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Introduction
Islam is the religion of peace and prosperity. It is for the entire mankind and for all times to come. It is a symbol of simplicity, love and affection, for all human beings irrespective of race, colour or creed. It provides a perfect and everlasting code of conduct for the society, its right and responsibilities.
Its Socio-economic system and legal framework is free from all types of exploitations and is based on the Ordain of God “Who is all powerful, Magnificent and Merciful”. The Creator of all life in the Universe. It provides Justice and equality for the entire humanity.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1539591636791{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 2px !important;}” el_class=”page-text”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1538655528005{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1539699551646{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”]Amongst the Five tenets of Islam, the biggest and most emphasized act of true Muslim is to pray five times daily. In addition to providing a link between the “Creator” and the “Created” through Heart and soul, it provides an excellent opportunity for leading a neat, clean and disciplined lifestyle for the individuals, physically through Ablution five times a day, spiritually through total submission of human beings before God and socially by establishing intimate contacts of love and affection between individuals constituting and community in the “Masjid” through “AQAMAT US SALAAT”
Islamabad, a modern city planned for settlement of Muslim must have suitable locations for the construction of “Masajid” of different sizes which should be easily approachable by its inhabitants. This has specifically been taken care off for the new capital, Islamabad. Although small “Masajid” are located in each of the Sub-Sectors with a relatively bigger Masjid in the center (Markaz) of every Sector.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1539591636791{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 2px !important;}” el_class=”page-text”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1538655528005{padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1540296550246{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”]
History
Construction of a Grand National Mosque was envisaged right from the beginning and a prominent site at the foot of the Margalla Hills on the axis of Shahrat-e-Islamabad was earmarked for it in the Master Plan of Islamabad. His Majesty Faisal-Bin-Abdul Aziz late King of Saudi Arabia visited Islamabad in 1966 and during the briefing given to him at Shakarparian Hills about the Federal Capital, the site for the Grand National Mosque was indicated to him. He was impressed by the site and graciously offered to defray the cost of the project. The proposed Grand National Mosque was named after the late King to be called FAISAL MASJID. The stretch of Islamabad Highway from Zero Point up to the Masjid was also named Faisal Avenue.
In fulfillment of the esteemed wishes of Late King Faisal, an International competition was organized by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP), under the auspices of the Union of International Architects (UIA), Paris. It was limited to architects of the Muslim world. Architects from 17 different Muslim countries, submitted 43 proposals out of which 9 were from Turkey. UIA appointed a five member jury headed by CDA chairman Lt.Gen. KM Sheikh, Mr. Mazhar al Islam, a renowned architect from Dacca, Dr. Aptullah Kuran, a prominent architectural historian from Turkey, Samir Abu Bakar Ba Ghaffar, Director of Engineering and Planning of Municipality, Riyadh KSA and Mr. Pierra El Khoury, Technical Advisor in the Lebanese government in town planning. The jury met in Islamabad on November 17, 1969 and after 4 days of deliberations, selected five designs: 3 from Turkey, 1 from Iraq and Afghanistan each. Out of the selected designs, the Vedat Dalokay design was adjudged to be the best by a 4 to 1 majority and awarded prize money of PRs. 90,000 (approx. 24,000 USD). The second and third winners, Bülent Özer and Nihat D. Bindal, were also Turkish and were awarded PRs. 60,000 and PRs. 30,000 respectively, while the fourth and fifth prize winners were awarded PRs. 15,000 each. The jury members expressed their admiration for the overall quality and competence of the designers and recommended some revisions in the winning design.
The construction work began in 1976 and was completed in 1986, costing over 130 million Saudi Riyals (about 50 million USD). The mosque was inaugurated in 1987, three years behind schedule due to the Indo-Pak war of 1971 and unstable political prevailing within the country. The first regular Juma congregation was held in the Faisal Masjid on 24 June 1988 (09 ziquad 1408 A.H.) in which the late Gen. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq president of Pakistan offered prayers along with thousands of believers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
