Have you heard about Ibnu Battutah Journey?  The greatest medieval Muslim 14th famous traveler who is exploring the places towards his destination to Mecca to do pilgrimage or Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam. He visited almost all of the Muslim countries as far as China and even Sumatra (the name of the island part of Indonesia :) 

Minaret view from the inside of the Mesquita

I heard about you with the breath nourishing the soul, the romance, and the joy lusting on the eyes. I heard about you with the elegance that will never be stolen. I heard about you with the hardness to live with so many refugees on street. Yet, still, Paris is always a good Idea! to travel, to enjoy the charm, to come and visit.

"Ä walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in this point of life"

-Thomas Jefferson- 

The place where the happiness stands, The place where the wishes climb goes up to the sky, like a new bride appearing in the best attire. Enter and admire was erected to be a place of worship. If the building can speak you would hear from it greetings like words of the poet saying. Like a paradise, tribute to those who wrought this masterpiece. Then can glorify towards others! Just like Saturnus with its constellations rose, its light went ablaze. 

Located in the heart of the city. This Mesquita designed so beautifully with the Minaret stands out everyone who sees. It has a restaurant attached to the backside of the building. To reach this place, was so easy, you need to go by train or bus. The train ticket is not expensive too only 1.9 Euro per single ride. The first time I came, I was a bit worried about mobilization, but fortunately was so easy to use the train-ticket machine, there was an English option to operate the machine 😉 While if you use the bus, you can also buy a ticket from the driver :) And Paris is a quite touristy place, so English is good to use in this city :)

You can look up the map from this link:

Why Paris?

Because if I get a flight from Dusseldorf, it was too pricey 😂. And I haven't been there yet, so yeah, why not to visit 😆 

The Mosque Guide

The Muslim Institut of the Paris Mosque was built between 1922 and 1926, an ancient symbol of French Moslem friendship, the sacrifice of the thousands of Muslims who died for France during the First World War (1914/1918). 

one of corridor of the Mesquita

The Aisle towards the garden and prayer hall

This memorial monument is such a place to meet between the Islam civilization and the western world. And now even to open in public, to invite all of the backgrounds to enjoy the beauty of Moorish Architecture and Islam with specific reference to the Arab-Andalusian period. Yes, 450 North African craftsmen were involved as an artist with Moorish style originating in Andalusia in 711/1492.

The journey was started from here..

Entering the door of Mesquita, you will see the Moorish Gardens with blue ocean tiles. You also will see Minaret with its 34 meters high. you will discover some ornamental freezers, Stucco's work, and the omnipresent Zellidj Mosaics.

1. The main Courtyard (al Riyadh) 

The gate ornamented with the stone and Kufi Calligraphy

The Gate of Peace - Outside view

The visitor who crosses the threshold of the great door on the "Puits de I'hermite" means "The Gate of Peace", inspired by the most famous exemplars of Spanish-Moorish gardens and the homes of northern Africa. 

The garden with the fontain The nicest one was the greeneries were extremely beautiful with every detail on. It reminds me after visiting Granada, the plants especially the high tree was found easily and compared to this Mesquita which is using the same models as Moorish Spain and palaces of North Africa. The fountain also tells the same, in the center of the garden where water cascades run freely on the terrace, it was exactly the same with Alhambra Palace in Granada.

garden view (unfortunately in winter, the plants is dry)

Garden view from terrace

Another garden view

The organized repeated columns

2. The Great Patio 

The gateway to the great patio recalls the finest examples of Oriental art. The hand-cut stone frame bears an inscription in Kufic character calligraphy in the 2nd century. reproducing verses from the  Qurán was produced also by Moroccan artists.

The gate of honor

The gate of honor leads to the great colonnaded patio, with the fountain and coming out but unfortunately, at the moment, the mosque was under construction, so the fountain disappeared. 

Beautiful decorated double columns

The great Patio was completed with the beautifully decorated columns which stand organized, The ceramic's enameling has floral motifs all the way around the patio, narrating the history of the Paris Mosque. 

The ceiling was made from cedar wood as beautiful as the wall, and the floors were decorated with marble and brightened up with the mosaic motifs in the center.

3. The prayer room 

Prayer room door, view from the patio

When you go deeper inside, you will notice that there was a change of the direction of the qiblah, in comparison to the general orientation of the building. The hall presents an arcshape sustained by double columns of marble. The big chandelier was also hanging on the center with wrought iron with its seven shelves full of lights. The entire Mihrab was also fully covered with the harmonious Zellidj. the fine craftsman ceramic from the Andalusian period 

4. Le Minaret

Minaret

The beauty centered, where the lights coming from, 34 meters high which has the quadrangular style of Maghreb Minarets was built with hewed stones. If you zoom it in a bigger size, you will see the beauty of strap works carved on the facades crowned by a zellidj belt in opposition with the uniformity of the stone. 

La Minaret in the night

The three balls which crown the summit were a sign of a Muslim tower that is being a symbol in old mosque architecture in Andalusia too.

Thanks for reading

"travel and you will respect the life better" :)

Hamida