The monument of the mosque began in 1966 when King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz supported the initiative of the Pakistani government to construct a National Mosque in Islamabad during an official visit to Pakistan. For the approval of the architect in 1969, an international competition was held in which architects from 17 countries submitted their 43 approvals. The winning design was by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay. Vedat Ali Dalokay was a renowned Turkish architect and a former mayor of Ankara. Shah Faisal Mosque and Kocatepe Mosque are the most famous project of Vedat Dalokay.
Construction of Faisal Mosque
Construction of the mosque began in 1976 by the National construction of Pakistan directed by Azim Khan and it is funded by Saudia Arabia, at a cost of over 120 USD million. King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz funded the mosque and the road leading to it was named after him in 1975. The Mosque was completed in 1986, and the mosque is used as an Islamic university. The design was criticized by the Muslims because of the lack of a traditional structure, but the criticism ended when the completed mosque’s scale form, and set against the Margalla Hills became evident.
Location of the Faisal Mosque
The Faisal Mosque is the Largest mosque located in the National Capital city of Islamabad. It is situated on the north end of Faisal Avenue, putting it at the northernmost end of the city and at the foot of Margalla Hills, the westernmost foothills of the Himalayas. This admirable location represents the mosque’s greatest importance and allows it to be seen from miles around day and night. The mosque is one of the most iconic landmarks in the capital of Pakistan.
The Largest Mosque in Pakistan
The Faisal Mosque was the largest in the world from 1986 until 1993 when it was overtaken in size by the Hassan Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. Later development of the Masjid-al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Mecca and Al-Masjid al- Nabawi in Madina, Saudia Arabia, during the 1990s exiled Mosque to fourth place in term terms.
The Uniqueness of Faisal Mosque
Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay created the Faisal Mosque, for which he received the Agha Khan Award for Architecture.
The mosque’s architecture is contemporary and distinctive, lacking both the conventional domes and arches found in the majority of other mosques worldwide.
Its distinctive appearance and ability to accommodate people are its most distinctive features.
Architect of the Mosque
The remarkable architecture of the Faisal Mosque sets it aside from almost every other mosque in the world. The design for the historic landmark was persuaded by the Bedouin tent erected in the middle of the desert. However, the most noteworthy feature of the mosque is the absence of a traditional done.
Rather than the traditional design of a round dome surrounded by minarets, Faisal Mosque boasts a tent-like with harsh angles accommodating eight sides of a concrete shell. The matching minarets surrounding the main structure are each about 259ft tall with the circumstances of 10×10 meters. The Faisal mosque was covered by white marble. The grounds of the mosque are covered with a lush green courtyard. The mosque well- maintained with portions and fountains.
There is a circular pond at the entrance of the mosque that leads to the larger pond. This entrance leads towards a staircase to the main prayer hall. The total size of the mosque is around 10 Kanal and its interior design is glorious. The majestic ceiling of the main prayer hall is about 40m high and it is adorned with a Turkish chandelier. Moreover, the chandelier is surrounded by smaller ones to add to its beauty. In addition to that, the walls feature the amazing calligraphic word of renowned Pakistani artist Sadequain. There is also an excellent sculpture of the Holy Quran placed in the main hall.
Separate Prayer Hall
Faisal mosque has a separate prayer hall for women along with a large ablution area. Furthermore, the mosque has a museum, lecture hall, library, cafe, and a small gift shop situated near the entrance. Quaid-e-Azam Auditorium is also located on the grounds of the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad Pakistan. Faisal mosque is best suited for events such as Exhibitions, Meetings, Product Launch events, seminars, and other social events.
Faisal Mosque Museum dedication
In 1988, after the death of former President of Pakistan Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, a museum dedicated to him was constructed adjacent to the mosque. His funeral prayers, considered the largest funeral community in the history of Pakistan, were also held at the Mosque.
