Alam Zeb Khan and Zainab Ali/Shahid Qureshi
ISLAMABAD: Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan are a vital and integral part of the holy month and received the same respect and devotion from the devotees in Pakistan. During Ramadan, Muslims attend Taraweeh prayers with more fervor and devotion.
Like other mosques in the federal capital Islamabad, Taraweeh prayers are also held at Shah Faisal Mosque Islamabad. The prayer begins with a sermon (khutbah) delivered by the imam, who talks about various topics related to Islam and the importance of Ramadan.
Shah Faisal Mosque is one of the largest mosques in Pakistan and is in the capital city of Islamabad
Amid his official visit to Pakistan in 1966 King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz announced this special gift for the people of Pakistan. After an international bidding competition, the Turkish Architect started working on the project. In 1976 initial assessment of the Saudi Arabia-sponsored mosque started at forty-six acres of land at a cost of 130 million Saudi Riyal. After the demise of King Faisal, his successor King Khalid laid the foundation stone in October 1976 and later in 1978 signed the construction agreement.
Faisal Mosque which is a masterpiece of architectural excellence has the capacity to accommodate over 300,000 worshipers while about 7400 people can be accommodated in the main area including the inner hall and the courtyards.
