Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Location in the UAE
Basic information
Location Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Geographic coordinates 24°24′43″N 54°28′26″E / 24.412°N 54.474°E / 24.412; 54.474Coordinates: 24°24′43″N 54°28′26″E / 24.412°N 54.474°E / 24.412; 54.474
Affiliation Islam
Branch/tradition Sunni Islam (Malikite)
Ownership Government
Architectural description
Architectural type Mosque
Groundbreaking 1996
Completed 20 December 2007
Construction cost 2 billion dirhams
(US$545 million)
Specifications
Capacity over 41000
Length 420 m (1,380 ft)
Width 290 m (950 ft)
Dome(s) 82 domes of seven different sizes
Dome height (outer) 85 m (279 ft)
Dome dia. (outer) 32.2 m (106 ft)
Minaret(s) 4
Minaret height 107 m (351 ft)

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Arabic: جامع الشيخ زايد الكبير‎‎) is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates,[1] and is considered to be the key site for worship in the country.

The project was launched by the late president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted to establish a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art.[2] His final resting place is located on the grounds beside the same mosque. The mosque was constructed from 1996 to 2007.[3] It is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates. The building complex measures approximately 290 m (960 ft) by 420 m (1,380 ft), covering an area of more than 12 hectares (30 acres), exclusive of exterior landscaping and vehicle parking.[4]

As the country's grand mosque, it is the key place of worship for Friday gathering and Eid prayers. During Eid it may be visited by more than 41000 people.[1]

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center (SZGMC) offices are located in the west minarets. SZGMC manages the day-to-day operations, as a place of worship and Friday gathering, and also a center of learning and discovery through its educational cultural activities and visitor programs.

The library, located in the north/east minaret, serves the community with classic books and publications addressing a range of Islamic subjects: sciences, civilization, calligraphy, the arts, coins and includes some rare publications dating back more than 200 years. In reflection of the diversity of the Islamic world and the United Arab Emirates, the collection comprises material in a broad range of languages, including Arabic, English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Korean.

Design

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque's design and construction "unites the world", using artisans and materials from many countries including India, Italy, Germany, Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Macedonia and United Arab Emirates. More than 3,000 workers and 38 renowned contracting companies took part in the construction of the mosque. Natural materials were chosen for much of its design and construction due to their long-lasting qualities, including marble stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics. It was built by the Italian company Impregilo.

The design of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque has been inspired by Persian, Mughal and Moorish mosque architecture, particularly the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco being direct influences. The dome layout and floorplan of the mosque was inspired by the Badshahi Mosque and the architecture was inspired by Persian, Mughal and Moorish design. Its archways are quintessentially Moorish and its minarets classically Arab. The design of the mosque can be best described as a fusion of Arab, Persian, Mughal and Moorish architecture.[1]

Dimensions and statistics

Interior of the Main Prayer Hall in Sheikh Zayed Mosque

The mosque is large enough to accommodate over 40,000 worshipers. The main prayer hall can accommodate over 7,000 worshipers. There are two smaller prayer halls, with a 1,500-capacity each, one of which is the female prayer hall.[1]

There are four minarets on the four corners of the courtyard which rise about 107 m (351 ft) in height. The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about 17,000 m2 (180,000 sq ft), and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world.[1]

Key architectural features

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has many special and unique elements: The carpet in the main prayer hall is considered to be the world's largest carpet made by Iran's Carpet Company and designed by Iranian artist Ali Khaliqi.[5] This carpet measures 5,627 m2 (60,570 sq ft), and was made by around 1,200-1,300 carpet knotters. The weight of this carpet is 35 ton and is predominantly made from wool (originating from New Zealand and Iran). There are 2,268,000,000 knots within the carpet and it took approximately two years to complete.[1]

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from the company Faustig in Munich Germany that incorporate millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier is the second largest known chandelier inside a mosque, the third largest in the world and has a 10 m (33 ft) diameter and a 15 m (49 ft) height.[1]

The pools along the arcades reflect the mosque's spectacular columns, which becomes even more glorious at night. The unique lighting system was designed by lightning architects Speirs + Major to reflect the phases of the moon. Beautiful bluish gray clouds are projected in lights onto the external walls and get brighter and darker according to the phase of the moon.

The 96 columns in the main prayer hall are clad with marble and inlaid with mother of pearl, one of the few places where you will see this craftsmanship.

The 99 names (qualities or attributes) of God (Allah) are featured on the Qibla wall in traditional Kufic calligraphy, designed by the prominent UAE calligrapher — Mohammed Mandi Al Tamimi. The Qibla wall also features subtle fibre-optic lighting, which is integrated as part of the organic design.

In total, three calligraphy styles — Naskhi, Thuluth and Kufic — are used throughout the mosque and were drafted by Mohammed Mandi Al Tamimi of the UAE, Farouk Haddad of Syria and Mohammed Allam of Jordan.[1]

Controversy

In 2013, US-based singer Rihanna received negative criticism for taking photographs, with the Mosque in the background, during a private visit. During the incident she was reported to have posed in a manner deemed offensive and provocative. Staff asked her to leave following the incident.[6]

More recently, Selena Gomez was criticised by Instagram users for posing for pictures at the mosque with her ankle shown.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center
  2. ↑ "Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi". Wondermondo.
  3. ↑ "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque History". Abu Dhabi Government. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  4. ↑ The main axis of the building is rotated about 11° south of true west, aligning it in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Dimensions and alignment are estimated from satellite images; this information is not available at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque Web site as of 2014.
  5. ↑ Webindia123.com — Iran weaves world's largest carpet
  6. ↑ "Sheikh Zayed Mosque Rihanna Photo Shoot: Muslims React To Abu Dhabi Incident". The Huffington Post. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Pleasance, Chris (1 January 2015). "Selena Gomez pulls down Instagram picture that infuriated Muslims because she was displaying her ANKLES during visit to Abu Dhabi mosque". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
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