City of Safranbolu | Turkey

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Safranbolu is a town located about 200 kilometers north of Ankara. The name of the town derives from 'saffron' and the Greek word 'polis'(meaning city), since Safranbolu was a trading place and a center for growing saffron.

The City of Safranbolu is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its well preserved Ottoman era houses and architecture.

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Part of a set of four stamps about Local Food of the Eastern Region (2016).

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Qolşärif Mosque in the Kazan Kremlin | Russia

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A kremlin is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. The Qolşärif Mosque is located inside the Kazan Kremlin, the main historic citadel of Tatarstan. The mosque can accommodate 1,500 believers, while more than 10,000 can be accommodated in the adjacent square. 

The “Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin” is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000.

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Historic Areas of Istanbul | Turkey

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Historic Areas of Istanbul is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

With its strategic location on the Bosphorus peninsula Istanbul has been associated with major political, religious and artistic events for more than 2,000 years.

The masterpieces of the city include the 6th-century Hagia Sophia and the 17th-century Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque).
(thank you Dustin for correct information)

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Nur-Astana Mosque | Kazakhstan

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The Nur-Astana Mosque is a mosque located in the Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. It is third largest mosque in Central Asia. It has a capacity of 5,000 worshippers. 

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Khorezmshah Mosque in Dekhistan | Turkmenistan

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Dekhistan is one of the largest cultural and historic centres in Turkmenistan.

Today the ancient town of Dekhistan is almost completely destroyed, the majority of its constructions are covered with sands of deserts. At the end of the 13th century the city was at its peak during the dynasty Khorezmshakhs. Destroyed by Mongol empires, rebuilt afterwards but finally in the 15th century it fell into decline due to lack of irrigation.     

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Part of a set of 10 stamps Monuments  of Architecture.

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Porto Novo, the capital of Benin

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Porto-Novo is the official capital and second largest city of the West African nation of Benin. The “Big Mosque” of Porto-Novo is actually a replica of a Catholic Church in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil.

 

On the bottom left you see what appears to be Voodoo ceremony. Benin is the birthplace of the Voodoo cult. From where it spread over the whole world due to slave trade, to Northern and Southern America and the Caribbeans where it has found its own interpretations.

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Sheikh Zayed Mosque

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The majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

 

This architectural work of art is one of the world’s largest mosques, with a capacity for an astonishing 41,000 worshippers. It features 82 domes, over a 1,000 columns, 24 carat gold gilded chandeliers and the world's largest hand knotted carpet.

The mosque was initiated by the late President of UAE, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. 

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Once falconry was an integral part of desert life in UAE. Today it is practiced purely for sport.

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Along the Silk Road, ancient city of Khiva | Uzbekistan

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Khiva is an ancient city located in Xorazm Province, Uzbekistan. In the 10th century Khiva is mentioned as a major trading center on the Silk Road. Itchan Kala is the inner town, protected by brick walls some 10 m high, of the old Khiva oasis, which was the last resting-place of caravans before crossing the desert to Iran.

In 1990 the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Thx Patrik!

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The Mosque of Uqba | Tunisia

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The Mosque of Uqba is situated in the Tunisian town of Kairouan. It is one of the most important mosques in Tunisia, established by the Arab general Uqba ibn Nafi in 670 AD.

Located in the centre of Tunisia in a plain at an almost equal distance from the sea and the mountain, Kairouan is the most ancient Arabo-Muslim base of the Maghreb (670 AD) and one of its principal holy cities.

Kairouan is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Tunisia issued a stamp in November 2013 supporting the battle against violence against women.

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Emam Mosque | Iran

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Isfahan is located in central Iran. The city contains a wide range of Islamic Architectural styles ranging from the 11th to the 19th century.

The "Shah Mosque" also known as "Emam Mosque" is regarded as one of the masterpieces of Persian Architecture. It dates back to the 17th century and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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(left) In 2014 Iran issued a series of alphabet stamps. (right) In 2013 Iran issued 7 stamps depicting bridges. 

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The Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat | Bangladesh

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The Sixty Dome Mosque is a mosque in Bangladesh, located in the formerly lost city of Bagerhat. The city was founded by Khan Jahan, an Islamic warrior and preacher probably of Turkish origin. The construction of the mosque was started in 1442.

 

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The Black-capped Kingfisher (left) and the Malayan Night Heron, issued 2011 as part of a set of 12 bird stamps. 

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Samarra | سامَرّاء Archaeological City, Iraq

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Sāmarrā is a city in Iraq, located on the east bank of the Tigris, 125 km north of Baghdad. Once it was one of the largest cities of ancient times. Today Samarra has one of  the largest archaeological sites in the world.

The postcard pictures the Mosque of al-Mutawakkil. Built in 849 and for a long time it was the largest mosque of the Islamic world. It continued to be used until the end of the 11th century.

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In 2013 Iraq issued a set of four stamps about camels.

Thx Ahmed!

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Imam Ali Mosque | حرم الإمام علي in Najaf, Iraq

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The city of Najaf is located 161 km south of Baghdad. It is a site of great religious significance to Muslims being home of the sacred shrine of Imam Ali, cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Mohamed.

It was in nearby Kufa in 661 that Imam Ali, the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet Mohamed, was badly wounded by an assassin and, as he lay dying, instructed his followers to strap his body to the back of a camel and, where the camel stopped, to dig his grave. On this spot grew up the shrine city of Najaf, a place of pilgrimage for the Shia.

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Issued in 2012 as part of a set of four stamps picturing falcons.

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The city of Antakya | Hatay, Turkey

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Antakya is a city in southern Turkey, near the border with Syria. It was known as Antioch in ancient times. The city has historical significance for Christianity, as it was the place where the followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians for the first time.

As a symbol of religious tolerance, Antakya's Catholic church is next door the Sermaye mosque (as can be seen in the back).

 

After the first World War, Antakya was part of the French protectorate of Syria until 1939 when it became independent as the Republic of Hatay. After a short period Hatay joined the Republic of Turkey on 23 July 1939.

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2013 The 500th Anniversary of the Piri Reis World Map. 

Piri Reis (1470 – 1553) was an Ottoman admiral, geographer and cartographer who compiled a map of the world in 1513. 

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Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in Beirut, Lebanon

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The Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque is a Sunni mosque located in Independence Square (or Martyrs' Square) in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. About one third of the Lebanese population are Sunni Muslims.

In fact, Lebanon, being a country in the Middle East, has a very religiously diverse society. You will find Shia and Sunni Muslims. Christians off all kinds: Greek Orthodox, Maronites, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Roman Catholic, Copts, Syriac Orthodox and many others. And not forget the Druze.  

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Lebanese singer and actress Sabah (1927)

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Mansouri Great Mosque, Tripoli, Lebanon

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The Great Mosque of Tripoli was built around the year 1300. The Mansouri Mosque was named after the Mamluk sultan al-Mansur Qalawun, who conquered Tripoli from the Crusaders in 1289.

Mamlūk, also spelled Mameluke, are slave warriors of medieval Islam who overthrew their masters, defeated the Mongols and the Crusaders and established a dynasty that lasted three hundred years.

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Lebanese singer Nouhad Wadi Haddad, known as Fayrouz (1935), the Jewel of Lebanon.

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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque | جامع الشيخ زايد الكبير , Abu Dhabi

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The majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. This architectural work of art is one of the world’s largest mosques, with a capacity for an astonishing 41,000 worshippers. It features 82 domes, over a 1,000 columns, 24 carat gold gilded chandeliers and the world's largest hand knotted carpet. The mosque was initiated by the late President of UAE, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. 

 

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Joint stamp set commemorating Arab Postal Day 2008, which highlights cooperation and communication among Arab States in the field of postal services.

Thx Salah, his blog: http://asdfpostcrossing.blogspot.nl/

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مسجد الحسن الثاني ‎Mosque Hassan II Casablanca

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The Hassan II Mosque is a mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. It is the largest mosque in the country and the 7th largest in the world.

King Hassan II stated (on his birthday in 1980) his desire for the city to "be endowed with a large, fine building of which it can be proud until the end of time."

Thirteen years later, he inaugurated the Hassan II Mosque. Built on a rocky outcrop of reclaimed land -- in response to Hassan II's translation of the Koranic verse that proclaims God's throne was built upon water -- the mosque is a truly marvelous piece of architecture. 

King Hassan II was King of Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999.

 

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Mohammed VI (21 August 1963) is the present King of Morocco.

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Taraweeh prayers from The Holy Mosque | المسجد الحرام , Mecca

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The Holy Mosque,  also known as Al-Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the holiest mosque in the world and the primary destination of the Hajj pilgrimage. The mosque complex covers an area of 356,800 square meters and can accommodate up to 820,000 worshippers during the Hajj.

When the month of Ramadan begins, Muslims enter into a period of discipline and worship:  fasting during the day, and praying throughout the day and night.  During Ramadan, special evening prayers are conducted during which long portions of the Qur'an are recited.  These special prayers are known as Taraweeh.

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To document the celebration of the National Day for the current year 1433-2012. According to Islamic calendar it is the year 1433.

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Mosque of Hala Saltan Tekke, Cyprus

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Islam was introduced to Cyprus when Uthman the 3rd Caliph conquered in 649. Muslims lived over the whole area of Cyprus but since the1974 events they are now concentrated in Northern Cyprus. Until 1974, Turkish Cypriots (the Muslim community of Cyprus) made up 18% of the whole islands population. Today there are an estimated 264,172 Muslims based in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus.

The Hala Sultan (Umm Haram) Tekke stands next to the salt lake just south of Larnaca and is one of the first sights you see heading out of the airport.

 

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From a set of 3 stamps about Tall Ships, Galleon (issued 2011).

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