Great Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi: description and history

When you read the description or see with your own eyes ancient religious buildings - temples, cathedrals, churches - you are amazed at the love, trepidation and faith that these unique monuments of ancient architects were created. It seems that nothing more perfect can not be created. However, modern builders deny this opinion.

A vivid example is the Sheikh Zayd Mosque, a magnificent architectural masterpiece that appeared on the land of the Arab Emirates at the beginning of the 21st century. It is the sixth largest mosque in the world. It is dedicated to the first president and the founder of the state (UAE), Sheikh Zayd. The object was officially opened in 2007.

Where is the mosque?

The capital of the Arab Emirates is the wonderful city of Abu Dhabi, in which is the world-famous mosque. The city is located on the island of the same name in the Persian Gulf. Now it connects to the mainland with three bridges (road), so it's easy to get to the capital by everyone who wants to see the mosque. This can be done, for example, from the neighboring emirate of Dubai. The Sheikh Zayd Mosque will appear in front of you in 2,5 hours. This is the time that the road takes.

Sheikh Zayd is the founder of the state

The magnificent snow-white mosque of Sheikh Zayd in Abu Dhabi got its name not by chance. The initiator of the creation of a unique structure was the president (first) of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed. This man played an important role in the history of the country. He was able to unite the six principalities (Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Fujerra, Umm al-Qaywain, Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai, Arja) into a single federal state. After that, he achieved independence from England. Oil trade allowed the Emirates to become a prosperous state. The Sheikh Zayed Mosque (UAE) was officially opened three years after the death of the sheikh. He is buried to the right of the temple. From the moment of burial, all day long the attendants of the mosque read the Holy Quran.

The memory of the legendary sheikh is dedicated not only to the mosque. Local residents honor him, and therefore seek to perpetuate his name. In Abu Dhabi is the most beautiful bridge and a huge football stadium. These structures are also named after Sheikh Zayd.

Building

The planning and construction of this grand structure lasted more than twenty years. It cost the state treasury $ 500 million. Initially, the competition for the creation of the temple project was announced in the UAE and some other Arab countries, but then it began to be held all over the world. Their proposals and competitive works were sent by architects from different countries.

More than three thousand people representing thirty-eight organizations worked on the construction of the mosque. Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi was decided to erect in the Moroccan style, but later, in the process of construction, the project appeared to change. Elements of the Persian, Moorish and Arab directions began to be seen in the structure. The exterior walls of the temple are made in the Turkish style (classical).

Materials

The creators of the unique building dreamed that the Sheikh Zayd Mosque would retain its original architectural appearance as long as possible. That is why the construction used only the highest quality materials - Macedonian marble. In the inner and outer trim you can see gold, precious and semiprecious stones, colorful crystals, gems, ceramics, and crystal.

Architecture

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque occupies a huge area of 22,400 square meters. It accommodates more than forty thousand parishioners. Everyone who comes to the Emirates aspires to see it. The Sheikh Zayd Mosque is visited every year by more than three hundred thousand tourists. It should be noted that, unlike other mosques, not only Muslims, but also adherents of a different faith can enter here. It is the second after the Jumeirah mosque in Dubai, the temple of the UAE, which can be visited by representatives of other religions.

Description of the temple

To describe the Sheikh Zayd Mosque (Abu Dhabi) is possible only with the use of adjectives in an excellent degree - the largest, the most beautiful, the most visited in the country. The total area of the room is comparable to five football fields. On the four corners of the building there are minarets. Their height exceeds one hundred meters.

The Sheikh Zayd Mosque is famous for its main prayer hall, where 9,000 believers can pray at the same time. It is adorned with fifty-seven snow-white domes. Two more halls were created especially for women. They accommodate 1500 prayers each. Before entering the temple, a woman must necessarily throw a veil.

This unique architectural structure has eighty domes covered with white marble. Outside and in the center is more than a thousand columns, decorated with panels of white marble handmade. They have inclusions of lapis lazuli, pearls, agate and other semiprecious stones. The mosque is lined with white marble slabs with exquisite ornament courtyard area of more than 17 thousand square meters. M. It plays a practical role, which is very important in the hot climate of the country - numerous colonnades (over a thousand) help to form a light breeze.

The walls of the temple, lined with slabs of snow-white marble, overflow in the afternoon under the sun's rays, and in the evening the room is illuminated with luxurious illumination. It changes color from white to dark blue.

Interior decoration

This is a truly unique construction - the Sheikh Zayd Mosque. Abu Dhabi (UAE) is famous for its beautiful constructions, but the splendor and luxury of this temple admire even the Arabs.

The interior is decorated with a huge number of candlesticks, covered with gilding and inlaid with Swarovski crystals. The largest of them is attached to the main dome. During the construction of the Kibla wall, gold and gilding were used. On it is carved the ninety-nine names of the great Allah.

Carpet

The mosque has the largest carpet (an area of more than 5600 square meters). He was weaved for two years. This work of art is created by the sketch of the artist Ali Khaliki. Over his creation, worked one thousand two hundred weavers and twenty technical groups.

Not only are the sizes of the carpet striking, but also the figures that guide visitors to visitors - it took thirty-six tons of wool and twelve tons of cotton to make it. Its weight is forty-seven tons. The carpet is 2 268 000 knots.

Lighting the mosque

For a unique temple, German masters made seven chandeliers. They are covered with gold leaf and decorated with Swarovski crystals. Here is the biggest chandelier in the world today. Its diameter is ten meters, its height is twelve meters. This structure weighs twelve tons.

Around the mosque are artificial canals and lakes, decorated with dark tiles. In these reservoirs all the magnificence of the snow-white temple is reflected.

Tips for tourists

We have already said that anyone who wants it can enter the Sheikh Zayd Mosque, regardless of religion and nationality. But you should definitely follow certain rules. Believers of other faiths or tourists can not enter the temple during the service. In addition, it is forbidden to touch the Qur'an, as well as to the elements that are associated with the holding of prayers.

It is necessary to pay attention to the choice of clothing. It must be strict and closed. Today there are free exciting excursions here. Tourists recommend visiting this building in the evening. It is lit by countless lights and looks amazing.

Many are mistaken, believing that the magnificent mosque is built to show the wealth of the local population and additional attraction of tourists. In fact, this unique building is the embodiment of respect and immense gratitude to Sheikh Zayd who united the impoverished principalities of the Bedouins and created a mighty country.

On the territory of the mosque there is a very large library. In 2008, the cultural center "The Great Sheikh Zayed Mosque" was established here. Its tasks include the management of daily operations - the formation and conduct of excursion programs for visitors.