Brunei, Singapore, Egypt and more: The famous mosques PM Modi has visited during foreign trips

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday became the first Indian head of the government to visit Brunei.

The Prime Minister arrived at the Bandar Seri Begawan Airport Tuesday afternoon as he began his two-day visit to Brunei Darussalam.

The visit, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Brunei, aims at bolstering ties between the two countries.

As part of his trip, PM Modi took a trip to the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.

As the Indian leader visits the iconic mosque, here’s a look at his visits to mosques worldwide, boosting the soft power quotient in various countries.

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Brunei

PM Modi’s visit to one of the most prominent mosques in the region came soon after the Indian High Commission’s new Chancery was inaugurated.

The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque bears the name of the 28th Sultan of Brunei, who is regarded as the architect of modern Brunei and the father of the current Sultan, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, according to NDTV.

Prime Minister Modi was received by Brunei’s minister of religious affairs Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin. Also present was Dato Dr. Haji Mohammad Isham, Brunei’s Minister of Health.

Furthermore, PM Modi interacted with numerous members of the Indian community, scholars, and local officials.

Al-Hakim Mosque, Egypt

PM Modi visited Egypt’s renowned 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo on his visit there last year. The mosque was renovated with the help of the Dawoodi Bohra community in India.

Modi was given a tour inside the mosque on the second day of his visit, wherein the five required prayers as well as Friday prayers are performed, as per Times Now.

Built in 1012, Al-Hakim is the fourth oldest mosque in Cairo and the second Fatimid mosque to be built in the city. The structure covers an area of 13,560 square metres, with the iconic central courtyard occupying 5,000 square metres, as per another NDTV report.

The Indian prime minister was observed admiring the elaborately carved inscriptions on the mosque’s walls and doors.

Istiqlal Mosque, Indonesia

As part of his May 2018 visit to Indonesia, Modi visited the grand Istiqlal Mosque with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Istiqlal, which is an Arabic word for “independence,” is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the third largest Sunni mosque in terms of capacity.

The mosque, opened to the public in 1978, can accommodate over 120,000 worshippers.

The structure, positioned next to Merdeka Square and the Jakarta Cathedral, took 17 years to build.

Among foreign dignitaries who have visited the mosque are former US Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, Britain’s King Charles III, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

Chulia Mosque, Singapore

Modi visited Chulia Masjid and Sri Mariamman Temple during his visit to Singapore in June 2018.

Located on South Bridge Road in the Chinatown district within the Central area, it is one of the earliest mosques in Singapore, as per India Today.

It was established by Chulias, who were Tamil Muslim merchants from India’s Coromandal coast, in 1826.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman

In February 2018, before departing for India, PM Modi visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat.

The mosque, which allows non-Muslim visitors, is one of the highlights of the city. He was accompanied by former King of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said and other officials.

He signed the visitors’ book and met supporters at the mosque.

The breathtaking structure, which can accommodate 20,000 worshippers, including 750 women, in the prayer hall, is said to be a magnificent piece of modern Islamic architecture.

The mosque also has an Indian connection, as it is built from 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone sculpted by 200 craftsmen from India.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, UAE

In August 2015, Prime Minister Modi visited the United Arab Emirates with a focus on investments and terror.

It was also during this visit that the UAE leadership broke protocol to welcome PM Modi, with now President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nayhan of Abu Dhabi turning out with five of his brothers to greet him at the airport in a rare gesture, according to The Hindu.

Modi’s visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the third-largest mosque in the world after the ones in Mecca and Madina, Saudi Arabia, was the highlight of the first day’s activities, as per PTI.

The mosque is thought to have the world’s largest marble mosaic, spanning 180,000 square feet of courtyard space.

Built at an estimated cost of $545 million, the structure features 82 domes in seven sizes located inside the worshipping place.

With inputs from agencies