Top 8 Largest Mosques in the World

The Putra Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque, is one of the most influential mosques in Malaysia. It is famous as the first and only mosque in the world designed by a female architect. Upon visiting, you’ll notice its unique design blending both traditional and modern architectural styles, incorporating Malaysian, Islamic, and Arabic influences. This makes it an ideal place to learn about the diverse cultural and religious heritage of the region. Completed in 1999 at a cost of approximately 250 million RM, the mosque remains an important place of worship for both locals and Muslim visitors. While it is a popular tourist destination due to its impressive design, the mosque continues to serve as a center for daily prayers. Visitors should be mindful of appropriate dress codes, especially women, as modesty is highly valued in the community.

The mosque's interior is vast, with a capacity of up to 15,000 people, accommodating the large number of visitors. Atop the mosque is its minaret, standing at 115 meters tall and consisting of five tiers, symbolizing the five pillars of Islam. The mosque's grounds are expansive, with three-quarters of its total area sitting on the artificial Putra Lake, which creates a serene and peaceful environment. The lake covers an area of 650 hectares and was originally created to regulate the city's climate. The lake also hosts major events such as F1 boat races and Asian canoeing competitions, offering a chance for visitors to experience various exciting activities in addition to exploring the mosque. The Putra Mosque is not just a popular tourist attraction, but also a spiritual hub for Muslim worshippers.

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is a mosque founded by the Prophet Muhammad in the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia. It is the third mosque ever built in Islamic history and is one of the largest mosques in the world today. It is the second holiest site in Islam, following only the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. The mosque is open to visitors at all times, regardless of day or hour. In 1279, a wooden dome was constructed above the Prophet's tomb, which was later rebuilt and repainted green in 1837. Surrounding the mosque are towering columns adorned with many lights. In addition to being a place of worship, the mosque also serves as a community center, a court, and a religious school. The mosque's location originally lay beside the house of Muhammad, where he settled after migrating to Medina in 622, and he contributed to its construction.

The original mosque was an open structure, serving as a community hub, a court, and a religious school. A special raised platform was built for Quranic teachings. Later Muslim rulers expanded and significantly decorated the mosque. In 1909, it became the first place on the Arabian Peninsula to be illuminated with electric lights. Located in the ancient center of Medina, the mosque is surrounded by old hotels and markets, making it a key pilgrimage site. Many Muslims visit Medina specifically to pray at this mosque due to its connection with Prophet Muhammad. One of the most notable features of the mosque is the Green Dome, located in the southeast corner, which marks the burial site of Muhammad. The dome was first constructed in 1279, rebuilt and renovated several times in the late 15th century, and again in 1817. The current dome was added by Sultan Mahmud II of the Ottoman Empire in 1818 and was painted green for the first time in 1837, becoming known as the "Green Dome".

The Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as al-Aqsa, is a prominent Islamic site located in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is considered the third holiest place in Islam. This mosque, along with the Dome of the Rock, resides within a sacred area called al-Haram ash-Sharif, or the "Noble Sanctuary", which is also revered in Judaism as the location of the ancient First and Second Temples. In Islamic tradition, it is believed that the Prophet Muhammad was transported from Mecca’s Sacred Mosque to al-Aqsa during the Night Journey. The tradition further holds that Muhammad initially led his followers to pray towards this mosque until the 17th month after his migration, when Allah instructed him to turn towards the Kaaba in Mecca. Islamic teachings claim that the mosque was first constructed by the prophet Jacob, and later expanded by King Solomon. Over time, it has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. The original mosque was a small prayer space commissioned by Umar, the second caliph, but was later expanded by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik and completed by his son al-Walid in 705. A major earthquake in 746 destroyed much of the mosque, and it was reconstructed by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mansur in 754. Another earthquake in 1033 caused significant damage, but it was rebuilt by the Fatimid Caliph Ali az-Zahir two years later, with the structure largely unchanged today.

Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, with 98% of its population practicing Islam. As a result, the nation's cultural and architectural identity is strongly influenced by Islamic traditions, which are evident throughout Morocco. A visit to Morocco offers a unique opportunity to explore and understand the country's Islamic culture. One of the most remarkable experiences in Casablanca, and in Morocco as a whole, is visiting the grand Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco. This magnificent mosque, situated by the Atlantic Ocean, is the second-largest mosque in the world and the largest in Morocco. Notably, the Hassan II Mosque is the only mosque in Morocco open to tourists, as most mosques are restricted to Muslim men. The mosque was built to commemorate the 60th birthday of King Hassan II and features a stunning 210-meter minaret, the tallest minaret in the world among mosques.

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco, is the second-largest mosque in the world, following the Shah Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. Its minaret stands at a height of 210 meters, making it the tallest mosque minaret globally. The mosque was constructed to celebrate the 60th birthday of King Hassan II and was completed in 1993. Designed by French architect Michel Pinseau and built by Bouygues, the mosque is located on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The prayer hall can accommodate 25,000 worshippers, while the surrounding esplanade holds 80,000 people. Construction began in 1980 with plans to finish by the king's 60th birthday in 1989, but it was not completed until 1993. The total cost of the mosque was approximately 800 million USD.

The spread of Islam has led to the proliferation of mosques across the Muslim world. Often, churches and temples were converted into mosques, influencing the architectural style of Islamic structures. While most pre-modern mosques were funded through charitable donations, modern Islamic countries have sought to place mosques under government control. The rise of privately funded mosques, backed by various political and ideological groups, has challenged the growing regulation of large mosques by the government. Mosques have played significant political roles, with attendance varying greatly by region. Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the largest mosque in the world and surrounds one of the holiest sites in Islam, the Kaaba. Muslims are required to face the Kaaba during Salat (prayer).

One of the Five Pillars of Islam mandates that every Muslim perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime, if possible, which includes walking around the Kaaba. The mosque currently spans 356,800 square meters, with both indoor and outdoor prayer spaces that can accommodate up to two million worshippers during Hajj, one of the largest annual gatherings of people in the world. The mosque was first constructed in 638 CE as a place for Muslims to pray to Allah. Al Haram is the largest and oldest mosque in the world, with its present structure capable of hosting up to four million worshippers during Hajj.

Faisal Mosque is located in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is the fifth-largest mosque in the world and the largest in South Asia, situated at the foothills of Margalla Hills in Pakistan’s capital. The mosque features a modern design, comprising eight concrete shell-shaped structures, inspired by the traditional Bedouin tent. Faisal Mosque is a major tourist attraction in Pakistan and an iconic example of contemporary Islamic architecture. Construction began in 1976 with a $28 million donation from King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who the mosque is named after. The Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay’s design was selected through an international competition. The mosque’s unique design lacks the typical dome but features a tent-like shape surrounded by four 79-meter high minarets. The roof structure is composed of eight sloping shell-shaped panels, forming a triangular prayer hall that can accommodate 10,000 worshippers. Covering an area of 33 acres, Faisal Mosque dominates Islamabad’s landscape. It is located at the northern end of Faisal Avenue, at the base of Margalla Hills, offering a scenic backdrop of the national park. Faisal Mosque was the largest mosque in the world from 1986 until 1993 when it was surpassed by mosques in Saudi Arabia. It remains the fifth-largest mosque in the world by capacity.

The idea for the mosque originated in 1966 when King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia supported the Pakistani government’s initiative to build a national mosque in Islamabad during his official visit to Pakistan. In 1969, an international competition was held, with architects from 17 countries submitting 43 proposals. The winning design by Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay was selected. The project was allocated 46 acres of land, and the construction was entrusted to Pakistani engineers and workers. The mosque was funded by Saudi Arabia, at a cost of over 130 million Saudi Riyals. King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz, who was assassinated in 1975, was honored by naming both the mosque and the road leading to it after him. His successor, King Khalid, laid the foundation stone in October 1976, and the construction agreement was signed in 1978. The mosque was completed in 1986, with the first prayer held on June 18, 1988. The mosque complex also served as the campus of the International Islamic University until its relocation in 2000. Initially, some conservative Muslims criticized the mosque’s unconventional design, particularly its lack of a traditional dome.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is a grand mosque located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and is regarded as the country’s center of worship. The mosque features 82 domes, with the tallest reaching 85 meters, and 4 minarets standing at 107 meters tall. With a total cost of approximately 2 billion dirhams ($545 million), it boasts a stunning design. The main prayer hall is adorned with a vast woolen carpet, the largest in the world, covering almost 6,000 square meters. The carpet, created by Iranian artist Ali Khaliqi, was woven by 1,200 to 1,300 Iranian artisans and contains over 2.2 billion knots, a process that took two years to complete. The mosque can accommodate up to 40,000 worshippers and is known for its ornate columns—96 of them, intricately inlaid with mosaics—and its spiritual significance, with 99 names of Allah engraved in gold on the mosque’s walls.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the largest mosque in the UAE and the eighth largest in the world. This massive structure can hold about 40,000 people. Thousands of workers from 30 different design companies contributed to making this mosque the most expensive in the world. The white marble used in its construction was imported from 28 countries, while its chandeliers come from Europe, and its valuable carpets were shipped directly from Iran. Despite the high cost of construction, the mosque is open to the public free of charge. Visitors are advised to dress modestly, with women required to wear a headscarf when inside the mosque (which they should bring themselves, as they are not provided). Additionally, sunglasses are recommended due to the dazzling brightness of the white marble surfaces.

Situated along the Brunei River next to the Kampong Ayer water village in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is an impressive Islamic monument built by the royal family in the mid-1950s. Named after Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, the mosque was designed by the renowned Italian architect, Cavalieri R. Nolli. Its unique architectural style blends traditional Islamic features with Mughal Indian and Renaissance Italian elements, symbolizing 20th-century modern Islamic architecture. The mosque stands on an artificial lagoon by the Brunei River, covering an area of approximately 2 hectares. After four years of construction, it was completed on September 26, 1958, with a cost of around 5 million USD at the time. The mosque’s grandeur allows it to be visible from almost any part of Bandar Seri Begawan, with its domed roof and minarets reaching a height of 52 meters and 44 meters, respectively.

The minarets, walls, columns, and arches are clad in Italian marble, a rare feature of Renaissance-inspired architecture in Islamic structures. Notably, modern elevator systems inside the minarets provide a stunning view of the city from the top. To create this monumental structure, materials were imported from overseas, transported by sea: Italian marble, Shanghai granite, 4 tons of chandeliers, stained glass from England, and luxurious carpets from Belgium and Saudi Arabia. One of the few local materials used is “kalat,” a thick, durable rope wrapped around the columns to enhance structural integrity and give the mosque a distinct Bruneian touch. The interior and exterior decor reflect meticulous attention to detail, prioritizing quality and artistry, from ornate ceiling patterns to colorful stained-glass windows and plush carpets. The dome is particularly remarkable, gilded with 5 tons of pure gold, consisting of 3.3 million gold pieces covering an area of 520 square meters.