Top 10 Most Beautiful Mosques in Asia

Goharshad is a major mosque located in Mashhad, Iran, and is part of the Imam Reza shrine complex. Built on the orders of Queen Goharshad, the wife of Shah Rukh of the Timurid dynasty in 1418, the mosque was designed by architect Ghavameddin Shirazi, who had previously worked on several monumental buildings. Over the centuries, the mosque has undergone numerous restorations during the Safavid and Qajar periods. Today, the mosque features four grand entrances and a courtyard measuring 50m × 55m. Inside the complex, various inscriptions on mosaic tiles mention the names of kings such as Shah Abbas, Shah Soltan Hussayn, and Shah Soleyman Safavid, highlighting their devotion and contributions to the mosque.

The double-layered dome was severely damaged in 1911 during bombing raids by the Russian Empire’s army. In 1960, after more than five centuries since its original construction, the dome’s structural integrity was at risk due to earthquakes over time. To address these issues, a new outer shell made of iron frame and cement was added, followed by a restoration of the original tilework. Additionally, the eastern facade of the mosque was renovated, with the foundation being reinforced with concrete. Following the Islamic Revolution of 1979, an expansion plan for the entire complex was launched, adding a new courtyard called 'Sahn-e-Qods' at the rear of the mosque.

Sultan Mosque, also known as Masjid Sultan, is located on Muscat Street in the Rochor district of Singapore. It was named after Sultan Hussain Shah, the first Muslim ruler of Singapore. The mosque serves as the focal point of the historic Kampong Glam area. Originally built in 1824, the original structure was replaced by the current mosque, which was completed in 1932. Designed by architect Denis Santry, the mosque holds great significance for the Muslim community and is regarded as the national mosque of Singapore, becoming a national monument in 1975.

Covering an area of 4,109 square meters, the mosque complex is enclosed by a boundary wall with a railing. Its most striking feature is the two golden onion-shaped domes above the eastern and western facades, each topped with a crescent moon and star. The base of each dome is adorned with glass bottle ends donated by the Sultan, symbolizing his desire for contributions from both the wealthy and the poor in the mosque's construction. At each corner of the mosque, a staircase leads up to the minarets.

Inside the mosque, the prayer hall is rectangular, supported by 12 octagonal columns. It spans two floors and can accommodate up to 5,000 worshipers. A skylight in the center of the hall is surrounded by a gallery on the second floor. The mihrab is framed by an arch in the shape of a scimitar, adorned with gold leaf floral motifs, and topped with an inscription of calligraphy.

Wazir Khan Mosque is a 17th-century mosque located in Lahore, the capital of Punjab, Pakistan. It was commissioned during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as part of a larger architectural complex. Construction began in 1634 and was completed in 1641. The mosque is currently on UNESCO's Tentative World Heritage List. Known for its elaborate decorative work, Wazir Khan Mosque is famous for its intricate tilework, particularly the Kashi-Kari style, and the interior is adorned with stunning frescoes. The mosque is part of a larger complex that includes a row of traditional shops for calligraphers and bookbinders, as well as a town square at the main entrance. Additionally, the northern and eastern facades are leased to merchants, with the revenue used to support the mosque's maintenance.

Built on a raised platform, the mosque's exterior measures 85m by 48m. The exterior walls are intricately tiled in a Persian style. The facade facing the courtyard is richly decorated with designs and a color palette reflecting the influences of the 17th century. In addition to Persian-inspired motifs such as stars and vines, the mosque also features plant motifs.

The mosque's entrance is adorned with finely crafted tiles and calligraphy, including verses from the Qur'an, sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, and prayers. Above the entrance to the main prayer hall are verses written by calligrapher Haji Yousaf Kashmiri. The interior walls are elaborately decorated in a local Punjabi style. The prayer hall is square-shaped, topped with the largest dome, whose underside is decorated with images of paired trees, wine cups, and fruit dishes, symbolizing the Islamic concept of paradise.

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque is a grand mosque located in Cotabato City, Philippines, with a capacity of 20,000 people. It is the third-largest mosque in Southeast Asia, following Indonesia's Istiqlal Mosque and Marawi's Great Mosque. Completed in 2011, it was constructed at a cost of 48 million USD, with around 53% of the funds provided by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, who gave the mosque its name. The remaining funding came from former Philippine President Noynoy Aquino.

The mosque was nearly finished in April 2011, built by 300 workers. Its structure includes golden-domed roofs, topped with crescent moons and stars. The 43-meter-high minarets light up at night, guiding pilots flying near the area. The building has three floors and a basement, covering a total floor area of 9,434 m2.

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque is managed and operated by the Bangsamoro government. Previously, there was controversy over which entity should be responsible for the mosque's management, with claims that local authorities from Cotabato City or the autonomous region no longer existed in Muslim Mindanao and should manage the religious site. This dispute led the national government to temporarily take over the mosque’s administration, while local residents were responsible for funding its maintenance. On November 2019, they agreed to hand over the management to the Bangsamoro government, and the mosque was officially transferred on January 8, 2020.

Masjid Al Ehsan Mosque is one of the most significant cultural and spiritual landmarks in An Giang province. Exploring this mosque offers a unique experience, with its beautiful architecture and distinctive Cham Pa culture. Over 200 Cham families gather here for prayers. Islam was not common among them until the mid-17th century, but in the 19th century, many Cham Muslims migrated from Cambodia to the Mekong Delta, strengthening the presence of Islam in Vietnam. The faith continued to grow in influence, with religious publications imported from Malaysia and local clerics preaching in Malay. Some Cham also traveled abroad to study the religion.

Construction of the Masjid Al Ehsan began in 1937, and after decades, it underwent renovations in 1992 to attain its current form. The structure consists of a ground floor and a mezzanine level. From a distance, the mosque stands out with its pure white color, complemented by intricate green patterns and borders. The architecture closely resembles that of Middle Eastern mosques, including those in Dubai. On the roof, the crescent moon and star symbols, common in Islamic architecture, are featured. The spacious exterior courtyard also houses a cemetery for Muslim burials. Inside, the mosque is adorned with elegant chandeliers, intricate designs, and stone columns. The layout and details create an artistic and mystical atmosphere, making it a truly stunning space.

The 300-Year-Old Mosque, also known as Al-Hussein, is one of the oldest wooden mosques in Thailand. Located in Narathiwat, a southern province, it remains an active place of worship for the local Muslim community. This mosque has historical roots dating back to the Pattani Kingdom, where it was built in 1634 by a community that followed both Islam and Buddhism.

One legend says that during the war between the Siamese and Pattani kingdoms, a young woman fleeing the battle with a Qur'an from the Pattani village was rescued after falling into a small valley. The villagers, amazed by her determination to protect the holy book, decided to build the mosque in gratitude once the war ended. Another story claims the mosque was established by Wan Husein Az-Sanawi, a teacher who arrived in Pattani in 1624. The mosque still preserves the original handwritten Qur'an and construction plans.

Built from bird's-eye and ironwood trees, the mosque's structure lacks nails as they were not yet invented, and wooden wedges were used to secure the beams. Its original palm-leaf roofing was later replaced with clay tiles. The complex consists of two buildings: a smaller one with a mihrab and three-tiered roofs, including a Chinese-style minaret, and a larger building influenced by Thai architecture. Both buildings feature intricate carvings and designs from Chinese, Thai, and Malay cultures. Though also a community center, its religious ceremonies follow strict traditions. In 2014, the mosque received a 200 million Baht government grant for renovations, enhancing its facilities and turning it into a 'community center' to attract more visitors in the future.

The Great Mosque of Xi'an is one of the largest pre-modern mosques in China. Originally built in 742 AD during the Tang Dynasty, the mosque underwent significant reconstruction in 1384 under the Ming Dynasty. Located in the heart of Xi'an's Muslim Quarter, it remains an active site of worship and a prominent tourist attraction.

The mosque complex now consists of over 20 structures spread across five courtyards, covering an area of 1.23 hectares. Following the fall of the Tang and Song dynasties, much of the original mosque was lost. By the 1260s, it had fallen into disrepair, prompting the Yuan Dynasty to rebuild it. The Mongol conquest of China led to a large influx of Muslim immigrants, many of whom were appointed as officials or traders by the Mongol rulers. Despite their long-term settlement in China, they maintained their Islamic faith and identity.

The Great Mosque of Xi'an is a testament to the adaptability of Islamic architecture within the Chinese cultural context. While it retains typical Islamic features like the qibla wall and mihrab, it also incorporates Chinese architectural styles and cultural symbols throughout. The mosque is a walled complex with four main courtyards, with the prayer hall located in the fourth and farthest courtyard to the west. The first and second courtyards are mainly traditional gardens, while the third and fourth courtyards house the primary structures, connected by gates. Most of the architectural features date back to the Ming Dynasty, though there are artifacts from earlier periods, such as carved plaques on the gates from the Song Dynasty. The prayer hall is a large wooden building with a turquoise-tiled hip roof, supported by six columns and five doors in an archway. Unlike most mosques around the world, the prayer hall does not have a dome, but instead features a traditional Chinese pointed roof, covered with ceramic tiles. The interior of the prayer hall is decorated with floral motifs, in line with Islamic tradition that prohibits anthropomorphic imagery. The ceiling is raised on a large stone platform with wooden railings. The spacious hall includes three connected sections, and the farthest part of the prayer hall houses the qibla wall, adorned with carved floral designs and calligraphy.

Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan Mosque, located in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is also known as the Federal Territory Mosque. Surrounded by a beautiful lake, this magnificent structure combines impressive architecture with religious significance. Its design is a fusion of elements from famous mosques worldwide, heavily influenced by Middle Eastern architecture, particularly the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

Covering an area of over 13 hectares near the government office complex on Jalan Duta, the mosque was constructed by the Public Works Department at a cost of 255 million RM (Malaysian Ringgit). It officially opened to the public on October 25, 2000, and is the 44th mosque built by the government within the city. The mosque can accommodate up to 17,000 worshippers at a time, with a floor area of 47,000 square meters.

The mosque's structure features 22 domes made from a fiberglass composite material mixed with Epoxy resin, offering durability and lightness. At the center is the main prayer hall, topped by a large dome, with smaller half-domes and additional smaller domes around it. The mosque complex includes community facilities such as meeting rooms, seminar halls, a library, a multi-purpose hall, and residential areas. Situated on a hill, it offers panoramic views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline. Surrounded by green buffer zones, the mosque's design follows the Hypostyle style and is encircled by a lake with cascading waterfalls, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere. The floor is intricately tiled with colorful mosaics, giving the illusion of the mosque floating above the water's surface.

Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is located in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, and is named after the 29th Sultan of Brunei, who is also the current monarch. Construction began in 1988 on a 20-acre site in Kiarong and was completed with its grand opening on July 14, 1994. The Sultan participated in the first Maghrib and Isha prayers, coinciding with his 48th birthday. This mosque is the largest in the country, with a capacity to hold 5,000 worshippers.

Designed in a modern architectural style, the mosque features 29 golden domes and four 58-meter-high minarets. The view from the top of the towers offers a distant sight of Brunei's airport. The mosque's walls are adorned with geometric patterns at various levels, and the top is capped with four smaller domes. The interior structure and the mosque's surrounding courtyards are crafted from marble and are intricately decorated with mosaic tiles. Flowerbeds and fountains line the path leading to the main entrance hall. Beneath the central dome, which is decorated with European stained glass, are intricate Arabesque patterns, geometric designs, and elaborate calligraphy. One of the most striking features of the interior design is the spiral columns, which resemble leaves reaching toward the ceiling. The floors, both inside and outside, are finished with marble tiles, complementing the serene and elegant atmosphere of the mosque.

Al-Aqsa is the main mosque within its namesake compound, also referred to as the Qibli Mosque. During the reign of Rashidun Caliph Umar, a small prayer space was established near the site. The present mosque is located on the southern wall of the compound and was originally built as a congregational mosque aligned with the Dome of the Rock. After being destroyed by an earthquake in 746, it was rebuilt in 758 by Abbasid Caliph al-Mansur and expanded in 780 to include fifteen aisles and a central dome.

In 1033, another earthquake in the Jordan Valley destroyed the mosque. Rebuilt by Fatimid Caliph al-Zahir, it was reduced to seven aisles, but its interior featured a complex central arch adorned with floral mosaics. Over time, successive Islamic dynasties have added various architectural features such as domes, facades, towers, and interior elements. Al-Aqsa's location near significant religious sites in Judaism and Christianity, notably the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, has given the area both political and religious significance, making it a focal point in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is rectangular in shape, covering over 14 hectares, with the mosque itself occupying 5 hectares, capable of holding 5,000 worshippers. Unlike traditional Byzantine-style domes, the mosque showcases early Islamic architectural characteristics. The original dome has been replaced by one in the style of az-Zahir, initially covered with lead-coated wood but destroyed in a fire in 1969. It was later reconstructed using concrete and lead sheets.

The mosque has seven aisles in its central hall, with additional smaller halls to the west and east. It contains 121 stained-glass windows, some dating back to earlier periods, with about a quarter restored in 1924. The interior is supported by 45 columns, 33 of which are made of Italian white marble, and 12 of natural stone. The majority of the interior is painted white, but the underside of the dome and surrounding walls are decorated with mosaics and marble.