Mohammad Al Amin Mosque (Blue Mosque), Beirut (must see)

The Mohammad Al Amin Mosque, commonly called "the Blue Mosque", is the largest mosque in Lebanon. In the 19th century a "Zawiya", a prayer corner named for Sheik Abu Nasr al-Yafi was built on the present site of the mosque on Martyrs Square. In the 1950s it was decided to replace the prayer corner with a mosque.

There were many delays for lack of funds. Finally, after a donation by former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, the cornerstone was laid in 2002. The mosque covers 11,000 square meters. The blue dome is 48 meters high and its four minarets reach a height of 65 meters each. Its architectural style is similar to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque of Istanbul.

The mosque has several domes. All of the domes are finished with light blue tiles, hence the name "Blue Mosque." There are very high arches, some reaching several stories. Hariri chose Oger Liban and Azmi Fakhuri as architects. Most of the stone used for the building is Yellow Riyadh Stone. Hariri helped with much of the exterior decor.

The interior of the dome is well lighted in the day by square windows circling the dome. A great chandelier hangs in front of the mihrab, the niche indicating the direction of Mecca. The chandelier adds a significant amount of light within the dome. The height of the minarets assist in the propagation of the sound of the Azan, the summons to prayer.

Prime Minister Hariri was assassinated on February 14, 2005. He was laid to rest within Martyrs Square, next to the mosque. The mosque was damaged by the great explosion of august 2020. Chandeliers and windows were smashed but the building remained intact.

The mosque served as the site of funeral rites for Rafic Hariri. It has become a bit of symbolic architecture and the venue for many political and economic events in Lebanon.