Pride of Muslims Mosque

Pride of Muslims Mosque
Religion
AffiliationSunni Islam
Region Chechnya
RiteShafi'i school
Location
LocationShali
State Russia
Geographic coordinates43°09′25″N 45°54′17″E / 43.157°N 45.9047°E / 43.157; 45.9047
Architecture
CompletedAugust 23, 2019
Specifications
Capacity30,000
Minaret(s)4
Minaret height63-metre (207 ft)

The Mosque in the Name of the Prophet Muhammad (Chechen: Мухьаммад Пайхамаран цӀарах маьждиг), also known as the Pride of Muslims Mosque, is a mosque built in the 21st century in the center of the city of Shali in Chechnya, Russia. As the largest mosque in Europe, it can accommodate up to 30,000 people, with the surrounding area providing space for a further 70,000.

History

In 2012, construction began on a new mosque in the city center, next to the modern Shali City complex, covering an area of 5 hectares. The size of the mosque is unprecedented in the whole region. It was designed by Abdukahar Turdiev, an architect from Uzbekistan. It echoes the Islamic architecture of Samarkand and Bukhara. The mosque was officially opened on August 23, 2019, coinciding with the birthday of the republic's first president, Akhmad Kadyrov. The original plan was to name the mosque after the Chechen head of state, Ramzan Kadyrov. However, at the opening ceremony, it was announced that the mosque would be named after the Prophet Muhammad.[1][2] President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram to mark the inauguration, saying: “This majestic mosque, one of the largest in Europe, will help to bring people, especially young people, closer to the historical and religious traditions of their fathers and grandfathers and strengthen peace and harmony in our society.”[3]

Architecture

The building has a 43-meter-high dome and 63-meter-high minarets. It is clad in snow-white marble from the Greek island of Thasos, which is prized for its ability to reflect light and provide coolness in hot weather. The eight-meter-high central chandelier weighs over two and a half tons and its 395 lamps are decorated with Swarovski stones and gold. The architectural and artistic lighting of the mosque was carried out by the company Griven.[4]

A park with 12 fountains covers an area of 5 hectares. Around 2,000 trees and numerous rose bushes have been planted here. The entrance gate to the mosque is designed in the Persian Iwan style and resembles the Timurid and Mughal arches of buildings such as the Mir Arab Madrasa, the Herat Mosque or the Taj Mahal. The mosque also has a minbar, which is almost 7.5 meters high, 5.5 meters wide, and just over a meter thick. Ten master stonemasons worked on it for almost a year. Next to it is the mihrab, a wall with a niche facing the Kaaba. It is decorated with Arabic inscriptions from the Quran and mosaics.[4]

  • Exterior view
    Exterior view
  • Evening lighting
    Evening lighting
  • Entrance gate
    Entrance gate
  • Interior view
    Interior view
  • Pattern of the main carpet
    Pattern of the main carpet
  • One of the smaller chandeliers (view from below)
    One of the smaller chandeliers (view from below)
  • Central chandelier (view from below)
    Central chandelier (view from below)
  • Decorative elements inside the mosque
    Decorative elements inside the mosque

See also

References

  1. ^ Фатима Дадаева. "Белый мрамор, много золота и ручная роспись: всё о новой крупнейшей мечети в Европе" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  2. ^ "Новая газета" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  3. ^ "Путин поздравил Кадырова с открытием в Чечне крупнейшей мечети Европы — Викиновости" (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  4. ^ a b "Освещение мечети, г. Шали, Чеченская Республика". Archived from the original on 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
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