Mosques throughout the Muslim world have some of the most intricate and exquisite architecture ever created by humankind. There’s too much fantastic architecture in them to cover in just one post, so we decided to focus simply on the mosque’s ceilings – something the faithful might see when they look up to the heavens.
These images show how heavily mathematics and geometry are featured in Islamic architecture in the Arab world and elsewhere. The repeating perfect spirals and geometric forms are reminiscent of the intricate mandalas found in Buddhist art as well.
Iran is known for its extraordinary collection of stunning mosques, which we wrote about here, but there are also beautiful mosques elsewhere. We’d love to see your photos of fantastic mosque ceilings submitted below and invite you to vote for your favorites!
01. Fatima Masumeh Shrine, Qom, Iran
02. Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
03. Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
04. Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
05. Sheikh Lutf Allah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
06. Vakil Mosque, Shiraz
07. Shah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
08. Jalil Khayat Mosque, Arbil, Iraq
09. Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
10. Taj Mahal Mosque Ceiling
11. Grand Mosque of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
12. Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan
13. Fatima Masumeh Shrine, Qom, Iran
14. Al Soltan Qalawoon Mosque, Cairo, Egypt
15. Shiraz, Iran
16. Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
17. Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
18. Sheikh Lutf Allah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
19. Bahaud-Din Naqshband Mausoleum, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
20. Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
21. Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
22. Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
23. Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
24. Selimiye, Edirne, Turkey
25. Sheikh Lutf Allah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
26. Ali Ibn Hazem Holly Shrine, Shiraz, Iran
27. Jame Mosque of Yazd, Yazd, Iran
28. Mihrab Dome, Mezquita, Cordoba, Spain
29. Dome Of The Rock Mosque, Jerusalem
30. Alahambra, Granada, Spain – Liba Ws
31. Registan, Uzbekistan
32. Imam Khomeini Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
33. Iranian Mosque
34. Blue Mosque, Turkey
35. Magic Mihrab
36. Land Of Colors (The Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque Or Pink Mosque)
37. Shiraz, Iran
38. Mosque In Morocco
39. Tori Kori Madrasah, Samarkand
40. The Arch At The Entrance Of Temur’s Mausoleum In Samarkand, Uzbekistan
41. Bahrain Mosque
42. Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE
43. Iran Yazd Jama Mosque
44. Iran Isfahan Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
45. Ruhobod Mosque, Samarkand
46. Amman, Jordan
47. Cairo, Egypt
48. Keyseri Mosque, Gorazde – Bosnia And Herzegovina
49. The Ceiling Inside The Mausoleum Of Amir Taimur, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
50. Shah Jahan Mosque, Thatha, Pakistan.
51. Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) Istanbul
52. Ayah Sophia, Istanbul
53. Selimiye Mosque, Edirne , Turkey
54. Suleymaniye, Istanbul, Turkey
55. Mosque, Tehran, Iran
56. Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey
57. Selimiye Mosque, Edirne, Turkey
58. Al Saleh Mosque – Sana’a, Yemen
59. Royal Graves At Cairo, Egypt
60. Bajram Pasha Isa Beg Mosque, Mitrovice, Kosove
61. Al Saleh Mosque – Sana’a – Yemen
62. Vakil Mosque Entrance, Shiraz, Iran
63. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE
64. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE
65. Grand Mosque, Cordoba, Spain
66. Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE
67. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
68. Al Fateh Mosque, Bahrain
69. Shaikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi
70. Real Alcázar, Sevilla, Spain
71. Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan
72. Vakil Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
73. Kul Sharif Mosque, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia
74. Al Fateh Mosque, Bahrain
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