| Faisal Mosque | |
|---|---|
فیصل مسجد | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Location | |
| Location | Islamabad |
| Municipality | Capital Development Authority |
| Country | Pakistan |
  Shown within Islamabad Capital Territory | |
| Administration | International Islamic University, Islamabad |
| Geographic coordinates | 33°43′48″N73°02′18″E / 33.729944°N 73.038436°E /33.729944; 73.038436 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Vedat Dalokay |
| Type | Mosque |
| Style | Modern Islamic |
| Date established | 1986 |
| Construction cost | US$120 million |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 300,000 worshippers |
| Minaret(s) | 4 |
| Minaret height | 90 m (300 ft) |
| Site area | 130,000 m2; 1,400,000 sq ft |
TheFaisal Mosque (Urdu:فیصل مسجد,romanized: faisal masjid) is the nationalmosque ofPakistan, located in the capital city,Islamabad.[1][2] It is thesixth-largest mosque in the world, the largest mosque outside the Middle East, and the largest within South Asia, located on the foothills ofMargalla Hills. It is named after the lateKing Faisal of Saudi Arabia (r. 1964–75). The mosque features a contemporary design consisting of eight sides of concrete shell and is inspired by the design of a typicalBedouin tent.[3]
A major tourist attraction in Pakistan, the mosque is a contemporary and influential piece ofIslamic architecture. Famous spots including the mosque as a masterpiece of modern Islamic architecture, and thePakistan Monument, which represents the country’s cultural history, add to the city’s charm.[4]
Construction of the mosque began in 1976 after a $28 million grant fromSaudi King Faisal, whose name the mosque bears.[5] The unconventional design byTurkish architectVedat Dalokay was selected after an international competition.[6] Without a typicaldome, the mosque is shaped like a Bedouin tent, surrounded by four 260 feet (79 m) tall minarets. The design features eight-sided shell shaped sloping roofs forming a triangular worship hall which can hold 10,000 worshippers.[7]
Combined the structure covers an area of 33 acres (130,000 m2; 1,400,000 sq ft), the mosque dominates the landscape of Islamabad.[5] It is situated at the north end ofFaisal Avenue, putting it at the northernmost end of the city and at the foot ofMargalla Hills, the westernmost foothills of theHimalayas. It is located on an elevated area of land against a picturesque backdrop of the national park. Faisal Mosque was thelargest mosque in the world from 1986 until 1993 when it was overtaken by the mosques inSaudi Arabia. It is now the sixth-largest mosque in the world in terms of capacity.[8][9]
The impetus for the mosque began in 1966 whenKing Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz supported the initiative of the Pakistani Government to build a national mosque in Islamabad during an official visit to Pakistan. In 1969, an international competition was held in which architects from 17 countries submitted 43 proposals. The winning design was that of Turkish architectVedat Dalokay. Forty-six acres of land were assigned for the project and the execution was assigned to Pakistani engineers and workers.[10] Construction of the mosque began in 1976 by National Construction Limited of Pakistan, led by Azim Khan and was funded by the government of Saudi Arabia, at a cost of over 130 millionSaudi riyals (approximately 120 millionUSD 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. King Faisal bin Abdulaziz's successorKing Khalid laid the foundation stone for the mosque in October 1976[11] and signed the construction agreement in 1978. Basic information about the mosque can be found written on the foundation stone. On 18 June 1988, the first prayer was held, although the mosque was completed in 1986. The mosque grounds along with being a building for prayer also used to house theInternational Islamic University some years ago but has since relocated to a new campus in 2000. Some traditional and conservative Muslims criticised the design at first for its unconventional design and lack of a traditional dome structure.[12]
The mosque can accommodate about 300,000 worshippers. Each of the Mosque's four minarets are 79 m (230 ft) high (the tallest minarets in South Asia) and measure 10×10 meters in circumference.[12] The main areas have the capacity to hold up to 74000 people in the main areas including the inner hall, and the courtyards. The grounds around the mosque have the capacity to contain up to 200,000 people.
I tried to capture the spirit, proportion, and geometry ofKaaba in a purely abstract manner. Imagine the apex of each of the four minarets as a scaled explosion of four highest corners of Kaaba – thus an unseen Kaaba form is bounded by the minarets at the four corners in a proportion of height to base. Shah Faisal Mosque is akin to the Holy Kaaba in the designer's imaginative eyes.Now, if you join the apex of each minaret to the base of the minaret diagonally opposite to it correspondingly, a four-sided pyramid shall be bound by these lines at the base side within that invisible cube. That lower level pyramid is treated as a solid body while four minarets with their apex complete the imaginary cube of Kaaba.
— Vedat Dalokay, "Dalokay further explaining the thinking behind the design of the Masjid to students of a design school."[13][14]
Instead of using traditionaldomes,Vedat Dalokay designed an eight-sided main hall that looked like an Arab'sBedouin desert tent. Additionally, he added fourminarets on all four corners of the main hall, which are of 80 m (260 ft) high, the tallest minarets in South Asia. The main structure of the building is the main prayer hall, which is supported by four concrete girders. The four unusual minarets are inspired byTurkish architecture. Dalokay also believed that the design of the Masjid representsKaaba in anabstract manner.[15] Entrance is from the east, where the prayer hall is fronted by a courtyard withporticoes. TheInternational Islamic University was housed under the main courtyard but now has relocated to a new campus. The mosque still houses a library, lecture hall, museum, and cafe. The interior of the main tent-shaped hall is covered in white marble and decorated withmosaics andcalligraphy by the famous Pakistani artistSadequain,[citation needed] and a Turkish-stylechandelier. The mosaic pattern adorns the west wall and has theKalimah written in earlyKufic script, repeated in mirror image pattern.[4]
The Qibla Wall is covered with blue and white calligraphic tiles designed by a Turkish artist Mengu Ertel.[16][17] The interior of the mosque uses Turkish and Pakistani inspired decorations. The mosque takes an unusual route to its design by combining contemporary and classic Islamic architecture. The unique design takes most of its elements from nomadic Bedouin tent, but it still manages to keep in contact with Islamic architecture by using Ottoman style minarets and square shape form the Kaaba.[18]
Located at the foot of the Margalla Hills, the location plays a significant role for the mosque. The mosque is visible from miles away and sits on a higher surface compared to the main city. It faces the city and is backed by green mountain ranges, giving it a scenic view.[13] One of the main highways of Islamabad, Faisal Avenue leads straight to the mosque showing the importance of the landmark. The shining white color in comparison to the dark green background makes the mosque stand out and reveals its significance to the city of Islamabad.[19][20]
The Faisal Mosque is described in the bookThe Kite Runner byKhalid Hosseini.[21] It is frequently referenced in the work ofMichael Muhammad Knight, who came to the mosque to study Islam as a teenager.
