The Mosques of Jeddah

Everyone knows the religious significance of mosques for Muslims. But these mosques, in addition to having a religious meaning and providing as a place for worship and spirituality also are epitomes of Islamic architecture and Muslim culture. Jeddah has a rich cultural heritage and no shortage of mosques. The mosques in Jeddah are exquisite in terms of geometric tilling and calligraphy and more architectural beauty. Let us look at some of the most popular mosques in Jeddah city.

King Fahd Mosque

This mosque with its typical Moroccan architecture, immediately reminds of the grandiose mosque of Morocco. It is immense, with graceful tile work and open air courtyards. It has slender minarets which are striking in beauty and quite fascinating. The impressive interiors with polished floors, Moorish arches and tenderly crafted columns take your breath away. The interior is golden lit, which highlights these features in a mesmerizing way.

King Saud Mosque

This mosque has the quality of being the largest mosque in Jeddah. Covering an area of 9700 sq m, with a 2464 sq m main prayer hall, everything about it boasts about its size. It has many large domes and one of the domes which is largest has a 20 m span with a height of 42 m. The King Saud Mosque was designed by Abdel Wahed El-Wakil, who is a celebrated Egyptian architect. The mosque is white coloured with delicate beauty and undeniable grandeur. It has four, barrel vaulted diwans which look best in the day with light shimmering over its surface.

Enaya Mosque

Enaya is one of the most popular architectural masterpieces in Jeddah. The mosque has a dazzling golden dome, calligraphic inscriptions and multicoloured mosaics. The magnificent detailing of the Enaya mosque looks breathtaking in the morning light. The mosque is situated on the shore Red Sea making it is a superb noticeable feature at the Jeddah costal skyline. It has one of the largest dome in the middle east, and under it a grand gilded chandelier hangs adorning brilliantly the central portion of the mosque. There are majestic coloured tiles which are turquoise coloured are astonishing in their beauty and team well with the artistry on the wall.

Floating mosque

The floating mosque is a true symbol of Jeddah’s cultural opulence. The stunning opulent mosque is stunning in its architecture and is situated very near to the sea. It has one single dome, which is turquoise in colour and matches the colour of the sea. The dome is made up of many coloured glass windows which illuminate the interiors by letting light pass through them. The massive crystal chandelier lights up the intricately decorated roof. Also the dome has kaleidoscope like patterns, which take your breath away. It is quite popular with the pilgrims due to its cultural significance and the breathtaking unencumbered Red Sea view.

Bin Yamini Mosque

This shining mosque captures the attention of passes by and offers a tribute to the modern Islamic architecture. It has large gilded domes which shine brilliantly in the night sky. The beautiful shadows of the mosque in the moonlight, make for a spiritual experience to stroll through the mosque. Interiors are equally mesmerising with brightly coloured walls and grand chandeliers.

A Way to Makkah is an Islamic pilgrimage organising agency based in the UK. For custom packages to religious places, contact us on +44 (0) 1582 750049 or you can visit http://www.awaytomakkah.com/