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Ben Youssef Madrasa, Marrakesh (Morocco).

If you want a little breath taken out of you, don't pass up the chance to see this extraordinarily well-preserved 16th-century Koranic school, North Africa's largest such institution. The delicate intricacy of the gibs (stucco plasterwork), carved cedar, and zellij (mosaic) on display in the central courtyard makes the building seem to loom taller than it really does. As many as 900 students from Muslim countries all over the world once studied here, and arranged around the courtyard are their former sleeping quarters—a network of tiny upper-level rooms that resemble monks' cells. The building was erected in the 14th century by the Merenids in a somewhat different style from that of other medersas; later, in the 16th century, Sultan Abdullah el Ghallib rebuilt it almost completely, adding the Andalusian details. The large main courtyard, framed by two columned arcades, opens into a prayer hall elaborately decorated with rare palm motifs as well as the more-customary Islamic calligraphy.

Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the eight largest mosque in the world in terms of worshipper capacity. Built to commemorate Indonesian independence, this national mosque of Indonesia was named "Istiqlal", an Arabic word for "independence". The mosque was opened to the public on 22 February 1978. The mosque is positioned next to Merdeka Square.

The rectangular main prayer hall building is covered by a 45-m diameter central spherical dome; the number "45" symbolizes the 1945 Proclamation of Indonesian Independence. The main dome is adorned with a stainless steel ornamental pinnacle in the form of a crescent and star, the symbol of Islam. The smaller secondary dome is also adorned with a stainless steel pinnacle with the name of Allah (God) in Islamic calligraphy.

The dome is supported by twelve round columns, and the prayer hall is surrounded by rectangular piers carrying four levels of balconies. Twelve columns represent the (mostly accepted) birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 12th Rabi' al-awwal.

The five prayers floors represent the five pillars in Islam.

The mosque can accommodate congregations of up to 200000 people.

Cologne Central Mosque is a huge mosque at the corner of Venloer Straße and Innere Kanalstraße in Cologne. The building is characterized by an interplay of glass, concrete and wood as well as by its transparent dome. The mosque is flanked by two delicate-looking 55-meter-tall minarets. In addition to the prayer rooms, the community centre encompasses a library, administrative offices, rooms for training courses and seminars, and restaurants.