The Grand Mosque

The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is impressive just driving by it. Up close or from a distance, it is difficult not to stare and take in the sight of it.  It is not the largest mosque in the world, but it is very, very, big. Being strikingly white, with its tall minarets and large domes, it grabs your attention and your awe.  At night, it is lit up.  The shape and size become a familiar landmark, but by day and by night it looks distinctively different; beautiful by daylight and beautiful with its night lighting.

Here's a link if you want to get more details (and if you google it, lots of sites have information and photos).  It's named in honor of the founding father/first president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed.      http://www.szgmc.ae/en/

Visiting the Grand Mosque is a must-do when exploring Abu Dhabi. And love going into cathedrals and churches when I travel.

I ventured there on Saturday, January 5th in the afternoon.  I need to go back and do the tour; I got distracted walking around on my own and missed the mid-afternoon guided tour.  Plus, I realized too late that my camera batteries didn't have enough charge, ... but I did manage to get some photos of the mosque nonetheless.  And while the weather is cooler this time of year, it was a bit roasty when in the sun, especially in the courtyard and while wearing an abaya; so maybe the early morning or late afternoon tour!

When you enter, there is a sign that establishes appropriate clothing for men and women (the Mosque's website also lists this). As a woman, if you are not already wearing one, an abaya is provided for you.  When you go into the mosque itself, shoes come off. (There are many shelves for shoes to be placed.)  Socks are okay, as are bare feet.  The abaya and the no-shoes are part of Islamic practice when in a mosque and/or when praying.

So many things (vast majority it seems) are made out of marble here.  The Grand Mosque is no exception.  The artistry on this building is quite amazing.

Here is a photo of inlaid marble in different colors:

The flower was easily the size of a large dinner plate.  Other flowers included the colors of blue and of red.

Here is a photo in which I attempt to capture the scale of the place; I am standing in the middle of the mosque at this point:

And I stand on a far end of the mosque (with people for some scope / perspective):

The white pillars (you can see a couple closer up on the right) also have an inlay design in them.

The courtyard you enter:

You can see teeny tiny people at the far side of the courtyard ... I mentioned that it is BIG!  To the right are reflecting pools, and landscaped grounds surround the mosque over several acres.  If you type in "Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nayhan Mosque, Abu Dhabi" in google maps, you can pull up a shot that shows the mosque -- another view to ginormous scale.

And some carvings on the inside (various layers and designs), and outside:

Sheer artistry and craftsmanship.

Some statistics from the website visitabudhabi.ae/en/
"This architectural work of art is one 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 main prayer hall is dominated by one of the world’s largest chandeliers –10 metres in diameter, 15 metres in height and weighing twelve tonnes. The mosque's first ceremony was the funeral of its namesake, Sheikh Zayed, who is buried at the site."
(http://visitabudhabi.ae/en/what.to.see/attractions/sheikh.zayed.grand.mosque.aspx )

And a photo I just enjoyed lining up and want to share: