![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4PPFCRUTEFCTDKGWINBXRWQCNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf53d93be112fdde0331c1b1e162a4366fabc213d6df4256c3d5994ce6072e36&width=400&height=225)
The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus is considered the fourth most holy site in Islam. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7TMVOFCN6FADPM6AGIGLAD4DZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1715372c223dcdb659c8948eecf6fab132ac2b0e9b71d2058da798835e1edbc&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view of the Makkah Royal Clock Tower in the Abraj Al Bait skyscraper complex. Worshippers can be seen praying around the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JHPHLUCZWVGLLO6JPLXIBWNIV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=582ef9e2d91ce1bd6334ba976e02272c45d52ca6a6c49c2ff08812e096748171&width=400&height=225)
Al Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt on March 20, 2020. The mosque was closed temporarily during the pandemic because of safety restrictions. AFP
Prayers during Laylat Al Qadr – the holiest night in the Islamic calendar – at Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBD5OPILWVBEPATRP4PH6NUYVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a6ffe9379e0c00924254036c428d0f6169e3c9763ec48b2470e13c6371fbf3a&width=400&height=225)
Muslims pray at Masjid Al Nabawi after completing the Hajj pilgrimage in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Getty images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V5DKMIPZWVAC7IYCY2AAGHGH3Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=65f74cdc7f7b7c7781ccbe16c465c12ff3c47bc9bf196b90bfac16aa423c5cf2&width=400&height=225)
T04W9J Glasgow Central Mosque, Gorbals, Glasgow, UK. The mosque, situated next to the River Clyde, and is the central mosque for Muslims of Islamic and Sunni. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WVZQEWX5TVB7BKTQS3GKQMIVFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7ce8e9d9144c6ac2ee81accd735946208cdf0295263420e1b11784e48e2b7eef&width=400&height=225)
Grand Jamia Mosque Lahore is in Bahria Town, Lahore, Pakistan. With a capacity of 70,000 worshippers, it is the third largest in the country. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EQYLN6LNZFAP5N6OQ6LZWO4YYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=53f86a1cf961d2495678a29fd08350e5022bfb71272f28f1f83003744d82522a&width=400&height=225)
The Great Mosque of Algiers, also known as Djamaa el Djazair, was designed by the German architecture firm KSP Juergen Engel Architekten. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V3YHSO7WNBGBJHWOK7BJKPTHDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=fe4596c952aabbb8ad4f084451b6c8ca44d04f19d87092e694cacf8c97c4d638&width=400&height=225)
The Istiqlal Mosque in central Jakarta is the largest mosque in South-East Asia. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XQRVXQDXJRHHTO5JKCL5CENYXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b2b869c9e9bb401774e7b9b22e96c7b5d4230272da261caa652320ec7aca07b0&width=400&height=225)
The Nizamiye Mosque in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a copy of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and was built by a Turkish businessman, Ali Katircioglu. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4PPFCRUTEFCTDKGWINBXRWQCNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf53d93be112fdde0331c1b1e162a4366fabc213d6df4256c3d5994ce6072e36&width=400&height=225)
The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus is considered the fourth most holy site in Islam. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7TMVOFCN6FADPM6AGIGLAD4DZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1715372c223dcdb659c8948eecf6fab132ac2b0e9b71d2058da798835e1edbc&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view of the Makkah Royal Clock Tower in the Abraj Al Bait skyscraper complex. Worshippers can be seen praying around the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JHPHLUCZWVGLLO6JPLXIBWNIV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=582ef9e2d91ce1bd6334ba976e02272c45d52ca6a6c49c2ff08812e096748171&width=400&height=225)
Al Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt on March 20, 2020. The mosque was closed temporarily during the pandemic because of safety restrictions. AFP
Prayers during Laylat Al Qadr – the holiest night in the Islamic calendar – at Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBD5OPILWVBEPATRP4PH6NUYVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a6ffe9379e0c00924254036c428d0f6169e3c9763ec48b2470e13c6371fbf3a&width=400&height=225)
Muslims pray at Masjid Al Nabawi after completing the Hajj pilgrimage in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Getty images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V5DKMIPZWVAC7IYCY2AAGHGH3Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=65f74cdc7f7b7c7781ccbe16c465c12ff3c47bc9bf196b90bfac16aa423c5cf2&width=400&height=225)
T04W9J Glasgow Central Mosque, Gorbals, Glasgow, UK. The mosque, situated next to the River Clyde, and is the central mosque for Muslims of Islamic and Sunni. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WVZQEWX5TVB7BKTQS3GKQMIVFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7ce8e9d9144c6ac2ee81accd735946208cdf0295263420e1b11784e48e2b7eef&width=400&height=225)
Grand Jamia Mosque Lahore is in Bahria Town, Lahore, Pakistan. With a capacity of 70,000 worshippers, it is the third largest in the country. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EQYLN6LNZFAP5N6OQ6LZWO4YYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=53f86a1cf961d2495678a29fd08350e5022bfb71272f28f1f83003744d82522a&width=400&height=225)
The Great Mosque of Algiers, also known as Djamaa el Djazair, was designed by the German architecture firm KSP Juergen Engel Architekten. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V3YHSO7WNBGBJHWOK7BJKPTHDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=fe4596c952aabbb8ad4f084451b6c8ca44d04f19d87092e694cacf8c97c4d638&width=400&height=225)
The Istiqlal Mosque in central Jakarta is the largest mosque in South-East Asia. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XQRVXQDXJRHHTO5JKCL5CENYXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b2b869c9e9bb401774e7b9b22e96c7b5d4230272da261caa652320ec7aca07b0&width=400&height=225)
The Nizamiye Mosque in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a copy of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and was built by a Turkish businessman, Ali Katircioglu. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4PPFCRUTEFCTDKGWINBXRWQCNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf53d93be112fdde0331c1b1e162a4366fabc213d6df4256c3d5994ce6072e36&width=400&height=225)
The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus is considered the fourth most holy site in Islam. AFP
World's largest mosque in Makkah could lead green charge under solar power plan
Greenpeace report says that installing solar panels at places of worship such as Masjid Al Haram could help protect planet
![Daniel Bardsley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4dcffed7-67d1-4c6f-b468-84a82d1ddd22.png?smart=true&auth=e4d7a6e3c76d7ec922e25339bc18538c62bc925936c2316006dc89b8a7becdc6&width=70&height=70)
Daniel Bardsley
14 November, 2021
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