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Djamaa el Djazaïr Minaret, Algeria -

Djamaa el Djazaïr, or the Great Mosque of Algiers, houses the tallest minaret in the world. At 264 m (867 ft), it's also the loftiest building in Africa. An observation deck crowns the modern structure.

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Great Mosque of Kairouan Minaret, Tunisia -

The oldest minaret still surviving is that of the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia, a fact noted by Guinness World Records. It was constructed in 836 CE. As well as calling the faithful to prayer, the minaret also served as a watchtower during times of war.

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Minaret of Jam, Afghanistan -

Completed in 1190, the Minaret of Jam is 65 m (231 ft) in height, but is in imminent danger of collapse due to erosion, according to UNESCO. Built entirely of baked bricks, the minaret is distinguished by its intricate stucco and glazed tile decoration, which consists of alternating bands of kufic and naskh Islamic calligraphy, geometric patterns, and verses from the Qur'an.

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Minarets of Great Mosque of Mecca, Saudi Arabia -

The Great Mosque of Mecca, otherwise known as Masjid al-Haram, is the largest mosque in the world. As befitting such a monumental structure, it's surrounded by 13 minarets, the most found anywhere in one mosque. Pictured through two of them is the cuboid-shaped Ka'aba, the most sacred site in Islam.

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Qutub Minar Minaret, India -

Dominating Delhi's ancient Qutub Minar complex is a red and gray sandstone minaret known as "victory tower." Completed in 1220 and standing at 72 m (238 ft) in height, its stem is elaborately decorated and includes six horizontal bands with inscriptions etched in naskh calligraphy.

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Kutlug Timur Minaret, Turkmenistan -

Erected in 1011, the Kutlug Timur minaret is one of dozens built in Central Asia between the 11th and 13th centuries. It's one of the tallest, standing at 60 m (196 ft).

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Burana Tower, Kyrgyzstan -

The Burana Tower is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagan, which was set along the Silk Road. Once serving as a minaret, the tower would have stood 45 m (148 ft) above the ground.

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Uzgen Minaret, Kyrgyzstan -

One of four historical and archaeological monuments of the Uzgen Museum Complex, the 11th-century Uzgen Minaret is 27 m (90 ft) tall. It tapers to a crown of arched windows and a cupola, relatively recent features, added in 1923 and 1924.

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Ghazni Minarets, Afghanistan -

The Ghazni Minarets are two 12th-century minarets—the Mas'ud III Minaret and Bahram Shah Minaret. They represent the last surviving vestiges of the great Ghaznavid Empire (977– 1186).

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Kalyan Minaret, Uzbekistan -

A prominent Bukhara landmark, the Kalyan Minaret is the last surviving vestige of the Kara-khanid-era mosque built by Mohammad Arslan Khan in 1127. In times of conflict, it was also used as watchtower to spy on enemy encroachment.

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Eger Minaret, Hungary -

Standing somewhat incongruously in the center of Eger in northern Hungry is this Ottoman-era minaret, built in the early 17th century as part of the Djami of Kethuda Mosque.

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Agadez Minaret, Niger -

An emblematic monument in Niger, the Agadez Minaret is made of clay and dates back to 1515. This is the tallest mudbrick minaret in the world (the towers standing over the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali—the largest mudbrick building on Earth—are not minarets).

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Minaret of the Bride, Syria -

There are three very distinctive minarets looming over the Umayyad Mosque in the old city of Damascus— the Minaret of Isa, the Minaret of Qaytbay, and the Minaret of the Bride. This is the first one built, its foundations dating back to the 9th century. The upper segment, however, took shape in 1174.

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Minarets of Suleymaniye Mosque, Turkey -

Four minarets occupy the corners of the courtyard of the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul. The two taller ones reach a height of 76 m (249 ft).

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Koutoubia Minaret, Morocco -

Arguably Morocco's most photographed minaret, flanking as it does the extraordinary Jemaa el-Fnaa square and market place in Marrakesh's medina quarter, the Koutoubia Minaret stands over the 12th-century mosque of the same name and is an important landmark and symbol of the city.

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Islam Khoja Minaret, Uzbekistan -

The Islam Khoja Minaret in Khiva tapers upwards to a height of 56 m (183 ft). The ochre brickwork alternates with bands of glazed turquoise and sky blue geometric patterns. Topping the tower is an arched lantern and golden crown.

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Malwiya Tower, Iraq -

Located in Samarra, a city north of Baghdad, the 9th-century Great Mosque of Samarra is where to admire the incredible Malwiya Tower, a minaret characterized by a distinctive ascending spiral conical design that rotates counter-clockwise from the bottom up.

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Minarets of Selimiye Mosque, Turkey -

The four needle-like minarets of the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne are some of the tallest Ottoman minarets ever built, standing at 70 m (229 ft) tall. The vertically-fluted, symmetrical minarets heighten the building's skywards perspective.

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Minarets of Jameh Mosque of Yazd, Iran -

A fine example of classic Persian architecture, Jameh Mosque features a pair of exquisitely decorated minarets—the tallest in Iran. Dating back to the 14th century and the Safavid era, each measures 52 m 170 ft) in height.

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Minaret of Hassan II Mosque, Morocco -

Located in Casablanca, the Hassan II Mosque is the largest functioning mosque in Africa. At 210 m (689 ft), its minaret is the second tallest in the world. A striking feature of the tower is the laser beam fitted at the top. Orientated towards Mecca, it's electronically operated in the evening.

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Giralda Minaret, Spain -

One of Seville's most recognized landmarks, the Giralda is the bell tower of the city's cathedral. The 104-m (342 ft) structure originally served as a minaret, completed in 1198 for the Great Mosque of Seville.

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Minaret of Badshahi Mosque, Pakistan -

At each of the outer four corners of the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, there are soaring octagonal minarets made of red sandstone. Topping out 60 m (196 ft), each is crowned by a marble lantern canopy to facilitate the call to prayer. The main building features an additional four smaller minarets at each corner.

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Minarets of Taj Mahal, India -

Rarely photographed as single pieces of architecture, the minarets of the Taj Mahal are more often pictured in context with one of the greatest examples of Muslim art in India. The building's four slender minarets surround the ivory-white marble mausoleum in Agra. Each is slightly inclined towards the outside of the terrace to prevent the towers crashing into the palace should an earthquake occur.

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Minaret of Mosque of Qani-Bay, Egypt -

Several mosques feature on banknotes. One of the most celebrated depictions is that of Cairo's 16th-century Mosque of Qani-Bay, and in particular its two minarets surmounted by a double-headed structure, a departure from the more traditional single-headed design. The mosque's outline appears on the 200 Egyptian pound banknote.

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Minaret of Hammouda Pacha Mosque, Tunisia -

Completed in 1655, the Hammouda Pacha Mosque in Tunis is appreciated for its Turkish-style architecture: the minaret is octagon in design and the prayer hall is rectangular—both typical of Ottoman influence.

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Minaret of the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, Spain -

Another outstanding example of Moorish al-Andalus architecture in Iberia, the minaret tower of Córdoba's Great Mosque today serves as a bell tower. Construction of the new cathedral bell tower to encase the old minaret began in 1593.

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Hassan Tower, Morocco -

The Hassan Tower in Rabat stands as what might have been had the mosque been completed. The tower was intended to be the largest minaret in the world, and the mosque the largest in the western Muslim world. Construction of both was halted in 1199. Today, the remains form an important historical and tourist complex in the city.

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Minarets of Mohammad al-Amin Mosque, Lebanon -

Beirut's Mohammad al-Amin Mosque is framed by four 65-m (213-ft) tall minarets. From one these radiates a laser beam after nightfall orientated towards Mecca. The rocket-like columns provide a contrast against the nearby spire of the Maronite Cathedral of Saint George in the city's Martyrs' Square.

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Minarets of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque, Malaysia -

The dimensions of Malaysia's largest mosque in Shah Alam are accentuated by its four minarets. At 142 m (467 ft) in height, they number among the tallest minarets in the world.

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Putra Mosque, Malaysia -

This unusual topside view of the pink-domed Putra Mosque in Putrajaya includes the 116-m (380-ft) minaret, designed with five tiers signifying the Five Pillars of Islam.

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Minaret of Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman -

Five minarets enclose the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat. The main minaret, 90 m (300 ft) in height, provides the mosque with its most striking exterior visual feature.

Sources: (World History Encyclopedia) (Guinness World Records) (World Heritage Site) (BBC) (Arab News)

See also: Common misconceptions about Ramadan

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