View source for Faisal Mosque

{{Short description|World's sixth-largest mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan}}
{{Distinguish|King Faisal Mosque, Sharjah}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox mosque
| name                  = Faisal Mosque
| native_name           = {{Nastaliq|فیصل مسجد}}
| image                 = Ali Mujtaba WLM2017 FAISAL MOSQUE 019.jpg
| image_upright         = 1.2
| caption               = 
| coordinates           = {{coord|33.729944|73.038436|type:landmark_region:PK|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Islam]]
| location              = [[Islamabad]]
| established           = 1986
| municipality          = [[Capital Development Authority (Islamabad)|Capital Development Authority]]
| country               = [[Pakistan]]
| administration        = [[International Islamic University, Islamabad]]
| architect             = [[Vedat Dalokay]]
| architecture_type     = [[Mosque]]
| architecture_style    = [[Islamic architecture#In modern times|Modern Islamic]]
| capacity              = {{nts|300000}} worshippers
| interior_area         = 
| minaret_quantity      = 4
| minaret_height        = {{convert|90|m|abbr=on}}
| site_area             = {{convert|33|acre|m2 ft2|disp=out}}
| construction_cost     = {{Currency|120 million|US|passthrough=yes}}
| website               = 
}}
The '''Faisal Mosque'''{{efn|{{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|فیصل مسجد}}|faisal masjid}}}} is the national [[mosque]] of [[Pakistan]], located in [[Islamabad]], the capital of the country.<ref name="mosque1">{{cite web|author=Len McGrane|date=January–February 1992|title=A Mosque in Islamabad|url=http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199201/a.mosque.in.islamabad.htm|access-date=29 November 2007|work=Saudi Aramco World magazine|publisher=Aramco Services Company|archive-date=18 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218235923/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199201/a.mosque.in.islamabad.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="mosque2">{{cite journal|author=Neelam Naz|date=13 September 2005|title=Contribution of Turkish architects to the national architecture of Pakistan: Vedat Dalokay|url=http://jfa.arch.metu.edu.tr/archive/0258-5316/2005/cilt22/sayi_2/51-77.pdf|journal=Journal of the Faculty of Architecture|location=Ankara, Turkey|publisher=Middle East Technical University|volume=22|issue=2|pages=56–64|access-date=29 November 2007|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123165637/http://jfa.arch.metu.edu.tr/archive/0258-5316/2005/cilt22/sayi_2/51-77.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the [[List of largest mosques|sixth-largest mosque in the world]], the largest mosque outside the [[Middle East]], and the largest within [[South Asia]], located on the foothills of [[Margalla Hills]]. It is named after the late [[King Faisal of Saudi Arabia]] ({{reign|1964|75}}). Designed by Turkish architect [[Vedat Dalokay]], the mosque features a contemporary design consisting of eight sides of concrete shell and is inspired by the design of a typical [[Bedouin|Bedouin tent]].<ref name=Tribune>{{Cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/931369/three-pakistani-mosques-make-it-to-worlds-most-beautiful-mosques-list/|title=Three Pakistani mosques make it to 'world's most beautiful mosques' list | date=3 August 2015|newspaper=The Express Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>

A major tourist attraction in Pakistan, the mosque is a contemporary and influential piece of [[Islamic architecture]]. Famous spots including the mosque as a masterpiece of modern Islamic architecture, and the [[Pakistan Monument]], which represents the country’s cultural history, add to the city’s charm.<ref name=TNI>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/129085-Faisal-Mosque-attracts-visitors-from-all-over-country|title=Faisal Mosque attracts visitors from all over country|newspaper=The News International|access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>

Construction of the mosque began in 1976 after a $28&nbsp;million grant from [[Faisal of Saudi Arabia|Saudi King Faisal]], whose name the mosque bears.<ref name="timesnotgift" >{{Cite web|date=13 February 2017|title=Faisal Mosque not a 'gift' by Saudi Arabia|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/29297/faisal-mosque-not-a-gift-by-saudi-arabia/|access-date=8 August 2020|website=Daily Times|language=en-US}}</ref> The unconventional design by [[Turkish people|Turkish]] architect [[Vedat Dalokay]] was selected after an international competition.<ref>{{cite book|title=Back to Pakistan: A Fifty-Year Journey|url=https://archive.org/details/backtopakistanfi00mass|url-access=limited|last=Mass|first=Leslie Noyes|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2011|isbn=978-1-4422-1319-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/backtopakistanfi00mass/page/n181 157]}}</ref> Without a typical [[dome]], the mosque is shaped like a Bedouin tent, surrounded by four {{convert|90|m|abbr=on}}-tall minarets. The design features eight-sided shell shaped sloping roofs forming a triangular worship hall which can hold 10,000 worshippers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-destinations.com/pakistan/islamabad-faisal-mosque|title=Faisal Mosque – Islamabad, Pakistan|website=www.sacred-destinations.com|access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>

Combined the structure covers an area of {{convert|33|acre|m2 ft2|order=flip}}, the mosque dominates the landscape of Islamabad.<ref name=timesnotgift/> It is situated at 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]]. It is located on an elevated area of land against a picturesque backdrop of the national park. Faisal Mosque was the [[List of largest mosques|largest mosque in the world]] from 1986 until 1993 when it was overtaken by the mosques in [[Saudi Arabia]]. It is now the sixth-largest mosque in the world in terms of capacity.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Shah Faisal Mosque in Islamabad & Rawalpindi|work=Lonely Planet|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/pakistan/islamabad-rawalpindi/attractions/shah-faisal-mosque/a/poi-sig/464356/357196|access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="Tribune3">{{Cite news|date=3 August 2015|title=Three Pakistani mosques make it to 'world's most beautiful mosques' list|language=en-US|newspaper=The Express Tribune|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/931369/three-pakistani-mosques-make-it-to-worlds-most-beautiful-mosques-list/|access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>

== History ==
{{multiple image |align=left |direction=vertical |width=
 |image1=A different angle of Faisal Masjid by Usman Ghani.JPG |caption1=Aerial view
 |image2=Faisal Masjid, Faisal Avenue, Islamabad, Pakistan.jpg |caption2=View from [[Faisal Avenue]] in [[Islamabad]]
}}
The impetus for the mosque began in 1966 when [[Faisal of Saudi Arabia|King 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 architect [[Vedat Dalokay]]. {{convert|46|acre|m2 ft2|disp=out}} of land were assigned for the project and the execution was assigned to Pakistani engineers and workers.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rengel|first=Marian|title=Pakistan: A Primary Source Cultural Guide|year=2004|publisher=Rosen|isbn=978-0-8239-4001-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/pakistanprimarys00reng/page/71 71]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/pakistanprimarys00reng/page/71}}</ref> 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 million [[Saudi riyal]]s (approximately 120 million [[United States dollar|USD]] 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 successor [[King Khalid]] laid the foundation stone for the mosque in October 1976<ref>{{cite journal|author=Mujtaba Razvi|title=PAK-Saudi Arabian Relations: An Example of Entente Cordiale|journal=Pakistan Horizon|date=1981|volume=34|issue=1 |pages=81–92|jstor=41393647|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/41393647.pdf}}</ref> 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 the [[International Islamic University, Islamabad|International 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.<ref name=archnet/>

==Capacity==
{{multiple image |align=left |direction=vertical |width=
 |image1=Another interior view - Faisal Mosque.jpg |caption1=Interior view
 |image2=Faisal Masjid - WIKI.jpg |caption2=
}}
The mosque can accommodate about 300,000 worshippers. Each of the Mosque's four minarets are {{convert|90|m}} high (the tallest minarets in South Asia) and measure 10×10 metres in circumference.<ref name=archnet>{{cite web |url=http://archnet.org/sites/649|title=Faisal Mosque|website=archnet.org|publisher=ArchNet website|access-date=12 February 2019}}</ref> 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.

==Architecture==
{{Blockquote
|text=I tried to capture the spirit, proportion, and geometry of [[Kaaba]] 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.
|author=[[Vedat Dalokay]]
|title="Dalokay further explaining the thinking behind the design of the Masjid to students of a design school."<ref name=Embassy>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pakistanembassytokyo.com/content/faisal-mosque-islamabad|title=Faisal Mosque, Islamabad|work=Pakistan Embassy Tokyo Japan}}</ref><ref name=PakistanToday>{{cite news |title=The genius behind the mosque
|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/08/17/the-genius-behind-the-mosque/ |date=17 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123062417/https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/08/17/the-genius-behind-the-mosque/|archive-date=23 January 2022 |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>}}
[[File:Faisal Mosque islamabad 17.jpg|thumb|Faisal Mosque close-up view during night]]
[[File:The_Faisal_Mosque_and_Red_Mosque,_Islamabad.jpg|left|thumb|304x304px|View of Faisal Mosque and [[Lal Masjid, Islamabad|Lal Masjid]] (right) ]]
Instead of using traditional [[domes]], [[Vedat Dalokay]] designed an eight-sided main hall that looked like an Arab's [[Bedouin]] desert tent. Additionally, he added four [[minarets]] on all four corners of the main hall, which are of {{convert|90|m|abbr=on}} 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 by [[Turkish architecture]]. Dalokay also believed that the design of the Masjid represents [[Kaaba]] in an [[abstract art|abstract]] manner.<ref>[http://www.pakistantoursguide.com/faisal-mosque.html Faisal Mosque on Pakistan Tours Guide website] Published 15 August 2012, Retrieved 17 August 2019</ref> Entrance is from the east, where the prayer hall is fronted by a courtyard with [[porticoes]]. The [[International Islamic University, Islamabad|International 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 with [[mosaics]] and [[calligraphy]] by the famous Pakistani artist [[Sadequain]],{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} and a Turkish-style [[chandelier]]. The mosaic pattern adorns the west wall and has the [[Kalimah]] written in early [[Kufic script]], repeated in mirror image pattern.<ref name="TNI" />

The Qibla Wall is covered with blue and white calligraphic tiles designed by a Turkish artist Mengu Ertel.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rizvi|first=Kishwar|url=https://northcarolina.universitypressscholarship.com/10.5149/northcarolina/9781469621166.001.0001/upso-9781469621166|title=The Transnational Mosque: Architecture and Historical Memory in the Contemporary Middle East|date=2015|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|isbn=978-1-4696-2116-6|doi=10.5149/northcarolina/9781469621166.001.0001}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Arif|first1=Muhammad|last2=Ilyas SindH|first2=Muzammal|last3=Ullah Khan|first3=Inayat|last4=Urooj|first4=Syeda Faiza|date=1 July 2016|title=Antecedents and Outcomes of Knowledge Management Practices: Evidence from Pakistan|journal=Jinnah Business Review|volume=4|issue=2|pages=23–29|doi=10.53369/zxrc5451|issn=2070-0296|doi-access=free}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Faisal Mosque|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/faisal-mosque|access-date=7 December 2021|website=Atlas Obscura|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Islamabad - Faisal Mosque.jpg|thumb|Faisal Mosque from the Margalla Hills]]

== Topography ==
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.<ref name="Embassy" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 February 2019|title=Inspired By a Bedouin's Tent: The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad Was Designed By a Turkish Architect|url=https://mvslim.com/inspired-by-a-bedouins-tent-the-faisal-mosque-in-islamabad-was-designed-by-a-turkish-architect/|access-date=7 December 2021|website=MVSLIM|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|date=1 March 2011|title=Religions of the world: a comprehensive encyclopedia of beliefs and practices}}</ref>

==References in literature==
The Faisal Mosque is described in the book ''[[The Kite Runner]]'' by [[Khalid Hosseini]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The world's most beautiful mosques |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/galleries/The-worlds-most-beautiful-mosques/faisal-mosque/ |date=6 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904075623/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/galleries/The-worlds-most-beautiful-mosques/faisal-mosque/  |work=The Telegraph (United Kingdom) |archive-date=4 September 2021 |access-date=4 September 2021}}</ref> It is frequently referenced in the work of [[Michael Muhammad Knight]], who came to the mosque to study Islam as a teenager.

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" mode="packed-hover">
File:Ali Mujtaba WLM2015 FAISAL MOSQUE m 10.jpg|Front view
File:Ali Mujtaba WLM2015 FAISAL MOSQUE 06.jpg|Portrait
File:Faisal Mosque - Bird's Eye View.jpg|Aerial view
File:Snow-capped Margalla Hills, Islamabad, Pakistan.jpg|The mosque and Snow-capped Margalla Hills
File:Shah Faisal Masjid, Islamabad.JPG|Elevation view of the mosque
File:Faisal Masjid on 27th Ramadan.jpg|During [[Laylat al-Qadr|27th Ramadan]]
File:Faisal Mosque by M Ali Mir.jpg
File:Faisal Masjid From Damn e koh.jpg|From [[Daman-e-Koh]]
File:Faisal Masjid seen from Margalla Hills.jpg|View from [[Margalla Hills]]
File:Faisal Mosque, Islamabad, Pakistan.jpg|View before sunset
File:FaisalMasjid.jpg|The mosque at night during prayer times
File:Faisal Masjid in cloudy weather.jpg|Faisal Masjid in cloudy weather
File:A view of Faisal Mosque, Islamabad from Daman-e-koh.JPG|View of Faisal Mosque and [[Jamia Faridia]] from [[Daman-e-Koh]], Islamabad
File:Faisal Masjid at twilight.jpg|Faisal Masjid at twilight
File:Faisal Mosque fanoos.jpg|Faisal mosque main hall chandelier
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Pakistan|Islam|Architecture}}
* [[Badshahi Mosque]]
* [[Islamic art]]
* [[List of mosques in Pakistan]]
* [[List of largest mosques]]
* [[List of things named after Saudi kings]]
* [[Timeline of Muslim history]]
* [[Minar-e-Pakistan]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{National symbols of Pakistan}}
{{Mosques in Pakistan}}
{{Cultural heritage sites in Islamabad Capital Territory |state=autocollapse}}
{{Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations}}

[[Category:1986 establishments in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Mosques completed in 1986]]
[[Category:Mosques in Islamabad]]
[[Category:National symbols of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations]]
[[Category:20th-century mosques in Asia]]
[[Category:Mosque buildings with minarets in Pakistan]]