The Grand mosque is built on a bit of a hill so that it is the first thing you see when entering Abu Dhabi, and the last as you leave. It is quite impressive.
Our hilarious guide, Abdullah, showed us around ~
In keeping with Islamic tradition, there are no pictures of people in the designs, but instead some of the most beautiful and intricate arabesques and caligraphy ~
Oh, and flowers ~ Did I mention the flowers? Everywhere! On the columns and on the walkways!
But the beauty doesn't stop at the doors ~
There are more flowers inside! On the floor and on the walls!
Even the chandeliers are reminiscent of flowers ~
Before praying, however, Muslims participate in a ritualistic cleansing. And in this mosque, the Ablution Room is just as gorgeous as any other part ~
And outside the doors ~ more flowers!
Once cleansed, a Muslim can enter the prayer room ~ In this mosque, the main prayer room can hold up to 7,000 worshipers ~
On this wall are the 99 names that can be used for Allah. And on the right is the pulpit in which the Imam stands when delivering his 'sermon'
More flowers on the columns in here too!
On special occasions, when the main prayer room will be filled, only men go in there and then women are able to pray in this smaller room. About 3,000 women can fit in here. This room is particularly lovely. The flowers of the carpet are mirrored in the floral design on the ceiling!
Oh, did I mention that we all had to dress in abayas and shaylas for our tour?
Although many Muslims now rely on such conveniences as iPray to make their required 5 prayers a day, this mosque has a flowery clock that shows not only the names of each prayer, but the time for each, as dictated by the position of the sun in the sky.
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