The United Arab Emirates is one of most-visited nations by tourists from all over the world. While Dubai & Abu Dhabi are more renowned for the various modern architectural splendors and grand shopping malls, the emirate of Sharjah is more sedate and traditional culture-conscious. In fact, Sharjah is considered to be the cultural hub of UAE. Many mosques & other symbols of Islam dot the city. And the largest among them is the King Faisal Mosque.
History
The King Faisal Mosque is situated in the Al Itihad Park, off the King Faisal Street. Its inauguration happened in January 1987. Till 2007, it was the largest mosque in the UAE but then it lost this position to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The mosque took over 2 years to build. It is named after the late King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, former ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The massive mosque is designed on very simple lines. Possibly, that’s what makes it so attractive. Without any ornate designs, the mosque displays traditional Islamic architectural styles. It covers an area of close to 12,000 square meters and is one of the most iconic structures of Sharjah – in fact, the UAE. Also check the Al Noor Mosque while doing Sharjah City Tour.
How Many People can Accommodate?
The magnificent mosque is divided into several halls across 3 different levels. In total, almost 25,000 people can pray in the mosque at the same time! That’s a mind-boggling number, to say the least. Each level is designed to appear rotated in a way that they display the Islamic cultural symbol of the star in the best possible way. The mosque provides a serene atmosphere to offer prayers in peace. The acoustics are also designed wonderfully that carry the soothing voice of the Imam to every corner of the prayer halls.
The main chapel is located in the first floor. This is where the male devotees come to pray. The female devotees pray in their designated hall in the ground floor. There are also stores & the mosque maintenance office inside the mosque. There is a Women’s Charity Association office here as well. The 2nd floor has the office of the Department of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf of Sharjah.
Things to See
Another attraction for devotees here is the library. Over 7000 books & publications on Islamic history & culture are available here. There are also other works on science, literature, and religion, like the Sharia & Hadith. It is extremely well-maintained and is like a treasure trove for knowledge enthusiasts & research scholars. Do check our Sharjah city tour that cover several such placs.
However, entry to the mosque is only permitted if you a Muslim. Non-Muslims can, of course, appreciated the beauty & serenity of the magnificent mosque from outside and get some nice photos clicked. Do ensure to be dressed modestly if you are in the vicinity of the mosque.
