Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Coordinates:
Location Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Branch/tradition Sunni
Ownership Government
Architectural information
Capacity over 40,000
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)
Construction cost 2 billion dirhams
(USD $ 545 million)

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Arabic :جامع الشيخ زايد الكبير) is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.[1]

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was initiated by the late President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. His final resting place is located on the grounds beside the same mosque.

As the country’s grand mosque, it is the key place of worship for Friday gathering and Eid prayers. It is the largest mosque in the UAE and numbers during Eid can be more than forty thousand people.[2]

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center (SZGMC) offices are located in the east 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.

Contents

Design

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque's design and construction 'unites the world', using artisans and materials from many countries including Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece 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. The design of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque has been inspired by both Mughal and Moorish mosque architecture, particularly the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca being direct influences. The dome layout and floorplan of the mosque was inspired by the Badshahi Mosque and the architecture was inspired by both 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, Mughal and Moorish architecture.[3]

Dimensions and statistics

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.[4]

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.[5]

Some 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.[7] 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.[8]

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from Germany that incorporate millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier is the largest known chandelier inside a mosque and has a 10 m (33 ft) diameter and a 15 m (49 ft) height.[9]

The pools along the arcades reflect the Mosque’s spectacular columns, which becomes even more glorious at night. The unique lightning system was designed by lightning architects Jonathon Speirs and 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 Allah (God) are featured on the Qibla wall in traditional Kufi 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, Thuloth and Kufi – are used throughout the mosque and were drafted by Mohammed Mandi Al Tamimi UAE, Farouk Haddad Syria and Mohammed Allam Jordan.[10]

Gallery

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque under construction just outside Abu Dhabi, December 2006.  
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque under construction, 15 February 2007.  
 
from a moving car by Xalan Mustafa  
It is seen as a "globally unifying", bringing together designers, features, materials and suppliers from nearly every corner of the globe.  
The mosque from a distance showing the minarets and the many domes.  
Panorama inside Sheikh Zayed Mosque.  
Interior showing the archways, the chandelier and the carpet.  
Looking down the main prayer hall of the mosque.  
Frame within a frame view of one of the domes from one of the main arches.  
 
One of the seven imported chandeliers.  
An adhan (adhan) or prayer clock.  
Part of the "World's Largest Carpet".  
Floor design.  
A chandelier hanging from a dome.  

See also

References

  1. ^ SZGMC www.szgmc.ae
  2. ^ SZGMC www.szgmc.ae
  3. ^ SZGMC www.szgmc.ae
  4. ^ SZGMC www.szgmc.ae
  5. ^ SZGMC www.szgmc.ae
  6. ^ SZGMC www.szgmc.ae
  7. ^ Webindia123.com — Iran weaves world's largest carpet
  8. ^ SZGMC
  9. ^ SZGMC www.szgmc.ae
  10. ^ SZGMC www.szgmc.ae

External links