Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is an Islamic mosque located in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei. Considered as one of the most beautiful mosques in the Asia Pacific, it is a place of worship for the Muslim community, a major landmark and a tourist attraction of Brunei.

Named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei who also initiated its construction, the mosque serves as a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei and dominates the skyline of Bandar Seri Begawan. The building was completed in 1958 and is an example of modern Islamic architecture.

The mosque unites Mughal architecture and Italian styles and was designed by the architect and sculptor Rudolfo Nolli. The Brunei Times reported on May 5, 2007:

Built in an artificial lagoon on the banks of the Brunei River at Kampong Ayer- the "village in the water", the mosque has marble minarets and golden domes, a courtyard and is surrounded by a large number of trees and floral gardens. A bridge reaches across the lagoon to Kampong Ayer in the middle of the river. Another marble bridge leads to a structure in the lagoon meant as a replica of a 16th Century Sultan Bolkiah Mahligai Barge. The barge itself was completed in 1967 to commemorate the 1,400th anniversary of Nuzul Al-Quran (coming down of the Quran) and was used to stage the Quran reading competitions.

Source: Wikipedia

Sent: December 2015   Received: 13 January 2015

Iraq

On one of the two most prominent mounds of Nineveh's ruins, rose the Mosque of prophet Yunus, the son of Amittai, from the 8th century BC. The mosque, which earlier was a Nestorian-Assyrian Church, was believed to be the burial place of Yunus, or Jonah, as he is known in English translations of the Bible. It is also where King Esarhaddon had once built a palace.

This shrine on the site of a Christian church was a stone's throw from the built-up walls and gates of Nineveh. In the middle of the mosque stood a sepulcher, covered with a Persian carpet of silk and silver, and at the four corners, great copper candlesticks with wax tapers, besides several lamps and ostrich shells that hung down from the roof. A whale's tooth, appropriate to Jonah's well-known adventure at sea, was said to be preserved there.

It was one of the most important mosques in Mosul and one of the few historic mosques in the east side of the city.

On July 24, 2014, the building was destroyed by explosives set by forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. A security source, who kept his identity anonymous, told the Iraq-based al-Sumaria News that ISIS militants "seized control of the mosque completely."The militants then closed all doors and prevented worshipers from entering to pray. They then detonated explosives, destroying the mosque and damaging several nearby houses. They stated “the mosque had become a place for apostasy, not prayer.”

Big thanks for this vintage card that arrived. A little sadden to hear that this place shown

on the card is no more.

Sent: 26 February 2015   Received: 14 April 2015   Travelled: 47 days

Amman, Jordan

 

The King Abdullah I Mosque in Amman, Jordan was built between 1982 and 1989. It is capped by a magnificent blue mosaic dome beaneath which 3000 Muslims may offer prayer.

Thank you Mervat for the lovely card!

 

Source: Wikipedia.org

Sent: 23 February 2013
Received: 15 March 2013
Travelled: 20 days

Grand Mosque

Al Fateh Mosque

One of the world's biggest mosque that can accommodate 7000 people and also has the world's biggest fiber glass dome.

Thank you Edwin or this beautiful view card!



Sent: 6 June 2013
Received: June-August 2013 (I was away)

Brunei

The Omar Ali Saiduddien Mosque.

Completed in 1958, this edifice of classical Islamic architecture with its golden dome is one of the most magnificent mosques in Asia.

Sent by Emma, an old family friend :)

Sent: 7 October 1998,  Received 7 October 1998,   Travelled: 2 days