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360 Degree Virtual Tours of the Hagia Sophia

in Architecture , Art , History , Travel | August 23rd, 2021 2 Comments

Last year, when Turk­ish pres­i­dent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that Hagia Sophia would be recon­vert­ed into a mosque, he assured a con­cerned UNESCO that changes to the 1,500-year-old for­mer cathe­dral-turned-mosque would have “no neg­a­tive impact” on its sta­tus as World Her­itage Site. “A state must make sure that no mod­i­fi­ca­tion under­mines the out­stand­ing uni­ver­sal val­ue of a site list­ed on its ter­ri­to­ry,” the world body has said. Claims to the con­trary notwith­stand­ing, the “uni­ver­sal val­ue” of the site does seem to have been under­mined.

Des­ig­nat­ed a muse­um by the sec­u­lar Turk­ish Repub­lic in 1934, the site con­tains hun­dreds of years of his­to­ry for both the Chris­t­ian and Islam­ic worlds, and the shared her­itage between them in the shift­ing mix of peo­ples who con­quered, set­tled, and moved through the city first called Byzan­tium, then Con­stan­tino­ple, then Istan­bul.

“The World Her­itage site was at the cen­tre of both the Chris­t­ian Byzan­tine and Mus­lim Ottoman empires and is today one of Turkey’s most vis­it­ed mon­u­ments,” Reuters not­ed last year.

The mosque is open to the pub­lic for prayers , and any­one can vis­it. What they’ll find — as you can see in this recent tour video  — is ugly green car­pet­ing cov­er­ing the floor, and screens, pan­els, and ply­wood obscur­ing the Byzan­tine Chris­t­ian art. (The same thing was done in the small­er Hagia Sophia in the city of Tra­b­zon .) These changes are not only dis­tress­ing for UNESCO, but also for lovers of art and his­to­ry around the world, myself includ­ed, who had hoped to one day see the mil­len­nia-and-a-half of blend­ed reli­gious and aes­thet­ic tra­di­tions for them­selves.

It’s pos­si­ble Turk­ish pol­i­tics will allow Hagia Sophia to return to its sta­tus as a muse­um in the future, restor­ing its “uni­ver­sal val­ue” for world his­to­ry and cul­ture. If not, we can still vis­it the space vir­tu­al­ly — as it was until last year — in the 360 degree video views above, both of which allow you to look around in any direc­tion as they play. You can also swiv­el around a spher­i­cal panoram­ic image at 360 cities .

The BBC video at the top nar­rates some of the sig­nif­i­cant fea­tures of the incred­i­ble build­ing, once the largest church in the world, includ­ing its “col­ored mar­ble from around the Roman Empire” and “10,000 square meters of gold mosa­ic.” Learn much more about Hagia Sophia his­to­ry in the video above from Khan Academy’s exec­u­tive direc­tors (and for­mer deans of art and his­to­ry), Dr. Steven Zuck­er and Dr. Beth Har­ris.

Relat­ed Con­tent:  

An Intro­duc­tion to Hagia Sophia: After 85 Years as a Muse­um, It’s Set to Become a Mosque Again

Hear the Sound of the Hagia Sophia Recre­at­ed in Authen­tic Byzan­tine Chant

Istan­bul Cap­tured in Beau­ti­ful Col­or Images from 1890: The Hagia Sophia, Top­ka­ki Palace’s Impe­r­i­al Gate & More

Josh Jones  is a writer and musi­cian based in Durham, NC. Fol­low him at  @jdmagness

by Josh Jones | Permalink | Comments (2) |

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I vis­it­ed twice in August. At least the green car­pet is vac­u­umed con­stant­ly and before pray begins for the hand­ful of wor­shipers men in dark secu­ri­ty-look­ing uni­forms uncer­e­mo­ni­ous­ly chase peo­ple away with larg­er san­i­tiz­ing sprayers like mos­qui­toes. At least the chil­dren can have fun jump­ing over the taught vac­u­um cords. Lest we get dan­ger­ous­ly close to the apse there are long col­lapsi­ble met­al secu­ri­ty gates keep­ing one at a safe dis­tance; not only here in the cen­tral part of the nave, but thank­ful­ly every oth­er key place avail­able for wor­ship. As an aid to med­i­ta­tion the plush but sen­si­bly piled car­pet dead­ens all sound with­in the once holy realm as those annoy­ing acoustics are now a thing of the past. Thought­ful for the wheel­chair-bound vis­i­tor, the old treach­er­ous ramp to the gallery and famed mosaics is closed so no need to wor­ry about acci­dents. What will they think of next!

Aya­so­fya, ben­im evimdir ve izin­siz olarak giren hırsızdır, günahkardır, ve bedel öder. Sözde müs­lü­man­ların, ibadet­leri­ni, Allah, yıl­lardır, bu, yüz­den kab­ul etmiy­or. Dünyalılar, baş­ka bedeller de ödeye­cek. ben gök­lere ait olan yüce biriy­im. Bana muhale­fet eden, Allah’a isyan etmiş sayılır. Aya­so­fya’­da kab­ul olmayan ibadet­leri­ni gös­ter­iş için yapan, sözde müs­lü­man artık­ları, değer­siz dur, elbet. Ben onları affet­meye­ceğim, hakkımı helal etmiy­o­rum. Lan­et olsun, malımı mülkümü haince gas­pe­den­lere!

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View Masjid an-Nabawi 360 View (VR)

Masjid an-Nabawi 360 View : Get ready to explore one of the holiest sites in the world with a virtual reality (VR) tour of Masjid an-Nabawi!

Table of Contents

Located in Medina, Saudi Arabia, this mosque is the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and is considered a sacred pilgrimage site for Muslims around the world. Now you can experience this holy site from the comfort of your own home.

With a 360-degree view of the mosque and its grounds, you can explore the architecture and history of this important religious site.

To go full screen:

• Desktop: Right click on it and click “full screen”
• Mobile: Long press the video and tap “full screen”

Feel the spirituality of the place, and get a better understanding of its significance to millions of Muslims worldwide. Join us on a virtual reality tour of Masjid an-Nabawi, and experience the beauty and majesty of this sacred site.

Exploring the Mosque and Its Grounds

As you enter the mosque, you’ll be greeted by the beautiful architecture and the surrounding gardens. You can explore the various courtyards and gardens that make up this site, and learn more about the history and significance of the place.

You can also explore the prayer areas, and see where the Prophet Muhammad PBUH used to lead prayer.

You can also explore the roof of the mosque, where you’ll be able to take in the spectacular views of the entire place. You can explore all areas of the mosque, and even walk inside some of the walls to see the intricate designs and patterns on the inside.

Explore the mosque and the surrounding areas, and get a better understanding of the history and significance of this important religious site.

Exploring the Architecture and History

As you explore the mosque and its surroundings, you’ll also be able to learn more about the architecture of the place. You can explore the different domes and roofs, and get a better understanding of the significance of these architectural elements.

You can also explore the iwans, which are ornate and decorative doorways and the mihrabs, which are ornate and decorative prayer niches. Visit the various architectural elements and learn more about the significance and history of the mosque.

Exploring the Islamic Art and Decoration

You will discover intricate Islamic artwork and embellishments throughout the mosque and the surrounding area as you explore it. Take a closer look at the mashq, the ornamental gabled roof, and the mashrabiya, the decorative wooden screen.

Explore the muqarnas, the elaborate ceilings and wall decorations. Prepare yourself to be amazed by the artistry and decoration of this important religious site.

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Discovermymosque

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At Discovermymosque, we offer immersive virtual tours of some of the world’s most beautiful and iconic mosques. Our virtual tours provide a unique opportunity to explore the intricate details and stunning architecture of these holy places from the comfort of your home.

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Shah Jahan Mosque

Shah jahan mosque woking.

The Shah Jahan Mosque in Oriental Road, Woking, England, is the first purpose-built mosque in the United Kingdom. Built in 1889, it is located 30 miles southwest of London. It is a Grade I listed building. Navigate around the Mosque in a truly immersive 360 manner.

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Step Inside the Muhammad Ali Mosque in Cairo: A Virtual Tour

• February 15, 2023

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Located in the heart of Cairo , Egypt , the Muhammad Ali Mosque is an incredible example of Islamic architecture. Built in the 19th century and named after a former ruler of Egypt , Muhammad Ali Pasha , the mosque is considered to be one of the most important landmarks in Cairo . Visitors will admire its majestic domes and minarets, exquisite interior design, and breathtaking views of the city . In this post, we’ll examine the mosque in more detail, examining its history, architecture, and tips for visiting. We’ll also give you a virtual tour of this location .

Table of Contents

What is the Muhammad Ali Mosque?

The Muhammad Ali Mosque , also known as the Alabaster Mosque , is a famous religious and architectural masterpiece located in Cairo , Egypt . Built between 1830 and 1848 , the mosque stands as a testament to the cultural and historical significance of Islamic architecture. It was commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha, the ruler of Egypt at the time, who sought to create a grand mosque that would rival the famous mosques of Istanbul .

Why is the Muhammad Ali Mosque Famous?

The Muhammad Ali Mosque is famous for several reasons. Its impressive design blends elements of Ottoman and Islamic architecture by featuring elegant domes, tall minarets, and exquisite details. The mosque’s location on the Citadel of Cairo adds to its fame, offering stunning views of Cairo’s skyline .

Today, the Muhammad Ali Mosque attracts visitors from around the world who come to admire its beautiful architecture and interior, as well as appreciate the panoramic views of the surrounding area. It stands as an iconic landmark in Cairo , a symbol of Egypt’s rich cultural heritage, and a testament to the grandeur of Islamic art and architecture .

Where is the Muhammad Ali Mosque?

The Muhammad Ali Mosque is located in Cairo , Egypt . It was built on the Citadel of Cairo , a historic Islamic fortress that overlooks the city. Situated in the northeastern part of Cairo’s city center, the mosque offers panoramic views of the surrounding area, including the Nile River and the busy streets of Cairo . Its prominent location and impressive architecture make it a significant landmark and a popular attraction for both locals and visitors.

How to Get to the Muhammad Ali Mosque

The most convenient way to get to the Muhammad Ali Mosque is by taking a taxi or using a ride-hailing service . You can find taxis everywhere in Cairo. Uber is also very common. You won’t have to worry about directions as every driver will know how to get there .

By public transport

You can also take a local bus to the Citadel of Cairo . Look for buses that are headed towards Salah Salem Street or the Citadel , and tell the driver that you want to get off at the Muhammad Ali Mosque . Bus tickets generally cost around 10 pounds (about $.30 USD).

Another option to reach the Muhammad Ali Mosque is by utilizing Cairo’s metro system . Take Line 2 and get off at the Sadat station . From there, you can hire a taxi or a local bus to reach the Citadel of Saladin. I don’t recommend trying to walk from this metro station (like I did) because it takes about an hour and is along the highway .

Via guided tour

If you want to have everything handled for you, consider taking a guided tour. You can find these everywhere you look, from hotels to other famous landmarks. I recommend checking Tripadvisor .

History of the Muhammad Ali Mosque

When was the muhammad ali mosque built.

The construction of the Muhammad Ali Mosque took place between 1830 and 1848 . 

Why was the Muhammad Ali Mosque built?

The mosque was commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha , the ruler of Egypt at that time , with the purpose of commemorating the Ottoman-Turkish invasion of Egypt and honoring his eldest son who had passed away .

Architectural influence and design

The mosque’s architectural style is a fusion of Ottoman, Mamluk, and modern elements . It was designed by Yousuf Bushnak , an architect who incorporated grandeur and intricate details into the structure. The mosque’s exquisite details and features reflect the wealth and power that Muhammad Ali possessed.

Controversy and opposition

Despite its grandeur, the construction of the Muhammad Ali Mosque faced opposition from religious leaders of the era. They believed the mosque was excessively lavish and deviated from the principles of modesty . Additionally, the use of expensive alabaster stone and the possible sourcing of limestone from the pyramids caused financial strain and further controversy.

Virtual Tour of the Muhammad Ali Mosque

Architectural features of the Muhammad Ali Mosque

Ottoman-inspired design.

The mosque’s awe-inspiring splendor has drawn comparisons to renowned Middle Eastern mosques like the Hagia Sophia and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque . It exemplifies the lavish style of Ottoman architecture , characterized by its impressive size and intricate detailing.

Impressive dome and minarets

At the heart of the mosque is a massive central dome , measuring 21 meters in diameter and rising 52 meters high . This impressive dome is supported by four colossal arches, surrounded by smaller domes and half-domes . Towering above the city, the mosque’s minarets reach an impressive height of 82 meters.

Exterior and hilltop location

Constructed on a raised hill, the Muhammad Ali Mosque commands attention with its elevated position. This gives visitors a remarkable vantage point to view the city below. The mosque’s exterior is crafted from white alabaster stone , which gives it an impressive aura when illuminated at night .

Ornate interior and decorations

Stepping inside, visitors are greeted with a lavishly decorated interior . The walls are adorned with verses from the Quran , while the floors are made of marble . Colorful stained glass windows surround the inside of the domes. Intricately patterned columns provide structural support, adding to the overall splendor. A notable centerpiece is the magnificent chandelier , generously gifted by the French government, suspended from the central dome.

Muhammad Ali Mosque: FAQs

1. muhammad ali mosque entrance fee.

The cost to enter the mosque is 200 Egyptian Pounds (about $6.50 USD) . There are some exceptions and discounts available. For example, students only have to pay 100 Egyptian Pounds to enter.

2. Muhammad Ali Mosque opening hours

The mosque is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm. However, visiting the main prayer hall has specific hours : Non-Muslim visitors can access the prayer hall between 9 am and 11 am , as well as from 1 pm to 4 pm .

3. Muhammad Ali Mosque dress code

In order to enter the mosque, you must have your knees and shoulders covered. Women must have their hair covered with a scarf. Obviously, do not wear clothing that depict anything vulgar .

Tips for Visiting

Before you visit the Muhammad Ali Mosque , here are some tips to make your visit go more smoothly.

1. If you are a student, bring your ID

The cost to enter the mosque is 200 Egyptian Pounds (about $6.50 USD) . Students only have to pay 100 Egyptian Pounds to enter. I brought my ID just in case, but they did not even check .

2. Wear shoes with socks

You are not allowed to wear shoes on the mosque floors, so you can either pay a small fee to put bags over your shoes, or just carry your shoes with you . I’m all about saving money, so I just carried my shoes and it was no big deal. But I would not recommend you walk around barefoot, so bring socks .

3. Don't take a lot of baggage with you

All visitors must have their belongings scanned/searched before entering the mosque. I visited during a layover, so I had all of my belongings with me. I was still able to enter, but getting everything searched was a pain .

4. Bring water and snacks

There is a vendor next to the mosque selling food, water, and souvenirs. Predictably, everything is overpriced. Bringing refreshments from elsewhere will help you save money.

5. Download Google Translate or a similar app

If you do not know Arabic, having one of these apps will help you out a lot . You’ll be able to translate some of the signs at the mosque, ask people questions, etc. If you decide to get a tour guide, you can try to bargain down the price with some Arabic.

Need help planning your trip? Click HERE to find a variety of tools and information that can help make your travel planning more enjoyable.

Resources for your trip.

Book A Cheap Flight The first place to look for cheap flights is Skyscanner . This website gathers information from different companies and websites around the world to find the best deals for you. One of their best features is the ability to see the cheapest day to fly each month. Google Flights is another excellent resource.

Book A Place To Stay Booking.com is my go-to website for booking accommodations. They consistently have some of the best prices for hotels and frequently have deals. For hostels, I use Hostelworld . If you specifically want to rent a home, check out AirBnB or Vrbo .

Looking For A Tour? The best resource for looking up tours is GetYourGuide . This company will make planning your itinerary a breeze. For budget travelers , I recommend looking up available tours here and trying to organize them yourself to save some money.

Use Your Phone Abroad Whenever I travel abroad, I use Airalo . This is a company that offers eSIM services via a phone app. It is very convenient and you won’t have to worry about swapping SIM cards out of your phone. You can pay a few dollars for plans that range from 1 week to 1 year. Use the Promo Code ANDREW9734 for $3 off your first purchase!

How To Travel On A Budget? Traveling on a budget is my specialty. Check out my post on Traveling Internationally With Only A Personal Item . For other ideas on saving money while traveling, check out my ebook The World Is Yours: How to Afford International Travel on a Budget .

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How we made al-Aqsa 360°

See the complete project here - http://aljazeera.com/aqsa360, the hardware and software used in the making of the project.

Why did we make al-Aqsa 360°?

The goal of al-Aqsa 360° was to provide a window into Jerusalem's holiest mosque - a place whose rich cultural heritage has also been a source of great controversy among Muslims and Jews.

By virtue of its location in the heart of occupied East Jerusalem, al-Aqsa Mosque compound is not accessible to all who may wish to visit. With this in mind, Al Jazeera decided to create a virtual tour that would allow viewers to explore the compound through a high-definition, online experience.

The picturesque Dome of the Rock - part of the al-Aqsa compound

The equipment

We were equipped with two VR video recording systems, including the handheld Ricoh Theta S, which is approximately the size of a small smartphone and is designed specifically for capturing 360° video and still footage. This camera is composed of two lenses on opposite sides of the device that each record in 180°. When the material from both lenses is stitched together, it generates a full 360°, 1080p HD video.

Left and centre: The rig containing six GoPros with tripod. Right: The Ricoh Theta S handheld camera

The second rig that we shot with was assembled by AJ Canvas . It comprises six GoPro Hero4 cameras mounted on each face of a 3D-printed, cubic housing. The field of view of each camera has a large overlap area with adjacent cameras, increasing the likelihood of seamless stitching of footage. Once stitched, the resulting product is a beautiful, ultra-high resolution, 4K video.

The GoPro rig also includes a mount to attach the camera system to a monopod with collapsible feet, making it a standalone device. While this is not the most ideal mounting solution in terms of stability or security, its distinct advantage can be seen in the final footage, as the area recorded directly beneath the VR rig shows just a very small footprint of the monopod’s feet. This footprint can easily be masked, or in our case, covered with the Al Jazeera logo.

The GoPro rig can be operated with a remote control that is synced to all six cameras simultaneously. As a result, the filming process is essentially one-touch recording. However, there can still be unpredictable, fraction-of-a-second discrepancies between each of the cameras as they start recording. To get around this, you must add a common point of reference - such as a loud clap, or a quick, deliberate rotation of the camera rig - to generate a marker around which the software will sync the footage from all six cameras.

The process

We shot this project over the course of two days. We began with the GoPro rig, setting it up in a variety of locations throughout al-Aqsa Mosque compound. We moved through the compound in the same fashion as any visitor might: We started on the western periphery, then moved up the stairs to the Dome of the Rock platform. We filmed in several locations around the Dome’s exterior, and inside the Dome itself.

Next, we filmed outside and inside al-Qibli Mosque (also known as al-Aqsa Mosque), before moving back to the compound’s edges and towards the exit. You can see the bright daytime sunlight turning into a calm evening sunset as we move through a day at the compound. Generating continuity in the footage was a challenge amid these changing light and weather conditions; at one point during our filming, a light rain started to fall, giving some of the shots a very different mood.

The next day, in order to capture Friday prayers, we equipped two people with the handheld Ricoh camera and asked them to walk around and inside the Dome of the Rock and al-Qibli Mosque, as if they were among the worshippers visiting the site that day. The result was a lower-quality, but more personal and active experience of al-Aqsa.

Left: The 4k resolution footage from the GoPro rig. Right: The lower-resolution footage from the more portable Ricoh camera

A different perspective

In a conventional narrative, the filmmaker is completely in control of the viewer’s experience. But with 360° filming, the viewer controls how he will interact with each scene. As such, it is important to pay attention to how the shots are set up.

Best practices dictate that the camera rig should be stable and set up at approximately human eye level. This allows the audience to become more deeply immersed in the scene from a comfortable human perspective, rather than a peculiar, distracting overhead or ground-level perspective.

You must also find the right distance to create a compelling scene. Because the cameras are relatively wide-angle, you need to be close enough to your primary subject to provide enough detail - but getting too close to the subjects around you, or having too much movement near the camera, can create other errors or aberrations when it comes to stitching the footage together. Some of this can be smoothed out through the editing process, but only to a certain point.

The carry bag for all the equipment

Key challenges

The primary difficulty with the GoPro rig was that it was necessary to set this up as a freestanding device and then move far enough away from it to avoid being captured in the shot - yet still close enough to monitor the shot. In some shots, if you look closely, you can catch glimpses of Megan or Wojtek in the background, as this was not entirely unavoidable in some areas of the compound.

In addition, there is the issue of human error and interruption. The camera rig generates a bit of an odd spectacle - a ball of blinking lights on a tall stick. You don’t want the bulk of your footage to be groups of people milling about and poking at the lens, but because you have to position yourself at a relative distance from the camera, you cannot always be in control of what’s going on around it. As a result, we ended up filming shots that were several minutes longer than what we knew we would need, to ensure that we would have enough material to be able to cut out any major interruptions.

The biggest challenge we faced was the fragility of the camera system itself. It is mounted on a small, light base, and if someone is not paying attention, they can easily walk into it, sending it crashing to the ground. The same could be achieved by a light wind, as we unfortunately discovered.

About midway through our day of filming, after we had set up the rig and walked away, the wind picked it up and sent it smashing into the ancient pavement, cracking the 3D-printed housing and sending pieces flying across the ground. Miraculously, the cameras themselves were undamaged and we were able to repair the housing with some electrical tape, but we were very cognizant for the rest of the day that another hit could have ended our project once and for all. In the future, we would use a heavier tripod or small sandbags around the base of the monopod.

The moment of impact

Also worth noting is the battery life. We started with fully charged batteries on the GoPro rig, but by midday, they had drained completely, as had our portable power pack. Luckily, an outlet was available inside the Dome of the Rock, and we recharged everything there. The battery on the Ricoh also drains quickly when it’s in use, and you can capture only around an hour of footage before the memory fills up - underscoring the need to have a computer on hand to copy off the footage, or to be very judicious about your shots.

Pulling it all together

At the end of a day of shooting, the fun of sorting and editing the footage begins.

For the Ricoh camera, the editing process is quite straightforward, as the footage is stitched together automatically and simply needs to be run through Ricoh’s software to generate the 360° images. The quality, however, is much lower than with the GoPro rig.

For the GoPro rig, after you finish shooting, you are left with six memory cards from six separate cameras that must be independently downloaded to your workstation. Diligence and meticulous organisation takes priority, as you must sort and label individual video files from each camera related to each specific shot into a single folder. A good tip for this is to ensure that the date and time on each camera is set correctly, so it is easier to identify which shots should be stored together.

The stitching process using Kolor Autopano Video Pro

Once the material was consolidated, we used the Kolor suite of stitching software to merge the six independent shots into one. Once the original footage was synced in Kolor Autopano Video, we moved over to Kolor Autopano Giga, which generates a reference panorama from still grabs within the videos. This maps how each image will be distorted and blended with the neighbouring camera’s footage, and how minor differences in exposure, colour and white balance will be accounted for, to ensure the video is as seamless as possible. This mapping, once saved, guides the video software through its process of stitching the full videos.

After the frames have been merged, it's time to render the high-resolution videos

Once rendered, the result was a conventional (if somewhat odd-looking) piece of 4K video, which we could then move over to a traditional video editor like Adobe Premiere. In Premiere, we cut and edited all of the videos into a sequence that we felt best replicated a tour of al-Aqsa, and added a voiceover track to point out the highlights of the compound and provide viewers with a more immersive experience.

Since the footage is extremely high-resolution, workstation hardware makes a significant difference both in terms of stitching and final edits. The best bet is to use a relatively powerful computer capable of handling such large files with ease (lots of RAM, an SSD drive off of which to work, and a powerful video card). A two-minute segment of video can take around an hour to fully stitch.

The video was edited on a high-end workstation

To complete the project, the following, applications were used:.

• Adobe Premiere for video editing
• Kolor AutoPano and Kolor Eyes for rendering and viewing the stitched videos
• Ricoh Theta software for the handheld videos
• Adobe Muse for building the mobile and desktop websites
• Photoshop for image resizing
• Illustrator for drawing the vector graphics
• Google Earth Pro for geospatial referencing
• SketchUp for a simple model of the al-Aqsa compound and dimensions
• Sublime text for editing code

Once brought into Premiere, it took around 30 minutes to render the seven-minute 4K video

Augmenting the experience

This project is our second undertaking in 360° storytelling. A lot of advancements have occurred since we launched our first project, Hajj 360 , in September 2015. One of the new fields includes augmenting the user's view with relevant material on-screen.

As part of the tour, we decided to include a 3D model of the al-Aqsa compound to give our viewers a sense of the environment that they would explore.

We decided that the easiest way to annotate important locations was to use the lens flare effect

Watch out for more interactive projects by following @AJLabs on Twitter.

By Megan O'Toole, Wojtek Arciszewski and Mohammed Haddad

Rather than just relying on the square-kilometre measurement of the compound, we annotated the compound on a 3D model with labels for the Dome of the Rock, al-Qibli mosque and the entire al-Aqsa compound (which is everything inside the walls of the compound)

Visit my Mosque

Resources for schools.

The VMM RE Teachers Resources pack is intended to support and empower Religious Education Teachers in organising and delivering school visits to Places of Worship such as mosques.

MOSQUES OFFERING SCHOOL TOURS

Want to organise a trip to a mosque that can accommodate school children? Check out our list of a wide range of mosques nationwide that offer school tours.

Explore Mosques in 360°

Want to show the exterior/interior of mosques to your pupils in class? We have a great collection of mosques in 360°

Teacher's Introduction Pack

Short introduction to using these resources and links to external resources

Organising a School Visit

Key tips and checklist for planning and delivering an in-person visit for pupils.

Activity Pack Templates

Download our activity packs for a mosque visit to ensure pupils get the most out of their visit.

Video Resource: What Happens Inside a Mosque?

A GUIDE JUST FOR YOU:

Visiting a mosque.

Download the VMM ‘Easy Guide to Visiting a Mosque’. Our guide explains what a mosque is and what to expect when visiting one, with some commonly asked questions.

Virtual Tours

Explore mosques in 360 °.

We’ve helped capture the exterior and interior of some mosques in the UK. These virtual tours are best viewed on a desktop computer.

Masjid-e-Khazra, Glasgow

Shah jalal mosque, cardiff, sheffield madina masjid, al-abbas islamic centre, birmingham, suleymaniye mosque, london, dar ul isra, cardiff, acknowledgements.

We would like thank a wide range of contributors who were involved in the development and review of these resources, including the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE), The Inter Faith Network (IFN), RE Matters, Theos Think Tank, Association for RE Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants (AREIAC), MCB National Council Members, Lancashire Council of Mosques, Islamic Society of Britain (ISB) and individual RE teachers and volunteers. We are also grateful to those who have provided funding for the completion of this resource work including Culham St. Gabriel’s Trust and individual donors.

Do you need more information? Contact us.

Call Us: 0845 26 26 786

Prophet's Mosque

Prophet's mosque - 3d virtual tour.

Prophet's Mosque virtual tours can be started by clicking the preview window or by downloading the stand-alone versions. Just drag the mouse to the direction you want to look. Use the scroll wheel to zoom at the details. Press F9 to get a list of the 3D sites you downloaded (residing in the same directory). To install the listed sites as a screensaver press F5 . Our advise is to install all the sites, including Prophet's Mosque , as a screensaver. When the screensaver starts, a random site is chosen and shown around automatically (this gives the impression of looking at a documentary in HD quality). To see the usage of other keys press F1 . Press Ecs to exit.

Al-Masjid al-Nabawi, often called the Prophet's Mosque, is a huge mosque situated in the city of al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia. As the final resting place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, it is considered the second holiest site in The Prophet's Mosque is the second holiest mosque in the world after al-Haram in Mecca. (Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem comes in third.) It is a major pilgrimage site and many people who perform the Hajj go on to al-Madinah before or after Hajj to visit the mosque.

The original mosque was built by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), next to the house where he settled after his journey to al-Madinah in 622 AD. The original mosque was an open-air building with a raised platform for the reading of the Qur'an. It was a rectangular enclosure of 30 m × 35 m (98 ft × 110 ft), built with palm trunks and mud walls, and accessed through three doors: Bab Rahmah to the south, Bab Jibril to the west and Bab al-Nisa' to the east. The basic plan of the building has since been adopted in the building of other mosques throughout the world.

Inside, Muhammad (s.a.w) created a shaded area to the south called the suffah and aligned the prayer space facing north towards Jerusalem. When the qibla (prayer direction) was changed to face the Kaaba in Mecca, the mosque was re-oriented to the south. The mosque also served as a community center, a court, and a religious school. Seven years later (629 AD/7 AH), the mosque was doubled in size to accommodate the increasing number of Muslims.

Abbasid Caliph al-Mahdi (775-785) replaced the northern section of Al-Walid's mosque between 778 and 781 to enlarge it further. He also added 20 doors to the mosque; eight on each of the east and west walls, and four on the north wall.

During the reign of the Mamluk Sultan Qalawun, a dome was erected above the tomb of Muhammad (s.a.w) and an ablution fountain was built outside of Bab al-Salam. Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad rebuilt the fourth minaret that had been destroyed earlier. After a lightning strike destroyed much of the mosque in 1481, Sultan Qaitbay rebuilt the east, west and qibla walls.

During the reign of Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid (1839-1861), the mosque was entirely remodeled with the exception of Muhammad's (s.a.w) Tomb, the three mihrabs, the minbar and the Suleymaniyya minaret. The precinct was enlarged to include an ablution area to the north. The prayer hall to the south was doubled in width and covered with small domes equal in size except for domes covering the mihrab area, Bab al-Salam and Muhammad's (s.a.w) Tomb. The domes were decorated with Qur'anic verses and lines from Qasida al-Burda (Poem of the Mantle), the famous poem by 13th century Arabic poet Busiri. The qibla wall was covered with glazed tiles featuring Qur'anic calligraphy. The floors of the prayer hall and the courtyard were paved with marble and red stones and a fifth minaret (al-Majidiyya), was built to the west of the enclosure.

After the foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, the mosque underwent several major modifications. In 1951 King Ibn Saud (1932-1953) ordered demolitions around the mosque to make way for new wings to the east and west of the prayer hall, which consisted of concrete columns with pointed arches. Older columns were reinforced with concrete and braced with copper rings at the top. The Suleymaniyya and Majidiyya minarets were replaced by two minarets in Mamluk revival style. Two additional minarets were erected to the northeast and northwest of the mosque. A library was built along the western wall to house historic Qur'ans and other religious texts.

In 1973 Saudi King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz ordered the construction of temporary shelters to the west of the mosque to accommodate the growing number of worshippers in 1981, the old mosque was surrounded by new prayer areas on these sides, enlarging five times its size.

The latest renovations took place under King Fahd and have greatly increased the size of the mosque, allowing it to hold a large number of worshippers and pilgrims and adding modern comforts like air conditioning. He also installed twenty seven moving domes at the roof of Masjid Nabawi.

Architecture

As it stands today, the mosque has a rectangular plan on two floors with the Ottoman prayer hall projecting to the south. The main prayer hall occupies the entire first floor. The mosque enclosure is 100 times bigger than the first mosque built by Muhammad (s.a.w) and can accommodate more than half a million worshippers.

The mosque has a flat paved roof topped with 24 domes on square bases. Holes pierced into the base of each dome illuminate the interior. The roof is also used for prayer during peak times, when the 24 domes slide out on metal tracks to shade areas of the roof, creating light wells for the prayer hall. At these times, the courtyard of the Ottoman mosque is also shaded with umbrellas affixed to freestanding columns. The roof is accessed by stairs and escalators. The paved area around the mosque is also used for prayer, equipped with umbrella tents.

Plans for future buildings around the Prophet's Mosque.

The north facade has three evenly spaced porticos, while the east, west and south facades have two. The walls are composed of a series of windows topped by pointed arches with black and white voussoirs. There are six peripheral minarets attached to the new extension, and four others frame the Ottoman structure. The mosque is lavishly decorated with polychrome marble and stones. The columns are of white marble with brass capitals supporting slightly pointed arches, built of black and white stones. The column pedestals have ventilation grills that regulate the temperature inside the prayer hall.

This new mosque contains the older mosque within it. The two sections can be easily distinguished: the older section has many colorful decorations and numerous small pillars; the new section is in gleaming white marble and is completely air-conditioned.

The open courtyard of the mosque can be shaded by folded, umbrella-like canopies.

Ar-Rawdah an-Nabawiyah

The heart of the mosque houses a very special but small area named ar-Rawdah an-Nabawiyah, which extends from Muhammad's (s.a.w) tomb to his pulpit. Pilgrims attempt to visit and pray in ar-Rawdah, for there is a tradition that supplications and prayers uttered here are never rejected. Entrance into ar-Rawdah is not always possible (especially during the Hajj season), as the tiny area can accommodate only a few hundred people. Ar-Rawdah has two small gateways manned by Saudi police officers. The current marble pulpit was constructed by the Ottomans. The original pulpit was much smaller than the current one, and constructed of palm tree wood, not marble. Ar-Rawdah an-Nabawiyah is considered part of Jannah (Heaven or Paradise).

It is prescribed for the one who visits the mosque to pray two rak’ahs in the Rawdah or whatever he wants of naafil prayers, because it is proven that there is virtue in doing so. It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that Muhammad (s.a.w) said: “The area between my house and my minbar is one of the gardens (riyaad, sing. rawdah) of Paradise, and my minbar is on my cistern (hawd)” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1196; Muslim, 1391.

And it was narrated that Yazeed ibn Abi ‘Ubayd said: “I used to come with Salamah ibn al-Akwa’ and he would pray by the pillar which was by the mus-haf, i.e. in the Rawdah. I said, ‘O Abu Muslim, I see that you are keen to pray by this pillar!’ He said, ‘I saw that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was keen to pray here.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 502; Muslim, 509.

Source: wikipedia

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