Spending hours praying in a mosque is an intrinsic part of Ramadan and is one of the best ways to tap into our inner religious spirit. Across the region are some of the most beautiful mosques, resplendent with masterful architecture and rich history, that deserve to be the site of your Taraweeh prayers.
Morocco’s Hassan II Mosque
Located in Casablanca, the magnificent Hassan II Mosque is a true architectural marvel. From its zellige tiles and smooth tadelakt walls to its exquisitely carved wood, it’s a masterpiece. Even its location is special as the opulent mosque is set on a bedrock that juts over the ocean.
Built in 1993 by French architect Michel Pinseau, it stands tall as one of the largest mosques in Africa. It can hold 105,000 worshippers, 25,000 of whom are on the inside and the rest in the courtyard.
Egypt’s Al Emam El Hussein Mosque
You cannot get closer to history than through Cairo’s El Hussein Mosque. Considered one of the most sacred Islamic sites in Egypt, this mosque is known to be the reputable burial site of the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.
A true symbol of history, most of the building dates back to 1870, except for the 14th-century stucco panels on the minaret.
Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Standing tall above manicured gardens is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Home to more than 80 marble domes on a roof line as well as four 107m-high minarets, it’s a true representation of excellence in modern Islamic architecture.
Conceived by Sheikh Zayed, the mosque was developed through a very meticulous process that involved using more than 90,000 tonnes of pure white marble from the Republic of Macedonia. It’s a true world-class piece of contemporary Islamic architecture
Tunisia’s Ez-Zitouna Mosque
Standing in the heart of Tunisia’s Medina is a special mosque that was founded all the way back in 734. It was then completely rebuilt in the 9th century, and over the years, it was restored many times. The Ez-Zitouna mosque has over 160 authentic columns that were brought over from the ruins of the old city of Carthage.
It’s quite special, as it’s the second mosque to be built in the Maghreb region after the Mosque of Uqba in Kairouan and the oldest mosque on our list.
Jordan’s King Abdullah Mosque
The blue-domed landmark known as the King Abdullah Mosque was built in 1989 as a memorial by the late King Hussein to his grandfather. Inside the mosque, there’s an Islamic museum with a small collection of photographs and personal effects of King Abdullah I.
Today, the mosque can hold over 7,000 worshippers, with an extra 3000 in the courtyard. Its beautiful blue dome is surrounded by Quranic inscriptions, making it a truly beautiful representation of Islamic architecture.
Knowing that the Arab world is home to such majestic mosques, praying within their halls makes Taraweeh prayers all the more special and memorable this Ramadan.
