Faisal Mosque

Faisal Mosque is one of the largest Mosques in Pakistan which is located in the capital city Islamabad. The mosque is build at the bottom of Margalla hills. Shah Faisal from Saudi Arab financed this Mosque to build. In start the campus of International Islamic University is also present in back side of the mosque which is now shifted into new campus in H-10 Islamabad. The building of mosque is design as shock wave proof from earth quack. It is declared as a national mosque of Pakistan which is also one of the largest mosques in south Asia. The interior of the mosque is unique as other mosque when you enter in the mosque there is top floor which completes the circle which is 15-20 meters from door after that 4-5 stairs down there is bottom floor which is 10 times vast as top floor. Whole hall is covered with Irani carpet the carpet at top is bit different from the carpet on bottom. There are small and separate places to often individual prayer which is at the starting of hall in left side. There are three main entrance of the hall usually only one gate is used because one is good enough to reach the hall.

The design of the mosque is done by the Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay who had won the Agha Khan Award for Architecture. The height of the roof from bottom floor is 30 to 60 meters. There are gallery at 1st floor which is for women and children. From the front and left side there is small pool of water to maintain the temperature level of hall. At the center there is a glob which is made by pure gold hanging from the roof more than thousand bulbs are attached with this glob which increases the beauty of interior. There are many Quran decorated in hall which are too big in size kept in cage of glass. The capacity to often prayer is 40,000 at a time. The top floor is used as temporary hujra during Ramadan for etakaf more than 1000 people settled on top floor for etakaf. For cooling the hall there are power AC which are not centralized system but enough to cool the hall.

If we talk about the exterior of Faisal mosque there are four minarets which height is 80 meters each minaret have moon and star at the top made by cooper. The capacity of exterior hall (which is opened) is about 400,000 peoples at a time. There are separate toilets for ladies and gents on ground floor. There is a gift shop in front when you enter in the mosque in front of shop there is a model of Faisal mosque. There is ground outside the mosque at right hand which is called Jinaza Gah on this ground helicopter can also land for V.I.P person like ones Imam Kaba have. There is tomb of General Zia-ul-haq outside the mosque at very stating point he was the great leader of Pakistan although very less people know that tomb of Zia-ul-haq is located near Faisal mosque so, there are no crowd to visit this tomb.

The parking area is so vast thousands of cars can park at a time which is covered mosque from all sides’ front, back, right and left. There is also canteen at back side which is currently used by security guards very less visitors took meal from this canteen.

To access Faisal mosque from Islamabad several public transportation van has route towards Faisal mosque the nearest bus stands are Faizabad, Karachi Company, and Peer wadhai. The nearest airport is Islamabad airport international tourist can take flights to Islamabad from any city or country directly. The nearest stations are Rawalpindi station, I-9 industrial area station and Chaklala station.