The Grand Mosque of Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

 

This picture was taken from the street.  Amazing site. 



 Fascinating!  This mosque is huge. And it's even more amazing to see at night with all the lighting.  The lighting color changes according to the phases of the moon.  I believe that since we're near a full moon it's a nice bright white color.  We'll have to check it out at night and have some awesome photos taken!

We arrived at the mosque around 10:30.  There is a guided tour at 11. We had no idea what to expect but were up for the adventure to see something that most people never see in person! Here are lots of photos. I'm going to attempt to remember all the interesting facts and information of the mosque.  If any of it is incorrect - sorry. 

Construction was started on the mosque in 1994. Sheikh Zayed (who is like the king/president/founder of the UAE) wanted a mosque that was unique and a place for all Muslims to gather together in one place to pray and worship.  Unfortunately he did not live long enough to see the mosque completed.  Technically it's still "under construction".  Sheikh Zayed is buried next to the mosque. 



There are several large pools of water surrounding the two sides of the mosque we were on.

Not sure about the other two. One side has fountains of some sort but they were being cleaned so we never did see them in action.

  

First thing - as soon as we arrived we were told (which we knew already) that Jennifer had to put on an abaya. We were prepared. I knew I had to wear pants.  I liked her in the abaya - and even suggested she take that up but she wanted nothing to do with it!  The kids didn't have to wear anything specific.  I should have worn shorts so I could wear some traditional dress too! 





Ahmed - our tour guide - and humorous (or humourous as we might see spelled over here!) at times!





This is the huge courtyard.  This area can hold something like 20,000 worshippers here.  There are flowers made up of marble from all over the world. There are flowers all over the place because Sheikh Zayed loved gardens so he wanted the mosque to have resemblances of gardens so there are flowers everywhere. 

This minaret is where the prayer call is sent out. Traditionally the imam would go to the top and call the Muslims to prayer.  Now with technology they just use speakers so everyone can hear.  What is unique in Abu Dhabi is that the "call" always comes from this mosque.  It is broadcast through satellite all over Abu Dhabi city.  In Dubai and Al Ain you'll hear calls from all the mosques not just one call.  The gold you see here is actually gold - covered in some sort of Italian glass to protect the gold.  I am pretty sure that Ahmed (our tour guide) said that all the gold you see is actual real gold. 

If you look at  the three domes to the right of the three door like structures - and above the first and third domes you'll see a small column coming up. Those are Islamic designs - and it's hollow inside and it allows cool (is there such a thing here in the desert?) to flow down and create a breeze.

 

The domes I think there was 20+ of them - are of India inspiration - like the Taj Mahal.

They are made of limestone from various places around the world. 

A rotunda - one of many

 Each part of the flower is a different piece of marble. It's like stained glass style but with marble.

No shoes!  We were allowed to wear shoes in the outside area but once you go into the prayer areas you have to take your shoes off.  When Cole and I went to the restroom we even had to take our shoes off.  Luckily once we walked around the corner we actually found some sandals we could wear.  It was a little nasty knowing so many people wear the same shoes to the restroom.  Cole just kept saying, "this is soooo disgusting!" 

He was even more perplexed when he saw the style of restrooms....see photo below:

This photo is inside the area before you go to the various prayer areas.  The walls have all these flowers on them (again for the garden type theme) and the floors as well.  The walls must be around 50 feet high. The window looking section to the right of the flower wall is actually a door.  It also has like colored glass flowers on it.  The glass is 3 layers thick.  Luckily once we got to this section it was air conditioned.  We were quite hot by this point! 

Now inside the minor prayer hall - the carpet is very thick and has flowers all over.  What is even more interesting is the carpet flowers are identical to the flowers on the ceiling (see photo below).  There are probably 5 or 6 of them.  They did the ceiling once they had the carpet installed to get it exact. 

One of the many chandeliers that are all over the mosque.  This one is nothing compared to the one in the main prayer area.

See the line in the middle of his picture?  They are in the carpet so that the worshippers know where to line up.  They start the lines behind the Imam - shoulder to shoulder, foot to foot. This is so they can show Allah that they are all created  equal.  Which made me think (soap box moment) this was a little deceptive because seeing the way nannies are treated definitely shows there is a class system here. The lines of worshippers would stand in line with the same sex.  Our tour guide gave us an example of why they wouldn't be mixed gender - he said imagine if I'm here to worship/pray and a girl is shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot and she's very beautiful and young I would be way too distracted. I was surprised that he used that example because you NEVER see anyone showing affection to their mate/spouse here.  In fact in the mall - it was one of their "rules" in the mall guide - no showing public displays of affection. 

When you walk into the main prayer hall - you see this huge chandelier. 

Another rotunda - with Arabic writing - from the Qaran/Quran

Again - in the main prayer area of the mosque - the gold column looking thing in the back - is where the Imam stands to say the prayers.  It's also lined with gold.  And the semi-circle shape was designed so that when the Imam prays his voice is reflected so the worshippers can hear him.  They even have stations where there are video cameras - you can catch it broadcasted on TV.  Just like home...

Next to this area was a podium like structure.  This is where a sermon is delivered. 

By this point - Cole had had enough.  He was tired of listening to Ahmed and was rolling around on the carpet.  He was up under Jennifer's abaya and Caralyn was attempting to hide too!  The carpet Cole is laying on was hand women by some Iranian women. This carpet is said to be the largest carpet that is one single piece. It's something like 50,000 square meters.  They had the carpet brought to the mosque along with the Iranian women who hand tied it and then they were able to get it around the columns. 

Along the center back wall of the main prayer area there are these flower/star like designs.  The largest one says Allah in Arabic. It is a pentagon. The flowers around the center one are five sided flowers.  Each flower has another "name" or characteristic of Allah.  One might be merciful, greatest, etc. 

The flowers have five sides - representing the five pillars of Islam

1) Allah is God - the only God

2) 5 daily prayers

3) Fasting

4) Giving to charity

5) Hajj - going to Mecca - the holy city

 

The clocks above were very interesting too.  The only difference between them is one is in Arabic and one is in English.  They are actually the same clock.  It just switches from the language to the prayers and times.  This basically guides the Muslims to what prayer occurs at what time.  There are 5 prayers and I can't remember what the extra part would be.  And the clock is in the middle. 

  

The mosque is open to be public (obviously) to tour when it is not a praying time.  If you are not Muslim - you do not attend any of their prayers/worship.  On an average Friday (Friday is the holy day for Muslims) they have 9,000 - 10,000 worshippers. 

It was neat to see this mosque and hear all the important details about the building and the religion itself.  Having taught lessons on the 3 major world religions it was neat to see and hear some real parts of it!  Definitely a must see when you travel to Abu Dhabi! 

A question I still have.....What (in US dollars) did it cost to build the Grand Mosque???