A Visit To Faisal Mosque
A Masjid is a place where Muslims pray five times a day. It is the sign of Muslim community in an area. Every Muslim country in the world has national mosque. The national mosque of Pakistan is Faisal Masjid. It is located on the foothills of Margalla Hills in Islamabad. It is the world sixth largest and South Asia largest mosque.
Faisal Masjid was built in 1986 and was named after Saudi King, Shah Faisal. It was the world largest mosque from 1986 until 1993, when Mosques in Saudi Arabia overtaken. It was designed by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay. The design of the mosques was inspired by the design of a typical Bedouin tent.
Faisal Masjid can accommodate 300,000 worshipers. First prayer in the masjid was held on 18 June 1988, although the mosque was completed in 1986. Today, President and Prime Minister of Pakistan often pray Friday and Eid prayer at the masjid.
Some traditional and conservative Muslims criticized the design at first for its unconventional design and lack of a traditional dome structure. Today, Faisal Masjid is the identity of Islamabad within Pakistan and in world, it is the identity of our country.
