The colour blue (al-azraq) in Islamic tradition often signifies the impenetrable depths of the universe, and turquoise blue is thought to have mystical qualities.
Here are 24 beautiful Islamic buildings & mosques, designed using the colour blue…
1/ Jalil Khayat Mosque, Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq The largest mosque in the city, it was begun by Jalil Khayat who died in 2005 & completed in 2007 by his sons in memory of their father. The blue style resembles the Mosque of Muhammad Ali in Cairo & Blue mosque in Istanbul
2/ Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Sohar, Oman Inaugurated in 2018 & influenced by Persian & central Asian blue Islamic architectural styles with touches of traditional Omani architectural elements that make it unique
3/ Ali Ibn Hamzeh Holy Shrine, Shiraz, Iran Constructed in pre-Seljuk times to honour a relative of the fourth Imam. Renowned for its blue tiles, its two minarets, exterior dome, entrance vestibule & courtyard rooms, date from the late 18th & 19th centuries
4/ Kalta Minor Minaret, Khiva, Uzbekistan One of the last great blue buildings in the Khanate of Khiva was Kalta Minor. This had to be the tallest structure in Khiva & in the whole of Central Asia. Works ended abruptly in 1855, leaving this beautiful minaret unfinished
5/ Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Multan, Pakistan Built between 1320 & 1324 CE by Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq in the pre-Mughal architectural style. It is the mausoleum of Sufi saint Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fateh & is the earliest example of Tughluq architecture, with blue tile details
6/ Blue Mosque, Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan Many Afghanis believe Ali ibn Abi Talib is buried here. The building gives the city, Mazari Sharif (meaning "Tomb of the Exalted") its name. The shrine was erected here in 1136 and is famous for its beautiful blue tiles
7/ Sheik Lotfollah Mosque, Imam Square, Esfahan, Iran Construction of the mosque started in 1603 and was finished in 1619. It was built by the chief architect Mohammadreza Isfahani, during the reign of Shah Abbas I of Persia, it is renowned for its blue details
8/ The Shah Jahan Masjid, Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan A 17th-century building that is the central mosque for the city of Thatta. It was built during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who bestowed it to the city as a token of gratitude. It has beautiful blue tiles