Faisal Mosque, Pakistan

                                                             Faisal Mosque, Pakistan


Basic Information
Location              Islamabad, Pakistan
Established          1986
Capacity             74,000 within the main areas, approx. 200,000 in adjoining grounds
Covered area      5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft)
Minaret(s)           4
Minaret height     90 meters (300 ft)

Description
The Faisal Mosque is the largest mosque in Pakistan located in the national capital city of Islamabad. It is shaped like a desert Bedouin's tent designed by Turkish architect, Vedat Dalokay and completed in 1986. 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 Margalla Hills. This enviable location represents the mosque's great importance and allows it to be seen from miles around day and night. The Faisal Mosque is conceived as the National Mosque of Pakistan and named after the late King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia, who supported and financed the project. It is the largest mosque in South Asia and one of the largest mosques in the world. The Faisal Mosque was the largest mosque in the world from 1986 until 1993, when it was overtaken in size by the completion of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. Subsequent expansions of the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Mecca and the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) in Medina, Saudi Arabia during the 1990s relegated Faisal Mosque to fourth place in terms of size.