Mosques in Pakistan

Badshahi Mosque [/size]

The Badshahi Mosque at Lahore is the largest mosque in the world of its own kind. It has no parallel in beauty and elegance. There is a beautiful marble slab, fixed in the main entrance of the mosque, containing an inscription in Persian. Translation of the same is given below
"The mosque of the victorious and valiant King Muhy-ud-Din
Muhammad Alamgir, constructed and completed under the superintendence of the humblest servant of the royal household, Fidai Khan Koka, in 1084 A.H."



So it is clear that this unique piece of architecture was built in 1673 A.D. for emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir by Fidai Khan, the foster brother of the Emperor. The design of the mosque is bound by convention. It is a building of very strong and resolute character. One of the most outstanding features of this mosque is its minarets. It is provided with more minarets than any other such huge mosque built by Mughals anywhere else. It has one minaret at each corner of the mosque enclosure and another, though somewhat smaller, at each angle of the sanctuary, thus aggregating eight in all. It is the most striking architecture in Lahore and its huge domes and minarets can be spotted from a great distance. Apart from its architectural magnificence, the Badshahi mosque is one of the largest mosques of the world.

It is a known fact that the Mughal Architecture is the most sumptuous manifestation of the building art of the Muslims as a whole. This architecture style has been acknowledged as the blending of grace, strength and harmony. While this great architecture style was in its final phase, the Badshahi mosque was the last accomplishment of the great Mughals of that phase.


Entrance

The mosque is built on a raised platform and the main entrance is approached by a flight of twenty-two steps, rising from three sides and ending on a red sandstone platform measuring 65 by 35 feet. The entrance is a double storey edifice. It is in the traditional Mughal style with a graceful three-centered high central vault, elaborately decorated with framed and carved panelling on all its facades.

On the upper storey of the main entrance, which has already been converted into a small museum, are kept the relics of Prophet Mohammad (May peace be upon him) and some of the other important leaders of the faith of Islam.

The amazing symmetry of the three giant white marble domes capping many arches of the mosque is a marvel of harmony in masonry. Its red sandstone minarets form a startling contrast against the white domes and the blue sky. Its vast courtyard, characteristic of Mughal architecture, is bounded on all corners by four towering minarets of red sandstone with white marble cupolas. These minarets have three storeys excluding their solid plinth about 20 feet high which is sometimes confused by many as an independent storey.

Main Entrance of Badshahi
Mosque




Minarets

The total height of these minarets is 176 feet above their plinth. The top pavilion carried over 8 octagonal columns is alone 32 feet high. The minarets are octagonal from outside but circular and hollow inside. The centre is occupied by a vertical shaft round which run 204 steps to ascend to the top pavilion which offers beautiful bird's eye views of the city. The strength of these minarets can be judged from the fact that their outside circumference is 67 feet and inside is 8 1/2 feet only. The original top pavilions were lost in an earthquake during 1840 A.D. but they have now been restored completely.

The summit of these minarets was used for a different purpose by the Sikhs while fighting with each other. They were used first by Sher Singh in January 1841 during the famous siege of the fort. He posted his matchlock men there who, with their fiery weapons, spread destruction in the ranks of the besieged Dogras who were supporting Rani Chand Kour. The Rani was defeated. Later on Hira Singh used these minarets. He placed light guns on their summit and defeated the besieged Sindhianwals.

Courtyard

The main entrance opens on a large quadrangle or courtyard (2,76,310 sq. feet) which is almost square, five hundred and thirty by five hundred and twenty seven feet to be exact. In the centre there is a reservoir of water for ablutions, though it is not used for this purpose now. This reservoir is surrounded by a marble Jaali and in the center there is a fountain. The vast courtyard can be divided into upper and lower parts. The lower one is known as fina. The upper part can be divided further into three parts, the central portion or the main courtyard of the mosque and the two side ones which are lower by one step than the central part. The courtyard is flanked all around by beautiful arcade which served as a 'Madrasa' (School) in good old Mughal days. The arcade on the east side was pulled down by the British in 1856 but it has already been reconstructed and used as a long ablution hail.


Aiwan

The centre of the west side of the vast courtyard is occupied by the aiwan of the mosque (prayer chamber) which is spread over an area of 23,375 sq. feet. It is higher than the courtyard by three feet and approached by a flight of sang-e-abri steps. Though smaller in size than the vast courtyard, it is well proportioned, bold and impressive.

Its red sandstone facade, has a large and magnificent three-centered central vault with five subsidiary arches on each side. It is panelled, carved and enriched with marble inlay in lineal, floral and geometrical patternsAll these decoration inlay and carving were obviously designed by the builders to create contrast of light and shade, in order to break the

Main Gate of Badshahi Mosque

Monotony of a vast background of red sandstone of the sanctuary. The embellishment, both external and internal, of the main vault, 55 feet high, with Zanjira, interlacing and blooming flowers and their spidery tendrils, all treated itt bold relief is a unique work unsurpassed in beauty and workmanship even in the Mughal Architecture.

The interior consists of two deep and long halls. The front compartment is divided into two big halls by the intercepting central vault. The back portion is divided into seven intercommunicating halls or bays by means of eight thick arches on massive jambs which was a technical necessity to take the load of the heavy roof and domes above. The dado of the whole of the interior is of well-polished sang-e-abri. The rest of the interior with the exception of the mehrab and spendreis of the central hail, which have marble veneer, is finished with lime plaster bearing in relief of floral network of excellent workmanship, attractive in shape and the curves suited to different positions. Though it was tastefully painted with bright colours in fresco, yet the overall is that of a sober composition During the Sikh period the mosque was damaged considerably because it was used as a military magazine and store house. In the British period also its arcades and Hujras were used as the residential quarters of the soldiers. Finally the British started selling its sandstone slabs after removing them from various parts which was strongly resented by the Muslim population of Lahore. The mosque was, however, restored to the Muslims in 1856 A.D. Extensive repairs were carried out by the government of Pakistan to restore the glory of the mosque.

Text: http://rpakistan.tripod.com

Shah Faisal Mosque
by Admin Today at 15:10

Necessity of a grand mosque was felt in the newly developed capital of Pakistan and after careful consideration a site for the proposed mosque was selected at the foot of Margalla hills on the axis of Shahrah-e-Islamabad. His Majesty the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia during his visit to Islamabad in 1966 liked the idea of the construction of a grand Mosque as well as the site and graciously offered to bear the expenditure of the Grand National Mosque Project. Accordingly, this Grand National Mosque has been named after the late King Faisal. The stretch of Islamabad High Way from Zero point leading to the mosque has also been named as the Faisal Avenue.



In order to select a befitting design of the mosque an international competition was organized in 1969. All the leading architects of the Muslim World were invited to submit their designs and out of the several designs received from various countries, the design of Mr. Vedat Dalokay, one of the leading Turkish architects was adjudged to be the best. The execution of the work was, however, assigned to the Pakistani engineers and workers.

The foundation stone of the Masjid was laid by His Majesty late King Khalid of Saudi Arabia in October, 1976 and the contract was awarded to M/S National Construction Limited for Phase-I and Phase-If in 1978. Main components of the Mosque are given below:


Main Prayer Hall

Four main girders, each girder comprising two legs. The girders meet at summit. Double slab roof with hinged beams and cross beams transmit load to the girders. All the walls have been beautifully designed especially Qibla Wall which is the main focus of attraction. It has been decorated with multi-glazed tiles from Turkey forming inscription of Kaiima-e-Tauheed. On the roof of the main hail, a huge golden crescent has been fixed:



Minarets


Minarets are provided at each corner of the prayer halt reaching a height of 285 feet. Each of the minaret offers the facility of an elevator and staircases up to visitor's gallery located at 190 feet above the ground level. The visitors can have a Danoramic view of Islamabad while in the gallery. All the minarets have Gold plated crescents on their tops.

Courtyard with Porticos

The spacious courtyard is paved with beautiful granite, a durable stone imported from Italy and has the capacity to accommodate 40,000 persons. Porticos can be seen at the periphery of main courtyard of the mosque with a series of columns and roof structure with a geometric pattern matching the mosque having an additional capacity of 20,000 persons.


Fountain (Prayer Hall)

A fountain has been provided inside the Main Prayer Hall near the entrance from the Eastern side and it is clad with beautifully carved white marbles in attractive patterns.

Reflection Pools

A reflection pool is provided under the Qibla Wall with a series of small foundations clad with blue tiles. The fresh cool air can be sucked in or stopped with the adjustment of water level in the pool. Another reflection pool is also provided in the north of the Prayer Hall.

Ablution Area

The Ablution area is located in front of the main approach platform and comprises of 200 ablution units. These are made of white marble with a net work of fountains in the centre. The walls have been clad with multi coloured glazed tiles from Turkey forming attractive patterns.

Chandelier

A chandelier had been installed in the centre of the main prayer hail for decoration purposes. It consists of aluminium tubes anodised in gold colour in the shape of a central sphere and an outer ring equipped with 1000 electric bulbs for illumination at night. The weight of chandelier is 7.5 tons.

Islamic University

An Islamic University has also been established along with the mosque. It is located in the mosque grounds and the first floor under the courtyard in the East with facilities of Library, Conference Room, Printing Press and Cafeteria. ft is functioning with seven hundred students from within and outside the country. An Islamic Research Institute is also associated with the University.