In the early 20th century, Ali Jan Bepari, a local businessman, financed the restoration of the mosque and added a new eastern veranda. The surfaces were decorated in the Chainitikri (Chinese pottery shard mosaic) style popular in the 1930s. The mosque, which did not represent historical significance before, became one of the few remaining architectural structures with a similar design. The mosaic is laid out in the form of stars, which gave the name of the mosque. In 1987, the prayer hall was expanded, which allowed the addition of two more domes.
Crescent moons are also depicted in the upper part of the eastern façade.
Interior decoration
Inside, the Chainitikri technique is also used, but in a slightly different way, using tiles of different textures, from which both stars and floral ornaments are laid out, including vases of flowers. The space between the doors is decorated with the image of the Japanese Mount Fuji.
Notes
Literature
- Haque, Enamul. 1983. Islamic Art Heritage of Bangladesh. Dhaka: Bangladesh National Museum, 98.
- Ahmed, Nazimuddin. 1984. Discover the Monuments of Bangladesh. Dhaka: University Press Limited, 181.
- Hasan, Syed Mahmudul. 1981. Dacca: The City of Mosques. Dhaka: Islamic Foundation, 46.
Muslims around the world consider the crescent moon with a star to be the symbol of Islam. Most people of various religions associate it with Islam. But few people know why the crescent moon has become so widespread among Muslims.
In fact, the symbolism of the crescent and the star was not born with the advent of Islam, but several thousand years before it. There is a lot of evidence in history in favor of the fact that the symbol of the celestial body was used by different peoples in different eras. Before answering the main question of the article - where does the Muslim crescent look, let's go to the origins.
History of the symbolism of the crescent
It is believed that for the first time this symbol was used in the worship of the Moon and the Sun, which was
characteristic of a number of peoples. There are other mentions that indicate that this symbol
denoted at different times two Goddesses: the Carthaginian Tanit and the Greek Diana.
So why did the Muslims choose the crescent moon as a symbol? The answer to this question should begin with the story that at the dawn of Islam, no designations were used. Armies and communities hung out simple monophonic flags, and the Koran did not say anything about symbols.
Only in the 15th century, when the Turks captured Constantinople, did they adopt the flag with the image of a crescent moon from the Byzantines.
There is a legend according to which Osman (it was he who founded the empire) had a dream before the battle in which the flag stretched from end to end of the Earth. He considered this a good omen and therefore the emblem became a symbol of an entire dynasty.
The Ottoman Empire expanded its borders and dominated the rest of the Muslim world for many centuries. This is how the culture of the Ottomans spread, and along with it, the symbolism of the crescent moon, once chosen by the founder, was entrenched among the Muslims.
For many centuries, the heavenly body has become associated among Muslims and non-Muslims with Islam and its adherents. At the same time, he did not cease to be a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, and not of religion.
In the 21st century, the crescent is still considered by many Muslims to be a symbol of Islam, although it is not. People professing this religion wear chains with crescents and a star. This is how they identify their religion. It is impossible to compare the symbolism of the crescent moon with the cross among Muslims. This is absolutely not the right comparison.
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It is worth noting that although the symbolism adorns the flags of Muslim states and mosques, there are followers of Islam who consider the crescent to be a pagan sign. Its non-acceptance by devout Muslims can easily be explained by the Koran, which prohibits the worship of animals, people, heavenly bodies, etc. According to the holy book, Islam came to our world to rid people of idols and paganism.
These rules must be strictly observed in certain areas of belief. In other aspects of human life, the crescent symbol has the right to life. Muslims can use any symbols and signs that do not contradict Sharia law.
Stolen Symbol
Despite the fact that for the first time they began to use the crescent symbol of Muslims in the Ottoman Empire, it did not originally belong to this people. There are many archaeological finds that tell us that the crescent moon appeared as a symbol even before our era.
The meaning of the month and the star in Islam
What does the crescent moon mean for Muslims? According to some legends, the choice of symbolism is associated with the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. According to others, the crescent indicates the adherence of faithful Muslims to the lunar calendar, and a star with five rays is a reflection of the 5 pillars of Islam and 5 prayers performed by faithful Muslims (they are called "prayer").
There is another version of what the crescent moon means for Muslims. According to her, this emblem personifies divine patronage and rebirth, and the star symbolizes paradise.
Mosque decoration
If you go to the distant past, you can see that the crescent with a star began to appear for the first time precisely on the mosques of the Ottoman state as a sign of difference from the churches of Christians.
The symbols themselves did not have a sacred meaning, they did not conflict with Islam, but they did not personify something sacred either. Surely, during excursions to countries professing Islam, you have noticed more than once that the crescent moon on the minarets has a different shape. In some cases, it takes the form of a circle. These differences can be easily explained. According to some reports, the installation of the crescent was carried out at the final stage of the construction of the mosque. The shape of the sign corresponded to the current phase of the moon.
Where should the horns of the month point?
Many believers are concerned about the question - in which direction does the Muslim crescent look? Most often, it occurs at the time of choosing a Muslim monument for the grave. I would like to do everything in accordance with the canons of Islam, so that nothing could prevent the deceased from getting to the Great Court.
In fact, you should not take any one option for the truth. The star and crescent are not part of the religion. They are only borrowed by the Turks. Islam denies any image.
Here is how one Islamic scholar puts it:
"The crescent and star are not symbols of Islam, but they were used by the last Islamic dynasty - the Ottomans. The Ottoman Empire considered it normal to use the star and crescent as their symbols, and not symbols of Islam.
So, the star and crescent are not part of the Islamic religion, since Islam is very strict on the concept of "there is no God other than Allah, and there are no images." Therefore, the suggestion that Islam sanction such [images] is erroneous. Also, if Islam forbids images (statues) of people, animals and any creature of Allah, so what to say about the use of a symbol for Islam?
But after all, there are some established rules that explain where the Muslim crescent should look? Rules exist, but only for minarets in some Islamic states. It is believed that the lower edge of the crescent should be turned towards Mecca. Although at the same time there are mosques where the horns of the crescent look into the sky. This only confirms that there are no strict regulations!
A mosque can be found in almost every corner of the globe. Most of these incredible places of worship defy typical expectations of what a mosque should look like. Non-traditional minarets, new architectural solutions and building experiments add variety to mosques, and also demonstrate the great potential for creativity in the design of mosques.
"Beauty surrounds us," said the Persian poet and Sufi mystic Rumi in the 13th century. Look at these unusual Muslim holy places around the world and see once again the accuracy of his words. We bring to your attention a series of the most amazing mosques in the world.
1. Mosque named after Mashkhur Zhusup (Kazakhstan)
The building of the mosque was built in the form of an eight-pointed star measuring 48 × 48 meters, the height of the minarets is 63 meters, the height of the dome with a crescent is 54 meters. The dome of the mosque is of heavenly color, made in the shape of a shanyrak. Architecturally, the mosque looks like an open heart, open to the world and goodness.
2. Crystal Mosque (Malaysia)
The official opening took place on 8 February 2008 by the thirteenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu. The prayer building can accommodate up to one and a half thousand people at the same time. The building is made of reinforced concrete and covered with mirror glass. The mosque has a changing illumination of seven colors.
3. Faisal Mosque (Pakistan)
One of the largest mosques in the world. The mosque is famous in the Islamic world due to its size, with an area of 5,000 square meters, it can accommodate 300,000 worshipers.
4. Shakirin Mosque (Turkey)
It is the most modern mosque in Turkey.
5. Djennen Cathedral Mosque (Mali)
The largest mud-dwelling building in the world, built in 1906. The mosque is located in the city of Djenne, Mali in the floodplain of the Bani River. As part of the Djenne Old Town site, the mosque was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.
6. Kul Sharif Mosque (Russia)
One of the main attractions of the Republic of Tatarstan is the Kul Sharif mosque - a recreation of the legendary multi-minaret mosque of the capitalKazan Khanate, center of religious education and development of sciences in the Middle Volga region XVI century.
7. Putra Mosque (Malaysia)
The Putra Mosque was built from 1997 to 1999 in the new administrative center of Malaysia, in the city of Putrajaya, and is located on the shore of the Putrayava artificial lake next to the residence of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
8. Ubudiya Mosque (Malaysia)
Built in 1917 during the reign of Sultan Idries Shah, the mosque is located next to the Mausoleum at Bukit Chandan. Its construction was ordered by the order of the Sultan, who swore that he would build a mosque of extraordinary beauty, as a sign of recovery from illness.
9. Baitunnur Mosque (Canada)
Mosque of the Muslim Community Ahmadiyya in the municipality of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The largest mosque in Canada, it can simultaneously accommodate approximately 3,000 believers.
10. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque (Brunei)
The Royal Mosque, located in Bandar Seri Begawan, in the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei. The mosque can be classified as one of the most spectacular mosques in the Asia-Pacific region and the main attraction of Brunei.
Star Mosque or "Mosque of Tara" is located in the capital of Bangladesh - Dhaka, a city belonging to the province of Armanitola. This mosque of absolutely amazing beauty stands in the old historical part of the city. The Muslim temple is decorated with numerous decorative elements, and its walls and panels are decorated with thousands of blue stars, which gave the name to this mosque. But this building was rebuilt and restored more than once before becoming the most beautiful Muslim temple in the city of Dhaka.
The original version of the temple in Dhaka originated on the same site in the early eighteenth century, it was rectangular in shape, with three arched entrances along the eastern facade and doorways in the northern and southern walls. But, later it was decided to modify it. The new project was drawn up by the architect Mirza Gholam Pir, and construction was completed by the middle of the nineteenth century. The Tara Mosque was the only mosque in the capital of Bangladesh built in the architectural style of the Mughal dynasty. Even despite further alterations and additions, it retains its original forms, being a repository of the most exquisite and outstanding works of art. It is noteworthy that the “star theme” is constantly traced in the decoration of the interior: all the walls, as well as decorative panels, are decorated with stars.
After the alteration, the Mosque of the Star was supplemented with towers in each corner, it was crowned with three domes, of which the central one is the largest. But it was again supplemented after a few decades. At the beginning of the twentieth century, with the financial assistance of businessman Ali Bepari, the temple was again reconstructed and replanned: a veranda was added to the building of the mosque from the east. In addition, during the restoration work, the craftsmen discovered fragments of decorative mosaics created from fragments of Chinese porcelain, which once created traditional patterns - crescents and stars. These decorative ornaments were found in the main prayer hall, and also under a thick layer of plaster applied to the outer walls. For interior and exterior design, English and Japanese ceramic tiles were purchased, as well as blue fragments of Chinese porcelain, with which symbolic stars and crescents were laid out using the unique Chinitikri technique. And from that moment on, an ordinary Muslim mosque, which had no historical significance, became a rare example of decoration in the original Chinitikri style. Three openings of the main facade of the Tara Mosque were decorated with mosaics: these multi-colored glazed pieces formed a magnificent floral ornament. Since 1987, according to the decree of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Bangladesh, the area of \u200b\u200bthe prayer hall has been increased and a couple more domes have been added.
Today, the Star Mosque of Bangladesh has four minarets at the corners and five domes, and it is painted white on the outside and also decorated with stars on the outside. The domes, as well as the outer walls, are covered with multi-colored star-shaped tiles. The upper part of the facade of the building on the east side is decorated with crescent-shaped patterns, and three mihrabs and doorways are decorated with an amazing mosaic flower pattern. The design of the Star Mosque is dominated by plant motifs, as well as the forms of amphorae, repeating along the inside of the walls of the veranda. An interesting and unexpected decorative element that adorns the wall between the entrances is the image of Mount Fuji.
From the side, the Star Mosque in Dhaka in Bangladesh is unique in terms of artistic value, it looks like an elegant carved box, which cannot but attract many tourists here, and not only Muslims, but travelers who are interested in the amazing architecture of Bangladesh.
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