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== Famous mosques ==

== Famous mosques ==

* [[Masjid al-Haram]]: A mosque in Mecca, [[Saudi Arabia]]. It contains the [[Kaaba]] and is the site of the annual [[Hajj]] pilgrimage. It is considered the holiest site in [[Islam]]. <ref name="holysites1">{{cite news|last=Miller |first=Pamela |title=Journey of a lifetime |publisher=Star Tribune |date=[[2006-01-07]] |page=12E}}</ref>

* [[Masjid al-Haram]]: A mosque in Mecca, [[Saudi Arabia]]. It contains the [[Kaaba]] and is the site of the annual [[Hajj]] pilgrimage. It is considered the holiest site in [[Islam]]. <ref name="holysites1">{{cite news|last=Miller |first=Pamela |title=Journey of a lifetime |publisher=Star Tribune |date=2006-01-07 |page=12E}}</ref>

* [[Masjid al-Nabawi]]: A mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. It is considered the second-holiest site in Islam.<ref name="holysites2">{{cite news|last=Abu-Nasr |first=Donna |title=Many Saudis criticize attack |publisher=Ventura County Star |date=[[2004-12-09]] |page=16}}</ref>

* [[Masjid al-Nabawi]]: A mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. It is considered the second-holiest site in Islam.<ref name="holysites2">{{cite news|last=Abu-Nasr |first=Donna |title=Many Saudis criticize attack |publisher=Ventura County Star |date=2004-12-09 |page=16}}</ref>

* [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]]: Also known as Temple Mount, it was built on the site of the former [[Temple of Solomon]] in [[Jerusalem]]. Believed by Muslims to be the place where [[Muhammad]] ascended into [[Heaven]], it is the third-holiest site in Islam.<ref name="holysites3">{{cite news|publisher=Associated Press |title=Arafat to be buried in soil from Islam's third holiest site |date=[[2004-11-11]]}}</ref>

* [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]]: Also known as Temple Mount, it was built on the site of the former [[Temple of Solomon]] in [[Jerusalem]]. Believed by Muslims to be the place where [[Muhammad]] ascended into [[Heaven]], it is the third-holiest site in Islam.<ref name="holysites3">{{cite news|publisher=Associated Press |title=Arafat to be buried in soil from Islam's third holiest site |date=2004-11-11}}</ref>

* [[Imam Ali Mosque]]: Located in [[Najaf]], [[Iraq]]. A holy site for the [[Shi'ite]] branch of Islam.

* [[Imam Ali Mosque]]: Located in [[Najaf]], [[Iraq]]. A holy site for the [[Shi'ite]] branch of Islam.

* [[Hagia Sophia]]: A former Christian church during the [[Byzantine Empire]], it was captured and converted into a mosque in 1453 when the [[Ottoman Empire]] was established in [[Istanbul]].  It served as the city's principal mosque for nearly 500 years before being converted to a museum in 1934 under the secular government of President [[Kemal Ataturk]].<ref>http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia</ref>

* [[Hagia Sophia]]: A former Christian church during the [[Byzantine Empire]], it was captured and converted into a mosque in 1453 when the [[Ottoman Empire]] was established in [[Istanbul]].  It served as the city's principal mosque for nearly 500 years before being converted to a museum in 1934 under the secular government of President [[Kemal Ataturk]].<ref>http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia</ref>