Lal Masjid, Islamabad

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Lal Masjid, officially called Markazi Jāmi Masjid Islamabad (Central Mosque Islamabad), is a large congregational mosque in the heart of Islamabad, Pakistan. Construction started in 1964 and was completed in 1966. It was originally named Markazi Jāmi Masjid Islamabad, but locals began calling it Lal Masjid (the Red Mosque) after the exterior bricks were painted red to fix a defect. It was Islamabad’s largest mosque for about 20 years until the Faisal Mosque opened in 1986. The mosque sits near busy markets, close to the Presidential Palace and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Architecture and size
The mosque blends Ottoman and Mughal design elements. The main architect was Zaheer ud Deen Khawaja (1965) and major renovations in 2010 were done by Nayyar Ali Dada. It is made of red sandstone and marble, with one dome and two minarets, and it can hold about 15,000 worshippers.

Key people
The first Imam and khateeb (one who gives sermons) appointed in 1966 was Mawlānā Abdullah Ghazi. After his death, his sons Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid Ghazi led the mosque. As of 2021, Mawlānā Abdul Aziz remained the Imam and khateeb.

Historical role
In the 1970s and 1980s, Lal Masjid became a center for religious and political activity. It hosted movements like Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Khatm-e-Nubuwwat and Nizam-e-Mustafa, and it also served as a recruitment hub for mujahideen involved in the Afghan and Kashmir conflicts.

The 2007 siege and after
In 2007, students from the mosque and its affiliated Jamia Hafsa occupied areas of Islamabad, demanding strict Sharia law. This led to a violent stand-off with the government and a military operation in July 2007. The security operation ended with many deaths and injuries, and Abdul Aziz was arrested. In 2008, a bomb near the mosque killed several police and civilians. The government repaired and reopened the mosque a few weeks after the siege. In 2010, Nayyar Ali Dada supervised a major restoration and renovation, updating the exterior and interior works.

Recent events
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the mosque remained open, and Imam Abdul Aziz publicly opposed lockdowns, urging people to place their faith in God.

Today, Lal Masjid remains an active and well-known mosque in Islamabad.