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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 Atatürk]].<ref>http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia</ref>

* [[Lal Masjid]]: Radical mosque in Pakistan that was raided by the Pakistani police in 2007.

* [[Lal Masjid]]: Radical mosque in Pakistan that was raided by the Pakistani police in 2007.

File:Mosque Beirut.jpg|Mosque, Beirut, [[Lebanon]].

File:Mosque Beirut.jpg|Mosque, Beirut, [[Lebanon]].

File:The Shahjahani Mosque in Thatta.jpg|The Shahjahani Mosque in Thatta, [[Pakistan]].

File:The Shahjahani Mosque in Thatta.jpg|The Shahjahani Mosque in Thatta, [[Pakistan]].

File:Omayyad Mosque Damascus Syria.jpg|Omayyad Mosque, Damascus, [[Syria]].

File:Omayyad Mosque Damascus Syria.jpg|Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, [[Syria]].

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[[File:Mosque Iran.jpg|thumb|Nasir Almolk mosque, Shiraz, [[Iran]].]]

[[File:Mosque Iran.jpg|thumb|Nasir Almolk mosque, Shiraz, [[Iran]].]]

*[http://tertuliapolitica.bligoo.com/content/view/676857/Swiss-Minaret-Ban-Reflects-Fear-of-Islam-Not-Real-Problems.html Swiss Minaret Ban Reflects Fear of Islam, Not Real Problems.]

*[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/26/AR2010082605510.html Five myths about mosques in America.]

*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/26/AR2010082605510.html Five myths about mosques in America.]

== References ==

== References ==