the particular cultural identity of his nation.

Throughout his life-time, Zayed adopted a tolerant version of pure Islamic faith far from fanaticism or extremism.  Zayed’s piousness and purity strengthened his relationship with God, the Almighty.  For him, Islam is the main source of instruction and guidance.  "If people understand Islam properly they will achieve miracles", says Zayed. He adds: “when the Arabs followed the instructions of Islam, they dominated the world achieving glories ".

Giving priority to moral values, Sheikh Zayed believed that developing a culture of tolerance is a project which deserves attention and concern like any other great initiative. To him, tolerance is the evidence of a nation’s vitality and proof of its ability to achieve more advancement and progress.  Understanding human nature, Sheikh Zayed seeks to promote a culture of tolerance able to reconcile the entire human race through the emphasis on the common bonds that link mankind together. Through his insight, Zayed becomes aware of the damaging impact of hostile dialogue on the future of humanity. Therefore, Zayed admires the Islamic faith whose essence is based on respect of human beings regardless of their religion, color, language, origin and traditions. “Islam is great and we should be proud of our religion because Islam is against all forms of racism”, said Zayed. “To stereotype a fellow human being is to deprive him of his humanity”, said Zayed, calling for respect of man who is honored by God, the Almighty.  

Sheikh Zayed’s enlightened vision came from the concept of diversity which is deeply rooted in the essence of Arabic–Islamic civilization.  To him, diversity is a continued and habitual procedure sanctioned by God who created the entire human race from a male and a female.  Throughout human history, the children of Adam and Eve advocate multiplicity of doctrines, religions, cultures and civilizations, however, they remain connected by superior human bonds.  All the peoples, races, tribes and nations all over the world are united together regardless of differences in color and religion: “And among His signs are the creation of the heavens and the earth and the difference of your language and colors.  Verily, in that are indeed signs for man of sound knowledge” (Surah 30, Ar-Rum, “The Roman Empire ", the Holy Quran).

The concept of diversity is personified in Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a majestic marvel that reveals a spectrum of architectural splendors formulating a harmonious unity between different Islamic architectural schools.   The Mosque also includes a variety of post-modern architectural designs enriching its historical Islamic tastes.

The late Sheikh Zayed aimed to establish a historical Mosque, personifying the Islamic message of peace, tolerance and diversity.  He intended to turn the Grand Mosque into a living reference in modern Islamic architecture linking the past with the present in a harmonious melody.

The Mosque is the fruit of Sheikh Zayed’s unique vision.  The father of the UAE has created an Islamic monument, a center for Islamic sciences and an emblem of genuine Islamic values, in order to illuminate the horizons of Islamic thought rooted in tolerance, love and peace.

Bahria Town’s Grand Jamia Masjid

The Grand Mosque in Bahria Town is one of the rare beauties you get to see in Lahore. The complete name of the mosque is the Grand Jamia Mosque Bahria Town Lahore. The red bricked beauty stands in the Bahria Town Lahore with not just people who come to pray there five times a day, but with people who come from far off just to see the mosque as well.

The Grand Mosque is an excellent example of simplicity as it teams up contemporary architecture with the otherwise old architecture of the Lahore city.

The mosque has a great deal of amazing and fun facts related to the mosque which includes the fact that it is the largest mosque in the entire Pakistan and is the 7th largest mosque in the world. That is right, this beautiful mosque has earned Pakistan a spot on the list of largest mosques in the world.

The size of the Grand Mosque in Bahria Town is calculated by the covered space of the praying facility in the mosque which is actually very huge.

bahria mosque photos

Now we will share some numerical facts which are highly interesting about the Grand Mosque in Bahria Town Lahore. The accommodation capacity in the main grand hall of the mosque is 25,000 people and as for the entire accommodation capacity, the mosque can accommodate 70,000 people.

grand mosque bahria town sky view

With its 21 domes and four 165 feet high minarets, this beautiful mosque can compete with any beautiful mosques all around the globe. These domes and minarets make the mosque visible from quite a distance making it look even more ethereal. The facts mentioned above make the mosque one of the biggest mosques in the world in terms of covered area.

bahria town lahore mosque

The mosque has a functioning fountain which is perfect for the contemporary yet traditional architecture of the mosque. A question might arise in our minds that who is the amazing architect of this wonderful looking mosque and the answer is quite easy. It is none other than the biggest name in the world of Pakistani architecture Mr. Nayyar Ali Dada.

bahria town lahore jamia masjid

The gleaming marble floors and mosaic made by the Multani Mosaic makers adds very much to the beauty of the mosque. The total number of mosaic tiles in the mosque is 4000. The best part is that the admin of the Grand Mosque in Bahria Town Lahore is very much concerned about the cleanliness of the mosque and you can see machines and workers, cleaning the mosque at tiny intervals of time.

bahria town masjid images

The tailor made chandeliers are just magical and they add so much to the beauty of the mosque that people actually stand and look at the chandeliers for the longest of times. The chandeliers give an altogether look from all different floors of the Grand Mosque.

grand mosque photos

The mosque has a special place on the second floor reserved solely for women making it very few of the mosques in Pakistan which have a space reserved especially for female namazis.  There is basement in the grand mosque which is basically comprised of an Islamic art Gallery and a religious school which has not yet been made functional but will start functioning in a matter of time.

lahore bahria masjid photos

If you ever get a chance to visit this amazingly built mosque, do not miss it. As for all Lahoris, you must pay a visit to the mosque as the experience is just great.

Faisal Mosque

The Shah Faisal Masjid in Islamabad, Pakistan, is among one of the largest mosques in the world. It is a popular masjid in the Islamic world, and is renowned for both its size and its architecture covering an area of 5,000 square meters with a capacity of 300,000 worshippers.

The decision to build Faisal Mosque was taken in 1966  in the regime of President Ayub Khan when the late King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia suggested it during a visit to Islamabad. In 1969, an international competition was held in which architects from 17 countries submitted 43 proposals. After four days of deliberation, Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay's design was chosen. Construction of the mosque began in 1976 by National Construction of Pakistan, led by Azim Borujerdi, and was funded by the government of Saudi Arabia, at a cost of over 130 million Saudi riyals (approximately $120 million USD today). King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz was instrumental in the funding, and both the mosque and the road leading to it were named after him after his assassination in 1975. The mosque was completed in 1986, and used to house the International Islamic University. The mausoleum of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, whose 1988 funeral at the site was the largest in the history of Pakistan, is located adjacent to the mosque. The farcical nature of the burial is in the fact that the only thing that is buried there is the "alleged" lower jaw of Zia-ul-Haq. Furthermore, there is no conformation as to whether the bone belongs to either the pilot or fellow passengers on the Pakistan Air Force No. 1 in which Zia died. The site is known amongst the locals as “Jabrah chowk” (Jaw Zone). Many conservative Muslims criticised the design at first for its non-conventional design and lack of the traditional dome structure, but virtually all criticism was eventually silenced by the mosque's scale, form, and setting against the Margalla Hills upon completion.

It is located at the end of Shaharah-e-Islamabad, putting it at one end of the city and in front of a magnificent backdrop provided by the Margalla Hills. It is a focal point of Islamabad, and famous and recognized icon of the city.

The Hassan II Mosque

The Hassan II Mosque is the second largest mosque in the world and is located in Casablanca, the economic and business capital of Morocco. Michel Pinseau, a French architect, designed the Hassan Mosque and its accompanying minaret. Pinseau designed the building in such a way that it is able to endure earthquakes. At night the minaret has lasers that shine in the direction of Mecca. Today, the minaret is considered the tallest in the world, standing at 689 feet or 210 meters.

The construction of the mosque began in 1986 and was completed in 1993. This was four years over the due date, which was meant to be in 1989 on King Hassan II's 60th birthday. Most of the materials used for the building of the mosque originated from Morocco but there were some materials, like the glass chandeliers and granite columns that were imported.

The mosque stands on a prominent piece of land that rises up on the shore of the Atlantic and provides visitors with the most spectacular views of the ocean. It was decided by King Hassan II that the mosque should be built on this location because of a verse found in the Qur'an, which says that God's throne was built over the water. The King wanted worshippers to be able to see God's creations like the ocean and the sea.

Up to 25,000 worshippers can be accommodated inside the mosque, where they pray on a glass floor. This special feature of the mosque allows worshippers to kneel and pray over the sea. A further 80,000 people can fit into the courtyard that surrounds the Hassan Mosque. The Hassan II Mosque has a number of modern features that have been included to provide worshipers with added comforts. This includes heated floors, a roof that slides open so the sky can be seen and electric doors.

There are many mosques in Morocco most of which are closed off to people who are not of the Muslim faith. The Hassan II Mosque differs in that way, allowing visitors of all faiths the opportunity to come in and view the inside of the building. There is only one other mosque that functions similarly to the Hassan Mosque and that is the old Tin Mal Mosque. Visitors can come to the Mosque and enjoy a guided tour that lasts for about one hour. There are a number of tours that take place throughout the day - so make this one of your stops when visiting Casablanca.

Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia

After the Indonesian National Revolution 1945–1949, followed by the acknowledgement of Indonesian independence from The Netherlands in 1949, there was a growing idea to build a national mosque for the new republic, which had the largest Muslim population in the world.[2] The idea of constructing a grand Indonesian national mosque was launched by Wahid Hasyim, Indonesia's first minister for religions affairs,[3] and Anwar Cokroaminoto, later appointed as the chairman of the Masjid Istiqlal Foundation. The committee for the construction of the Istiqlal Mosque, led by Cokroaminoto, was founded in 1953. He proposed the idea of a national mosque to Indonesian President Sukarno, who welcomed the idea and later helped to supervise the mosque's construction. In 1954 the committee appointed Sukarno technical chief supervisor.[4]:106

Several locations were proposed; Mohammad Hatta, Indonesian vice president, suggested that the mosque should be built near residential areas on Thamrin avenue, on a plot where Hotel Indonesia stands today.[5] However, Sukarno insisted that a national mosque should be located near the most important square of the nation, near the Merdeka Palace. This is in accordance with the Javanese tradition that the kraton (king's palace) and masjid agung (grand mosque) should be located around the alun-alun (main Javanese city square), which means it must be near Merdeka Square.[6] Sukarno also insisted that the national mosque should be built near Jakarta Cathedral and Immanuel Church, to symbolize religious harmony and tolerance as promoted in Pancasila (the Indonesian national philosophy and the five principles which constitute the philosophical foundation of Indonesian nationhood).[7] It was later decided that the national mosque was going to be built in Wilhelmina park, in front of the Jakarta Cathedral. To make way for the mosque, the Citadel Prins Frederick, built in 1837, was demolished.[8][9]

Sukarno actively followed the planning and construction of the mosque, including acting as the chairman of the jury for the mosque design competition held in 1955. The design submitted by Frederich Silaban, a Christian architect from North Sumatra, with the theme "Ketuhanan" (English: "Divinity") was chosen as the winner. The foundation stone was laid by Sukarno on 24 August 1961;[10][11] the construction took 17 years. President Suharto inaugurated it as the national mosque on 22 February 1978.[10][12] As of 2013 it is the largest mosque in the region of Southeast Asia, with a capacity of over 120,000.[13][14]:65

In display of religious tolerance, during large Christian celebrations such as Christmas, Istiqlal Mosque helped provide parking space for worshipers of the nearby Jakarta Cathedra

Imam Reza Shrine

The holy city of Mashhad is the administrative capital of the Khorasan province. Its present population is nearing two and half millions and occupies an area of more than 200 square kilometers. It is situated in the north-east of Iran between Binalood and Hazar mountain ranges. It is 945 kilometers away from Tehran and its altitude is 980 meters above the sea level. At present Mashhad is the second largest city in Islamic Republic of Iran after Tehran.
In the beginning of the third century Hijrah, Mashhad was a small village called Sanabad, situated 24 kilometers away from Toos. The summer palace of Humaid bin Qahtabah, the governor of Khorasan, during the end of the second century Hijrah was situated in that village. Harun al-Rashid, the Abbasid caliph, in order to put down the insurrection of Rafeh ibn Laith, went on an expedition to Transoxania. In 193 A.H./ 808 A.D., when he reached Toos, he became critically ill and died. He was buried under the hall of the palace of Humaid bin Qahtabah, in the Sanabad village.
The city of Mashhad came into existence when Imam Reza (A.S.), the eighth Shi'ite Emam, after his martyrdom at the hands of Mamun, the Abbasid caliph (born. 786 A.D., ruled. 813-833 A.D.); on the last day of the month of Safar 203 A.H. / 5 September 818 A.D., was buried in the palace of Humaid bin Qahtabah beside the grave of Harun al-Rashid.
After this event, the mausoleum of Imam Reza (A.S.) became the pilgrimage center of the Shi'ites and the lovers of the Holy Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) in the world and the small village of Sanabad was soon transformed into a flourishing city called as Mashhad ar-Reza (tomb sanctuary of Imam Reza (A.S.) also briefly called Mashhad. Mashhad literally means a place where a martyr has been buried.
By the end of the third century Hijrah, a dome was built on the grave of Imam Reza (A.S.) and many buildings and bazaars sprang around the holy shrine. Followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.), from various parts of the world started visiting Mashhad for pilgrimage. In 383 A.H. / 993 A.D., Sebuktigin, the Ghaznevid sultan devastated Mashhad and stopped the pilgrims from visiting the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.). But in 400 A.H./ 1009 A.D., Mahmud of Ghazni (born 971, ruled, 998-1030 A.D.,) started the expansion and renovation of the holy shrine and built many fortifications around the city.
The holy shrine was decorated with fine marbles, quality wooden and stucco works. Mahmud of Ghazni also built the burial chamber on the grave of Imam Reza (A.S.).This square-shaped building which constitutes the center of the Shrine, before adding decorations and additional parts,had been apparently similar to Sang Bast (Tomb of Arsalan Jadhib), because of their simultaneity. According to the earliest tomb inscription of Imam Reza(A.S.), kept in Astan Quds Razavi Museum, then the Shrine construction might have been reconstructed or repaired in 516/1122. This building was damaged severely during the Ghuzz invasion in 548/1153.
After him his son Masud (b. 998 A.D., r. 1030-1040 A.D.) built a wall around the holy shrine and further beautified the holy shrine.
Sultan Sanjar (b. 1086 A.D., r. 1097-1157 A.D.), after the miraculous healing of his son in the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.), renovated the sanctuary and added new buildings within its precincts.
At the time of Sultan Sanjar Saljuqi, after Sharaf al-Din Abu Tahir b. Sa'd b. Ali Qummi repaired the Shrine, he began to construct a dome over it. Later, in 557/1162, however, Chatrgan Zumurrud Malik, daughter of Mahmud Saljuqi, decorated the dadoes with precious hexangular, octagonal and star-shaped tiles. Her name and the date of decoration were inscribed on the tiles.
In 612 A.H./ 1215 A.D., as borne out by inscriptions on certain tiles, Allaudin Khwarezm Shah carried out renovations on the shrine. Two of the prayer niches, embellished with elegant porcelain tiles, as well as those with Kufic inscriptions that adorn the walls to the upper side of the holy burial chamber, bear the name of his vazir Ali bin Muhammad Muqri. A couplet in Persian by Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Abdullah on the wall also carries the date 612 A.H.
During Khwarazm-Shahs peried, Razavi Shrine was paid much attention and some repairment and decoration were made in it. In this era(612/1215), two very glorious embossed thulth (a large Naskh handwriting ) inscriptions in form of square tile work were fixed on both sides of the shrine entrance-by the side of Dar al-Huffaz porch– in which the names and descent of Imam Reza(A.S.) back to Imam Ali (A.S.) were written. Some other inscriptions and three mihrabs(a special place for prayer-leader in mosques) belonging to this age exist in this holy complex.
During the Mongol invasion in 617 A.H. / 1220 A.D., Khorasan was plundered by the invading hordes and the survivors of this massacre took refuge in Mashhad and settled around the holy shrine. Sultan Muhammad Khudabandeh Iljaitu(b. 1282 A.D), the Mongol ruler of Iran converted to Shi'ism and ruled Iran from 703-716 A.H/ 1304-1316 A.D., once again renovated the holy shrine on a grand scale.
Ibn Batutah who visited Mashhad in 734/1333 mentioned the nice tile decorated building of the Shrine and silver Zareeh(burial chamber) over the tomb which might has been built in Iljaitu period. It also seems that the complete construction of the present dome is one of Iljaitu's services.
In 791 A.H., Miran Shah the son of Tamerlane( b. 1336 A.D., r. 1370-1404 A.D.) razed Toos to its foundation and massacred its inhabitants. Toos lost its popularity. and as a result the holy city of Mashhad rose to prominence contributing to the gradual emergence of Mashhad as a major city.
The glorious phase of Mashhad started during the reign of Shahrukh Mirza (b. 1377 A.D., r, 1405-1447) son of Tamerlane and reached its zenith during the reign of Safavid kings who ruled Iran from 1501-1786 A.D. Shahrukh Mirza, whose capital was Herat, regularly visited Mashhad for the pilgrimage of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.). His wife Gowharshad Agha in 821 A.H./ 1418 A.D., ordered the building of the famous and historical Gowharshad Mosque, which is one of the biggest and most beautiful mosques in the world. This historical mosque is situated beside the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.). During this period the holy shrine developed into an extensive complex comprising various grand historical monuments.
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In 8th/14th century, buildings of Astan Quds Razavi included: the Shrine, Bala Sar Mosque (constructed by Abu-al Hassan Iraqi, one of the clerks in Ghaznavi period), some small buildings attached to the north side of the Shrine, and a seminary.
Then, Dar al- Huffaz, between the shrine and the Mosque, Dar al-Siyadah on the west side of Dar al- Huffaz?, and finally "Tawhid Khanah" or "Khazanah" (public treasury) were built on the east side. In addition, three seminaries: Madrisah Parizad, Madrisah Bala Sar, and Madrisah Du Dar were built round the above-mentioned complex during Shahrukh's rule.
In Sultan Hussein Bayqara's era (875/1470-912/1506), Sahn Atiq (the old courtyard) and the main building of the golden porch were founded by Amir 'Ali Shir Nava'ii.
With the emergence of the Safavid dynasty in 1501 A.D. and their declaration of the Shi'ite school as the state religion, Mashhad reached the peak of its development and soon became one of the greatest sites of pilgrimage. However, since Khorasan was a border province of the Safavid Empire, Mashhad consequently suffered repeated invasions and periods of occupation by the Uzbek Khans - Muhammad Khan, Abdullah Khan Shaibani, Muhammad Sultan and especially Abdul - Momen Khan. These invasions continued up to 996 A.H./ 1586 A.D., the time of Shah Abbas I, who finally drove out the Uzbeks from Khorasan.
Sahn Atiq was extended in the time of Shah Abbas I , and still, during the Safavids era, great efforts were made for its improvement. Shah Tahmasb Safavi began to repair and gild the minaret near the dome and in 932/1525, precious tiles covering the dome were changed into gold-coated bricks. After they were plundered during 'Abd al-Mu'min Khan Uzbeg invasion, the gold-coated bricks were rebuilt by Shah 'Abbas in 1010/1601, the details of which was written on an enamelled inscription by 'Ali Reza Abbasi. Shah 'Abbas also began to establish northern porch, rooms, chambers, facades, as well eastern and western porches.
It is said that Mullah Muhsin Fayd Kashani ordered to establish Tawhid Khanah portico in the north side of the Shrine. Allahverdikhan portico, porch in the north side of Dar al-Ziyafah(reception chamber) and Hatam Khani portico, all were built in the time of great princes of Safavids, Allahverdikhan and Hatam Beq Ordoobadi.
Shah Abbas II commanded to repair and tile Sahn Atiq and Shah Sulaiman also ordered the repair of the Holy Shrine Dome which had been splitted because of the earthquake; this can be read in an erected inscription. He also commanded to establish severeal Madrasahs (Islamic Seminaries). The northern porch of Gowharshad Mosque, the Holy Shrine entrance, along with Musallah(place of prayer) located in Payeen Khiyaban (lower street) were repaird and tiled by a skillful Isafahani mason called Ustad Shuja`.
Nadir Shah Afshar (b. 1688, r. 1736-1747 A.D.) and the Qajar kings who ruled Iran from 1779-1923 illuminated, beautified and expanded the various courtyards (Sahn), porches (Riwaq) and places in the holy shrine.
The golden porch of Sahn Atiq and the minaret on its top were repaired and gilded, the minaret of north porch was erected and illuminated; and Sangab (a vessel or container made of single block of marble) in Ismail Tala'ee Saqqa Khanah (a public place for drinking water) was built in Sahn Atiq. All these happened during Nadir Shah Afshar's monarchy.
There have slao been some improvements in Holy Shrine complex during Qajar period, including new courtyard establishment and gilding its porch, both of them started in the time of Fath Ali Shah Qajar and ended in Nasir al-Din Shah's era. The porch and northern façade of Sahn Atiq, as written in the inscription of its top, were also repaired during Muhammad Shah's rule.
Tawhid Khanah was repaired in 1276/1859 in the time of 'Adud al-Mulk's custodianship. He had the fine paintings and tiles of the Shrine decorated with mirrors in 1275/1858. Nasir al-Din Shah, too, had the gold-coated bricks put up on the walls, from dado up to the top of western proch of the new courtyard and its stalactite-shaped ceiling. So it was called "Nasiri Porch". There was also some repairment in both courtyards, the old and the new one during Muzaffar al-Din Shah's monarchy.
On 10th Rabi al-Thani 1330 A.H. in the year 1911 A.D., the Tsar Russian artillery shelled the holy shrine and martyred a large number of pilgrims and inhabitants of Mashhad.The whole complex greatly in 1330/1911, but it was repaired again after a while by Hussein Mirza Nayyir al-Dawla, Khurasan's governor.
There happened some essential changes round the complex in 1347/1928, when Falakah (round open space with the radius of 180 meters from the top of the Dome was established. Then they began to build the Museum, the library and the Hall for ceremonies.
Old Falakah was extended up to a radius of 620 meters before the glorious victory of the Islamic Revolution, and and important part of Holy Buildings' historical structure was demolished without considering its antiquity and elegance.
On 11th Rabi al-Thani 1354 A.H. /13 July 1935, the armed forces of Reza Khan (b. 1878, r. 1925-1941 A.D.), the founder of Pahlavi dynasty in Iran, invaded the holy shrine and massacred innocent people gathered in the Gowharshad Mosque.The people there were protesting against the anti-Islamic rule of Reza Khan for banning Hijab (modest dress) for women in Iran.
During the peak days of Islamic revolution, on 21 st November 1978 Muhammad Reza Shah's (b. 1919, r. 1941-1978 A.D.) troops committed the sacrilegious act of Killing a large number of innocent people within the holy shrine of Emam Reza (A.S.).

Al-Masjid al-Nabawi

When the Prophet arrived at what was then Yathrib, at the end of his Hijrah journey, it was clear that he did not have a specific place in mind from among the conglomeration of settlements. He halted at a place called Quba, as a guest with one called Kulthum b. al-Hidm in the dwelling of `Amr b. `Awf staying there for 3-4 days. A mosque was built there which was later named by the Qur'an as Masjid al-Taqwa. This was the first mosque established by the Prophet.
 Masjid-Al-Nabawi
Then he mounted his camel with Abu Bakr behind him and, as he advanced he offered his Friday Prayer in the dwellings of Banu Salim b. `Awf. A hundred men were in front of him when he delivered the first Friday Sermon ever. The `Awf tribe requested him to take residence with them but he said, “Let alone the camel, for she is under command (from on High).” So he moved on. Similar requests were made by men of other dwellings, but he gave them the same answer, until she arrived at a spot where the Masjid al-Nabawi now stands. The camel squatted down at a place, then got up again, moved forward and stopped. Then she turned and came back to the first spot to settle down there for good, and the Prophet came down. It was the settlement of Banu Najjar with whom he was related from his mother’s side, the site – which served the purposes of an open camel-stable, belonged to two orphans, and the house that stood right opposite the spot was that of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. The latter came forward and carried away the Prophet’s baggage to his house settling the issue of where he will stay.
He had not brought any of his wives with him and so stayed alone. Of course, it would not have been easy for a 53-year old person to be living alone, after a long journey, but perhaps it was because his Hijrah journey was not a pre-planned one for him to have sent his wives across in advance. That necessitated Abu Ayyub to send him meals which were accepted with grace, although he was not in the habit of accepting gifts without responding correspondingly.
 Masjid-Al-Nabawi

He stayed with Abu Ayyub for 15 days, (with Abu Bakr having found a place with one of his relatives), during which he built the mosque, the Masjid al-Nabawi, and his own quarters. He participated in the construction of the mosque, and although apparently it did not seem necessary, invited others to join in the construction (perhaps for them to share in the rewards until the Hour strikes). It was a simple hut, with a roof of frond-thatch and the floor bare sand that turned into mud when it rained.
The Prophet indicated boundaries of Madinah and, marking its boundaries, declared the town a Sanctuary like Ibrahim had declared Makkah a Sanctuary.
The Mosque has been expanded several times over since the time of the Prophet. Dajjal will lay siege to Madinah, followed by an earth-shake that will result in all unbelieving and hypocritical elements leaving the town. But Dajjal will not be able to enter the town. At every entrance to the town, he will find angels guarding it. Ultimately, he will lift the siege and leave.
The Prophet has said that a Prayer in this mosque is better than a thousand Prayers in any other mosque except the Grand Mosque at Makkah.
The size of the Mosque that the Prophet built was quite modest: about 2475 sq.m.; (that is, roughly 50x50 m., though the original was not a square). There were a few pagan graves there, and some date palm trees. The graves were cleared (perhaps dug and bones dispatched), and the trunks from the date palm trees were used at the walls. The roof was thatched and the floor was loose sand that turned into mud when it rained leaving marks on the foreheads of the devotees when they prayed while the floor was still wet. For a long time the Mosque was not lit, until one of the Companions placed a lamp and the Prophet did not object.

Islamic Center of America