Faisal MasjidMuhammad Waleed Usman

Muhammad Asim Ayaz

Quick Facts

Specs• Rank: 6th Largest

• Location: Islamabad, Pakistan

• Coordinates: 33.72°N 73.03°E

• Completed: 1986

• Architect: Vedat Dalokay

(Turkish)

• Worlds largest mosque from

1986 to 1993

• Covered Area: 5000 sq. m

(54,000 sq. ft)

• Capacity: 3,00,000 worshipers

• Style: Islamic

• Const. Cost: 130 million SR

($120 M USD)

• Minarets: 4

• Height: 90 m (300 ft)

History

History• The impetus for the mosque began in 1966 • The late King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia supported the Pakistani

Government to build a national mosque in Islamabad during an official visit to Pakistan• In 1969 an International competition was held• Architects from 17 countries submitted 43 proposals• After 4 days of deliberation Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay’s design was chosen • Construction phase began in 1976 by National Construction of Pakistan• Project was funded by Government of Saudi Arabia• Both the mosque and the road leading to it was named after King Faisal• It was intended to symbolize the hopes and aspiration of newly born state of

Pakistan• Furthermore it is focal point of Islamabad; famous and recognized icon of Islam

What To See

Every civilization developed its own architectural style which became its identity. The Faisal Mosque as a modern representation of religious monument became a symbol of national identity and has international preeminence/ domination due to its uniqueness of exterior constructive design

What to See• The Faisal Mosque is located on an elevated area of land against a

picturesque backdrop of the Margalla Hills• Its location represents the mosque's great importance and allows it to

be seen from miles around day and night• The mosque's architecture is strikingly modern and unique• It lacks both the traditional domes and arches of most other mosques

around the world• The shape of the Faisal Mosque is an eight-sided concrete shell

inspired by a desert Bedouin's tent and The Holy Kabbah in Mecca, four minarets are inspired by Turkish architecture• The International Islamic University was housed under the main

courtyard, but recently relocated to a new campus

What to See• The mosque 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• Calligraphy inside the mosque is done by the Pakistani artist Sadeqain• The mosaic pattern adorns the west wall and has the kalimah written in

early Kufic script that is repeated in mirror image pattern• The great hall centers spectacular Turkish-style chandelier• The inside prayer hall can accommodate 10,000 worshippers• There is room for an additional 24,000 in the porticoes and 40,000 in the

courtyard• Moreover the mausoleum of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq is located

adjacent to the mosque

Vedat Dalokay of Turkey

Mastermind of Masterpiece“I tried to capture the spirit, proportion and geometry of Kabbah in a purely abstract manner. Imagine the apex of each of the four minaret as a scaled explosion of four highest corners of Kabbah - thus an unseen Kabbah form is bounded by the minarets at the four corners in a proportion of height to base Shah Faisal Mosque akin to Kabbah”

“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 Kabbah”

Design & Style

Design & Style• The mosque represents a modern phase of architectural decoration in constructive

form and as surface ornamentation• The huge sanctuary has a plan of 656.66 square feet• The peak of the roof is 131.24 feet above ground level• The four walls are in the form of isosceles triangles with a base of 215 feet and sides

of 128 feet and are constructed of steel and concrete• The main entrance of the sanctuary is from the east and this wall is divided into

nine vertical sections made of concrete filled with crescent motifs• Clear glass is fitted into the crescent shapes and provides light to the interior• The north and south walls are designed with twenty raised vertical sections• There are several small openings in the eastern and western sides under the eaves

to allow birds to enter the sanctuary

Design & Style• The lower part of the west wall is patterned in bold

thick crossed lines with tinted glass interstices. • Above this there are twenty vertical divisions with

vertically and horizontally composed linear designs, which are not similar with the north and south walls.

• The linear design is giving an impression of low relief work.

• Such triangular-shaped walls have never been used in mosque construction previously

• The roof is a major attraction of the mosque• The top of the roof is based on a pyramidal roof form• The gable appearance of the Faisal Mosque is

influenced by Greek architecture• A terrace, thirteen feet four inches above the floor

level of the northern court is attached with the north wall

• The floor of the terrace is paved with grey granite that contrasts with the white color of the mosque

• The roof structure somewhat resembles the Gothic rib vaults in French method of the years 1140-1194• The technical term for

this form is hyperbolic paraboloid construction, which is introduced during modern times

Design & Style

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