HISTORY OF FASIAL MOSQUE ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN.

 

FAISAL MOSQUE ISLAMABAD

   The Faisal Mosque is the national mosque of Pakistan, located in capital Islamabad.It is the fifth largest mosque in the world and the largest within South Asia, located on the foothills of margala hills in Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad. It is named after the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The mosque features a contemporary design consisting of eight sides of concrete shell and is inspired by the design of a typical Bedouin tent.

A major tourist attraction in Pakistan, the mosque is a contemporary and influential piece of Islamic architechture.

Construction of the mosque began in 1976 after a $28 million grant from Saudi king Faisal, whose name the mosque bears. The unconventional design by Turkish architect Vedat Dolakey was selected after an international competition. Without a typical dome, the mosque is shaped like a Bedouin tent, surrounded by four 260 feet (79 m) tall minarets. The design features eight-sided shell shaped sloping roofs forming a triangular worship hall which can hold 10,000 worshippers.

The mosque dominates the landscape of Islamabad, covering an area of 33 acres (130,000 m2; 1,400,000 sq ft).It is located near the north end of Faisal Avenue, at the northernmost extremity of the city, and at the foot of the Margalla Hills, the westernmost Himalayan foothills. It is situated on an elevation plot of land with a beautiful view of the national park as a backdrop. From 1986 to 1993, Faisal Mosque was the largest mosque in the world, until it was surpassed by mosques in Saudi Arabia. In terms of capacity, Faisal Mosque is now the world's sixth largest mosque.

HISTORY BEHIND THE CONSTRUCTION OF FAISAL MOSQUE:

IMAGE CONSTRUCTION OF KING FAISAL MOSQUE

IMAGE INITIAL STRUCTURE OF THE MSOQUE

 IMAGE OF PROGRESSING STRUCTURE OF THE MOSQUE

During an official visit to Pakistan in 1966, King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz endorsed the Pakistani government's desire to construct a national mosque in Islamabad. An international competition was organised in 1969, and architects from 17 different nations submitted 43 designs. Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay's design was chosen as the winner. The project was allotted 46 acres of land, and the implementation was delegated to Pakistani engineers and labourers. The mosque's construction began in 1976 by National Construction Limited of Pakistan, directed by Azim Khan, and was sponsored by the Saudi government at a cost of more than 130 million Saudi riyals (about 120 million USD now). King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz had an important role.

King Khalid, the successor of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, laid the foundation stone for the mosque in October 1976 and signed the building agreement in 1978. The foundation stone contains basic information about the mosque. Although the mosque was built in 1986, the first prayer was offered on June 18, 1988. The mosque grounds, in addition to housing a prayer building, once housed the International Islamic University, which was transferred to a new site in 2000. Initially, several traditional and orthodox Muslims chastised the design for its unique shape and absence of a typical dome structure.

 THE ARCHITECHTURE  and location OF THE MOSQUE:

Vedat Dalokay built an eight-sided main hall that resembled an Arab's Bedouin desert tent instead of typical domes. He also constructed four minarets on the four corners of the main hall, which are 80 metres (260 feet) tall, making them the highest minarets in South Asia. The main prayer hall is the building's major structure, which is supported by four concrete girders. Turkish architecture influenced the four odd minarets. Vedat Dalokay also claimed that the Masjid's design abstractly resembled the Kaaba. The prayer hall is approached from the east by a courtyard with porticoes. The International Islamic University was once housed beneath the main plaza, but has since relocated to a new site.

VEDAT DALOKAY

"Dalokay Vedat, further explaining the thinking behind the design of the Masjid to students of a design school"

"In a strictly abstract fashion, I attempted to portray the essence, proportion, and geometry of the Kaaba. Consider the peak of each of the four minarets to be a scaled explosion of the four highest corners of the Kaaba; therefore, an unseen Kaaba shape is confined by the minarets at the four corners in proportion to the base. In the designer's imagination, the Shah Faisal Mosque is similar to the Holy Kaaba. If you connect the pinnacle of each minaret to the base of the minaret diagonally opposite it, a four-sided pyramid will be constrained by these lines at the base side within that invisible cube. The lowest level pyramid is portrayed as a solid body, with four minarets with apexes completing the picture." 

Main prayer hall of Faisal mosque

There is still a library, lecture hall, museum, and café in the mosque. The main tent-shaped hall's interior is coated in white marble and embellished with mosaics and calligraphy by famed Pakistani artist Sadequain, as well as a Turkish-style chandelier. The west wall is adorned with a mosaic design with the Kalimah inscribed in early Kufic script and repeated in mirror image pattern.

Beautiful calligraphy in Faisal Mosque

Mengu Ertel, a Turkish artist, created the blue and white calligraphic tiles that adorn the Qibla Wall. The mosque's interior is decorated in Turkish and Pakistani styles. The mosque's design takes an interesting turn, mixing modern and classic Islamic architecture. The distinctive design borrows heavily from nomadic Bedouin tents, but it also pays homage to Islamic architecture with Ottoman-style minarets and a square shape for the Kaaba.

The Faisal Mosque can hold around 300,000 attendees. Each of the mosque's four minarets is 79 metres (259 feet) tall and is 1010 metres in circumference. The major spaces, including the inner hall and courtyards, can house up to 74000 people. The grounds around the mosque can accommodate up to 200,000 people.

The position of Faisal Mosque, at the foot of the Margalla Hills, is notable. The Mosque can be seen from miles away and is built on a higher surface than the rest of the city. The mosque overlooks the city and is surrounded by lush mountain ranges, providing a picturesque perspective. Faisal Avenue, one of Islamabad's main thoroughfares, goes directly to the Mosque, demonstrating the significance of the site. The mosque stands out against the dark green background because of its gleaming white colour, which highlights its significance to the city of Islamabad.

King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

The King Faisal Mosque was dedicated in 1986 by King Faisal's son, King Khalid bin Abdul Aziz. It is now a popular tourist destination as well as a symbol of Islamic architecture and culture. The mosque has held a number of high-profile events, including Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's burial in 2007.

OIC Summit Lahore ( All the Muslim leaders of 
the world in one photo listening
to khutbah (speech) in Badshahi Mosque, Lahore)

Finally, the King Faisal Mosque is a tribute to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan's longstanding friendship, as well as a proud icon of Islamic architecture and culture. Its creation was a watershed moment in Pakistani history, and it continues to draw people from all over the world.

This the complete detailed history of King Faisal Mosque. I hope this article will increase your information. Share this article with your friends and other social media platforms so that it will help other researchers.

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Article by: Huma Creations   

References taken From :

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