The internet said to call to schedule an appointment for touring, but we never got around to doing that. We woke up really late with only 30 minutes to get ready for the day to make it to the mosque in time for the tour. We were about 20 minutes late when we got there, but it was okay. Once we found parking and got past the security guards, we found that we were the only ones there. We had an amazing one-on-one tour with a British lady tour-guide! She did a phenomenal job and showed us around the mosque for two unhurried hours!
We had to circle the mosque a few times before we found the entrance for visitor parking.
Once inside the visitors center, the girls and I had to put on robes and cover our heads before entering the mosque.
Inside the mosque--The upper area is the women's prayer area.
Door made of teakwood and carved by Indian craftsmen...
Elaborate Moroccan tile-work...
Islamic verses above the doors...
Lots of natural lighting within the mosque...
Unbelievable tiled ceilings...
Numerous crystal chandeliers...
"Niche: Lined with Moroccan tiles of geometrical patterns in rich colours, the Niche takes the shape of a half-circle. It is covered with Asfahani ceramic and Italian marble. There is Moroccan gypsum at the top of the Niche. It is built to guide people going to pray, towards the direction of the Qibla [Makkah in Saudi Arabia] and for acoustic spreading of sound."
Our tour guide had us stand in the niche facing into it and clap our hands. The sound filled the entire room! The acoustics were amazing. There is no need for microphones in the main prayer room. They only use microphones to speak to the outside courtyards or annexes.
View of the main room from the niche...
"Dome acoustics top the Main Prayer Hall. Taking the shape of the Sun, it has a diametre of twenty-six (26) metres, rising to a height of forty-three (43) metres. Muslims build domes to divide the sound, fanning, for channeling natural light and such also represents the sky. Known as one of the largest domes in the world, it is ornamented inside by engraved attributes of God [names of Allah] and verses of the Quran in beautiful Arabic calligraphy on Iranian Asfahani ceramics. The area is equipped with a hundred and forty-four windows which provide natural lighting."
Looking up at the dome...
Our children running races through the main prayer hall... The tour guide encouraged it.
The wool carpeting is lined to facilitate the people getting in orderly rows for prayer.
I call this The Throne...At one point, one child was sitting on the throne while the other one was hiding beneath it! I was concerned that they would think we were being disrespectful and out-of-control, but the tour guide said to let them play!
Clapping in the niche to hear the acoustics...
Close-up of niche...
Grand scale of the main prayer room...
Close-up of Moroccan tile...
Pushing on the secret door...
The secret door led to a passageway behind the niche which led to the elevated preaching area...
Books...
Depth of tiles...
Only damage from the first Gulf War...
Annex where the royal family enters the main prayer room...
Girls watching a trapped bird fly around the room...
Ceiling was beautiful...
Gorgeous crystal chandelier...
Symbols everywhere...
Ceiling...
Calligraphy...
Islamic artifacts...
More horseplay...
About to bolt...
More domed ceilings in courtyard...
You can't catch me!!!
In hot pursuit...
Christian in Muslim clothing...
I wondered what it would feel like to be a woman behind the veil...and thankful that I won't have to know from firsthand experience.
Outdoor chandeliers from Egypt (I think)
Beautiful stone and marble columns...
Outdoor courtyard and prayer area...
Stone and marble columns...
Cubbies for removing shoes...
Re-entering the visitors center...
Children received toys and souvenirs while we all drank water and mango juice...
The Royal Palace across from the Grand Mosque...
The Royal Palace across from the Grand Mosque...
The Royal Palace across from the Grand Mosque...
Jeff was really involved with asking the tour guide TONS of questions. Fortunately, I noticed the time on the clock and remembered that the call to prayer was fast approaching. I did not want to be stuck in the Grand Mosque when the praying began.We made it out of there just in time! We were a few blocks away at a stop light when the call to prayer began at another mosque.
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