Architectural Beauty

[Sahar]

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
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The majestic Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Mosque is probably the most imposing religious and national landmark in Abu Dhabi to date. It is also arguably one of the most important architectural treasures of contemporary UAE society – and one of the most beautiful in the world. It is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and considered within the Top 10 biggest mosques in the world. First considerations to build the Mosque began in the late 1980s and much thought was given to its location and its design over the next decade.
The 22,412 square metre Mosque site is equivalent to around the size of five football fields, and can accommodate 40,960 worshippers.

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Sheikh Zayed Mosque is seen as a construction to ‘unite the world’, using artisans and materials from countries such as Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, China, Greece and the UAE.
The Mosque’s initial architectural design was Moroccan, but it evolved to include many global features, including exterior walls that are of traditional Turkish design. Natural materials were chosen for its design and construction due to their long-lasting qualities, including marble, stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics.

 

[Sahar]

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The mosque has achieved three entries into the Guinness Book of World Records with the largest carpet, the biggest chandelier and the largest dome of its kind in the world.
The world’s largest carpet: it covers the floor of the main prayer hall at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. A 6,000 sq m hand-made Persian carpet, said to be the biggest in the world… 1200 Iranian women spent 2 years weaving the carpet, weighing in at a huge 45 tonnes and created with over 2 billion knots.
The world’s biggest dome: The main dome is also “the biggest” mosque dome in the world, 75 metres high with a 32.2-metre diameter.

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[Sahar]

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[Sahar]

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[Sahar]

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[Sahar]

At every corner there is something...just amazing.

 

[Antibush5]

Is there such a thing as a gothic mosque? Like a recycled church?

 

[seeker69]

Beautiful, I especially like the night shots.

 

[Revoltingest]

The radar domes are gorgeous, but why so many?

 

[dust1n]

Wow, wonder how much that thing cost.

 

[Sahar]

It cost around 600 million $. Its construction took around 13 years.

 

[Sajdah]

Wow........that's really amazing....But wouldn't it be better to spend that money on the poor, or education!

 

[.lava]

yes wow. very dreamy and impressive thank you for sharing

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[Sahar]

Wow........that's really amazing....But wouldn't it be better to spend that money on the poor, or education!

Well Sajdah if we talked about the right thing, mosques shouldn't be decorated like this, by gold and semi-precious stones!! Of course, you have a point about the poor. If I were the decision maker, I wouldn't build a mosque like this except after I feed the poor of the world. But if we talked about Abu Dhabi, I think the mosque is used as an architectural and touristic landmark which can put Abu Dhabi on the economic and touristic map more...on the long term, there might be something in return. Also, this mosque fits the architectural wonders in Abu Dhabi and Dubai...we are talking about UAE.

Noone can hide his amazement and appreciation of this artistic masterpiece.

 

[Sahar]

yes wow. very dreamy and impressive thank you for sharing

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Yes, as something in dreams only...

I keep looking at this spot and thinking what if I could sit there and pray...look at the city...that would be a very amazing feeling. It makes me imagine how heaven would be like.

 

[Sajdah]

I keep looking at this spot and thinking what if I could sit there and pray....

I thought of the same thing, and felt that I won't be able to concentrate in prayer...

 

[Sahar]

I thought of the same thing, and felt that I won't be able to concentrate in prayer...

It's like a palace more than a mosque especially that corner. I don't know also why it reminded me of the story of Sulayman pbuh and the Queen of Saba especially' when she entered his palace.

 

[Sahar]

The radar domes are gorgeous, but why so many?

The mosque has 82 domes. Why so many, ask the designers...

 

[Sajdah]

It's like a palace more than a mosque especially that corner. I don't know also why it reminded me of the story of Sulayman pbuh and the Queen of Saba especially' when she entered his palace.

Perhaps because we are all amazed at its beauty, as the Queen of saba'!

 

[Sahar]

Perhaps because we are all amazed at its beauty, as the Queen of saba'!

I keep thinking if we build things like this, not just the mosque but the other fantastic works and buildings, then how it was like in Sulayman's kingdom pbuh and how it will be like in Paradise...you know...