The world's largest mosques - There are many rituals you must follow before entering a mosque, and not without good reason. These magnificent buildings are holy symbols of Islam, and are so sacred that only Muslims can enter them.

Check out some of the most beautiful and important mosques in the world!

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Al Haram - Mecca (Saudi Arabia) - The largest, and most important mosque in the world is at Mecca.

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Al Haram - Mecca (Saudi Arabia) - As well as being the main destination for pilgrims, all Muslim's pray facing in the direction of Mecca each day.

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Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan - Cairo (Egypt) - Construction of the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan began in 1356.

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Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan - Cairo (Egypt) - Inside is the most important Islamic school for the Sunni school of thought.

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Al-Aqsa Mosque – Jerusalem (Israel/Palestine) - After Mecca and Medina, Al-Aqsa is Islam's most sacred place.

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Al-Aqsa Mosque – Jerusalem (Israel/Palestine) - The Al-Aqsa mosque is located in an area which is important in Judaism, as this is where Abraham proved his faith to God, according to the bible.

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Umayyad Mosque – Damascus (Syria) - Before the Umayyad mosque was built, in its place was a basilica dedicated to  John the Baptist, a Catholic saint who is also a prophet in Islam, known as Yahya.

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Umayyad Mosque – Damascus (Syria) - Umayyad is particularly important for Sunni as well as Shia muslims.

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Sheikh Zayed – Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) - The mosque was named in tribute to Sheikh Zayed, the first president of the United Arab Emirates, who ran the country for over 30 years.

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Sheikh Zayed – Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) - The Sheikh Zayed mosque is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the world.

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Sultan Ahmed – Istanbul (Turkey) - The Sultan Ahmed mosque is also known as the 'blue mosque' and is located opposite the Hagia Sophia.

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Sultan Ahmed – Istanbul (Turkey) - As well as its captivating exterior beauty, the interior of the mosque is built in blue mosaics.

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Hassan II – Casablanca (Morocco) - Hassan II is the largest mosque in Morocco, and the seventh largest in the world.

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Hassan II – Casablanca (Morocco) - The mosque's architecture blends Moroccan and Islamic architecture.

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Süleymaniye – Istanbul (Turkey) - The largest mosque in Istanbul, Suleymaniye draws references from the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, but with Ottoman and Byzantine influences.

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Süleymaniye – Istanbul (Turkey) - There are four madrassas in the indoor spaces of the huge complex, which are Islamic schools.

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Sheikh Lotfollah – Isfahan (Iran) - This stunning mosque in Iran was originally built specifically for Sheikh Lotfollah.

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Sheikh Lotfollah – Isfahan (Iran) - The inside is lavishly decorated with tiles and mosaics in bright colors.

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Nasir al-Mulk – Shiraz (Iran) - Nasir al-Mulk is also known as the Pink Mosque, but the reason behind this only becomes clear after you go inside.

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Nasir al-Mulk – Shiraz (Iran) - Many people say that it doesn't even feel like a traditional mosque because of its stained glass windows, which highly unusual in Islamic architecture.

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Zahir Mosque – Alor Setar (Malaysia) - The five big domes which make up the Zahir mosque represent the Islamic principles.

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Zahir Mosque – Alor Setar (Malaysia) - Zahir is one of the oldest mosques in Malaysia.

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Badshahi – Lahore (Paquistan) - Built entirely from sandstone, this mosque in Pakistan has the largest internal square in the world. And the figures don't just stop there!

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Badshahi – Lahore (Paquistan) - Badshahi is also the fifth largest mosque in the world and the second largest in Pakistan.

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Taj-ul-Masajid – Bophal (India) - The name of this magnificent pink structure means 'crown among mosques.'

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Taj-ul-Masajid – Bophal (India) - It is the largest mosque in India, and is home to an Islamic school.

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Dome of the Rock – Jerusalem (Palestine/Israel) - Perhaps one of the most famous mosques in the world is the Dome of the Rock, located in Jerusalem.

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Dome of the Rock – Jerusalem (Palestine/Israel) - This is because the mosque contains some of the oldest examples of Islamic art.

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Great Mosque of Herat (Afghanistan) - At last but not least is the Great Mosque of Herat, which was built from mesmerizing lapis lazuli.

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Great Mosque of Herat (Afghanistan) - Lapis lazuli is a precious stone found in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It adorns the walls of the mosque, and makes it breathtakingly beautiful.

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