Musjids of the World Series 6

The Musjid serves as the focal point of any Muslim community and is the most important structure to Muslims.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Musjid, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. One of the most spectacular Musjids in the Asia Pacific and a tourist attraction. Completed in 1958. The architecture has Islamic and Italian influence. It is built on an artificial lagoon with marble minarets and golden domes. The minaret has an elevator and people get a panoramic view of the city from the top. The marble is from Italy, granite from Shanghai, crystal chandeliers from England and carpets from Saudi Arabia.



Al-Azhar Musjid, Cairo, Egypt built in 971 CE by Fatimid Shias. Salahuddin, after ousting the Fatimids, made it a Sunni place of learning in the 12th century. The Madrasah (Islamic University) connected with it was founded in 988. It is the oldest operating university in the world. Among its students were Palestinian freedom fighters like Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, co-founder of Hamas, Mohammad Amin al-Husayni, Mufti of Jerusalem, anti-Zionist leader in Palestine and Yusuf Ma Dexin, first to translate the Qur'an into Chinese.



Masjid Agung Demak, Demak, Java is one of the oldest Musjids in Indonesia. It was built by the Wali Songo (the 9 pious religious leaders) during the first Demak Sultanate in the 15th century. It is a symbol of the Demak Bintoro kingdom as the first Islamic kingdom on Java island. It is built from timber with the tiered roof supported by 4 enormous teak pillars. It contains many historical relics, a museum and the graves of the Demak Sultans.