Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Abu Dhabi

 I will never forget my first week waking up to weird noises in the late night or early morning in Indonesia.  I wrote a story about it called the "Sounds of the Night Vendors" which was my first creative writing piece.  I remember Miss Moore liked it.

In addition to the noise of street vendors, was the constant cry of the electrified prayers emanating from local mosques.  They occurred the same time each day and during special occasions.  You could hear the prayers wafting through the heavy aromatic air no matter which neighborhood you lived.  

They became a bit like second nature after adjusting to them.   It was refreshing to see how many devout Muslims there were in Indonesia.  Anytime any practices their faith I am always impressed.  Some need to be in the religious structures to feel close to their "God". Others don't.  

I remember being in school and sometimes walking by a secluded corner of a building during the day I would come upon a maintenance or school employee doing individual prayer on their mobile prayer mats.  I am sure that locals welcomed them as a reminder of their faith throughout each day.

I was not prepared for the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.  It is in U.A.E. in the city of Abu Dhabi.  It is magnificent.  The level of craftsmanship, beauty and revereance was unbelievable. It was entirely quiet for the whole tour.  There were dress standards and women needed to cover their head.

It was very hot and yet it felt cool in the shade of the mosques many covered hallways and gathering areas.  

The sheer expansive scale of the mosque was staggering.  It had so much intricate tile inlay  The colors were so appropriate and I am sure there was so much meaning in every one but we didn't have a tour guide, so we had to use our imagination.....which was easy to do as there were so many references to nature, life, energy and light.

The open inside court was like 3 football fields long.  The marble was so clean and clear it reflected the images of the spires and domes on its sleek floor like a mirror.  

I really did want to just walk out and wander across but that was forbidden.  Did I think about how incredible it would be to skateboard across this?  Yes, for a moment, but knew at the same time I would never do that in such a place.

The decor inside and the choices that were made for the elaborate chandeliers, stained glass windows and ceiling artwork was exquisite.  There was so much to look at.  It was it's own art masterpiece.  There weren't any pictures to hang as all the art was embedded into the design.  It did not need anything like that which would have made a mess of things really.

The carpets inside went on for miles....  The colored lights hanging from these beautiful chandeliers were amazing.  

I remember imagining thousands of people in white kneeling on here and praying in unison.  The idea of thousands vs hundreds was an easy idea to consider given how much room there was.  It was totally designed to invite as many in as possible.

The architectural elements and design choices were wonderful.  The combination of archways and domes all intersecting made a wonderful display for the eye to follow and explore.

The reflecting pools were a perfect add.  It adds a cooling affect to the ambience.  The water reflects the azure sky.  It serves as psychological refresh factor given the heat of the day is pretty intense.  Most of the acces to and from the actual mosque is air conditioned underground tunnels that have shops and food vendors which made the entire visit so pleasant.  

I remembered fondly back to my youth in Jakarta, thinking as I looked down this perspective and looked up to the tower half expecting an electronic prayer to be uttered while I was there.  It would have completed the entire experience. 

You cannot build a structure like this without strong faith and belief.  It makes it all the more inspirational 

I felt joy and peace.  I love that there are places of reverence around the world in so many diverse cultures and peoples.  I love strict observance because it is never easy to accomplish for whatever religion calls for it.  It is a battle inside ultimately, to subjugate our own will and wisdom to that of a higher power, to one who knows and understands more than we do.  I am grateful for those who uphold their religious values through practice and rituals.  

I wish I could do a little better at that myself....