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The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque, is located in Shiraz, Iran. The mosque’s front features much-colored glass and traditional elements like the panj kāse (five concave) design. The mosque is known for its unique interior arrayed with stained glass, known for being kaleidoscope-like when hit by sunlight.
See the fact file below for more information on the Pink Mosque, or you can download our 32-page Pink Mosque worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
LOCATION
- The Pink Mosque is a conventional mosque in Shiraz, the capital of Iran’s Fars Province, formerly known as Pars and the country’s fifth-most populous city. The mosque is situated near the Shāh Chérāgh Mosque.
- Shiraz is known as the city of flowers, books, and poetry due to the abundance of gardens and fruit trees throughout the city, including the historic Eram Garden. For this reason, many Iranians refer to it as the “city of gardens.”
BRIEF HISTORY
- Fars provincial ruler Mirza Hassan Ali Khan, also known by his moniker Nasir-Ol Molk, decided in 1876 to leave a mosque as a legacy for future generations. He belonged to Shiraz’s aristocracy and lords. Additionally, he was a Qajar nobleman and the son of Ghavam-Ol Molk, the Kalantar of Shiraz, Iran. His father is regarded as a fair and just ruler.
- As a result, he built the mosque, which was completed in 1925 after 12 years of work. The Nasir al-Molk Mosque was designed by Persian architects Mohammad Hasan-e-Memār, Mohammad Hosseini Shirazi, and Mohammad Reza. Memār also designed the well-known Eram Garden.
- Despite the construction of the Pink Mosque being complete, its unique stained-glass windows were added in 1969. These exquisite additions to the structure were made by Haj Mirza Ayat. There were no glasses with distinctive hues or unique doors and windows before.
- Due to the abundance of pink tiles covering the ceiling, it has been dubbed the “Pink Mosque.” Early morning is the ideal time to visit the mosque since the sun reflects the floor’s stained-glass designs. This occurrence is compared to being inside a kaleidoscope.
- This mosque once housed a dwelling, a bath, storage, and a mosque. However, when Lotf Ali Khan Zand Street was being constructed, a significant portion of it, including an indoor area, an entrance to the house, a bath, water storage, and the space between the mosque and the house, was completely destroyed.
ARCHITECTURE
- The 2216 square meter Nasir-Ol Molk Mosque or Pink Mosque, is situated on a 2,890 square meter foundation area. The mosque is the most valuable because of its tiling and muqarnas, two of its most noticeable aspects.
- The absence of a dome distinguishes Nasir-Ol Molk Mosque from all other Iranian mosques. It also signifies that it was a private tower used by a small number of people, an intriguing aspect of this mosque.
- This mosque’s tiling is beautiful and distinctive. The use of eye-catching colored glasses and their delicate construction, which transform sunshine into vibrant strings of light, has given the building a superb quality that is unmatched.
- European paintings also embellish the ceilings of each story. This house of worship is a stunning rainbow of color in every direction, like entering into a kaleidoscope.
- The kaleidoscope-like interior is due to the exquisite and intricate details in the interior. Stained glass, the thousands of painted tiles on the ceiling, and the Persian rugs covering the floor make the interior magnificent. A flower-filled open courtyard with a rectangular pool stands in the middle of the mosque.
- Numerous arabesque arches decorate the building’s exterior, which enhances the elegance of the stained-glass light display. The mosque’s prayer room, where visitors converge every day at sunrise to witness the sun’s rays strike the mosaics and create a stunning ambiance, is its greatest draw.
ORSI: STAINED GLASS
- The earliest stained glass was discovered in Syria in the 7th century. Churches are still the main places where glass-stained art is used today. The Persian chemist, Jabir ibn Hayyan, described how to make stained glass in his book Kitab al-Durra al-Maknuna, translated in English as “The Book of the Hidden Pearl,” published in the 8th century CE.
- In the Safavid and Qajar dynasties, Orsi windows were created using a combination of wood and vibrant glass. Orsi is distinct from the stained glass typically used in churches and Ottoman mosques and provides lit images rather than light.
- Given that light is one of the primary symbols of God in Islam, it is a prominent component in most mosques. The Quran refers to this in a chapter: “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth.”
COMMON FEATURES OF A MOSQUE
- Sahn (courtyard). A sahn, or open courtyard, is often seen next to prayer halls in mosques. These areas frequently contain a fountain whose waters provide a welcome reprieve in hot climates and are crucial for the ablutions, or ritual cleansing, performed before prayer.
- Mihrab. Mihrab is a wall niche that points toward Mecca, where all Muslims offer their prayers. The birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad is Mecca, which also houses the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in Islam. The wall where the mihrab is located is known as the qibla wall since it faces the direction of Mecca.
- Minaret (tower). A minaret is a tower next to or joined to a mosque, from which the call to prayer is broadcast, and one of the mosque’s most noticeable architectural features. There are numerous distinct types of minarets. The minaret is not merely practical but also acts as a potent symbol of Islam’s existence.
- Qubba (dome). Most mosques also include one or more domes, known in Arabic as qubba. They are significant in a mosque even if they are not a religious requirement like the mihrab since they represent the vault of heaven. Their interior frequently highlights their symbolism as they intend to mesmerize and inspire.
- Minbar. Islam refers to the minbar as the pulpit from which the khutbah is spoken. A minbar is a platform with three steps in its most basic form. Minbars are domed boxes located at the top of a stairway and entered through a door that can be closed.
UNIQUE MOSQUES
- Blue Mosque. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, commonly known as the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, is a historical imperial mosque from the Ottoman Empire that is situated in Istanbul, Turkey. Ahmed I oversaw its construction between 1609 and 1616. The mosque’s interior walls are decorated with hand-painted blue tiles.
- At night, the lights of the Blue Mosque shine. Its lights surround the mosque’s five main domes, six minarets, and eight minor domes. This occurrence bathes the mosque in a sea of blue.
- Hassan II Mosque. This mosque in Casablanca, Morocco, is the seventh-largest mosque in the world and the second-largest operating mosque in Africa. With a height of 210 meters, its minaret is the second-tallest in the world and is about 689 ft.
- It was created by Michel Pinseau with the help of King Hassan II and completed in 1993. Moroccan artisans from all around the kingdom contributed to its construction. The laser on top of the 60-story-tall minaret, whose light points at Mecca, emits light.
- Faisal Mosque. The national mosque of Pakistan is called Faisal Mosque, situated in Islamabad. It is located on the slopes of the Margalla Hills in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, and is the sixth-biggest mosque in the world and the largest in South Asia. It bears the name of the late Saudi Arabian King Faisal I. The mosque has an eight-sided concrete shell with a contemporary style modeled by a typical Bedouin tent.
Pink Mosque Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Pink Mosque across 32 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Pink Mosque, which is known for its unique interior and kaleidoscope-like stained glass embellishments.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Pink Mosque Facts
- Pink Mosque Card
- Did You Know?
- The Creation
- Locating the Mosque
- True or False?
- Quiz Master
- Mini Architects
- Are You Struct-sure?
- Tour the Mosques
- Summarizing the Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Who built the pink mosque?
Built during the Qajar dynasty by Mirza Hassan Ali Nasir-ol-Mulk in 1888, Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque radiates grandeur. One of its most attractive features is a picturesque rectangular pool that intensifies the beauty of this sacred place. Experience a remarkable transformation when the mosque lights up during nighttime!
Why is it called the Pink Mosque?
Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom was determined to reinvent the image of Maguindanao and initiated The Pink Mosque, otherwise known as Masjid Dimaukom, in Datu Saudi-Ampatuan. By painting it pink, he intended for this mosque to become a symbol of peace and love that promotes unity among all inhabitants of Maguindanao. Furthermore, this heartfelt gesture indelibly impacts future generations who pass through its doors.
Why is the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque important?
This mosque stands out amongst all others in Iran due to its dazzling tiles and stalactites, making it one of the most valuable mosques. Moreover, its remarkable beauty makes it an awe-inspiring sight to behold.
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Link will appear as Pink Mosque Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 28, 2022
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