4/19 - Muscat Grand Mosque

We have a much easier time getting in this mosque.  We walk through an arched gate with a couple of people watching over our dress, and that’s about it.  One of the ladies even got in by just pulling her sleeves down over her wrists and holding her arms at a weird angle. Definitely less strict here.

The mosque is definitely grand – all white marble (of course) with lots of inlay and some pretty gardens that are in the process of being replanted.  But it’s got nothing on the Abu Dhabi mosque.

The Grand Mosque was built beginning in 1995 and was supposed to be the largest mosque anywhere.  It took 6 years to complete and can hold 20,000.  Obviously, Sheik Zayed over in Abu Dhabi had some sort of competitive thing going with the Sultan here, and as we know now, his mosque was built beginning in 2003 and is the largest in the world, by about double we’d say.

Regardless, the Grand Mosque is still beautiful with lots of different details.  We start in the courtyard and enter the women’s prayer room first.  It’s really lovely with marble walls, crystal chandeliers and ornate teak ceilings.

Leaving the women’s prayer room we get our shoes and walk through a lovely marble portico with intricately carved marble panels and fabulous old copper looking lanterns.

Next we enter the main men’s prayer hall which has marvelous mosaics inlaid in the walls, and an amazing altar area with beveled mosaics.

The ornate teak ceilings make the inlaid marble walls, pillars and crystal chandeliers shine in contrast.

Our guide walks us through everything, and even shows us one of the Qurans that are discretely stored in recessed shelf units placed around the walls and the pillars.

Once back outside, we wander through the courtyard a bit more, marveling at the towers, archways and inlaid domes that are unique to this particular mosque.

Turning to leave, Arizona is of course complaining she is hot and wants to take off her scarf (which is the lightest chiffon you’ve ever seen – honestly – I’m in a black pashmina – grow up), but the guide says she probably shouldn’t.  She of course argues that we are outside the mosque so why not – because, it’s their rules and their cultures, that’s why not.  Geez.  She very unhappily does keep the darn thing on until we are at least out the front gate. 

So, off we go, back in the van with everyone stripping off their clothes – and onto a circle tour of the city – past the parliament, the marina, and hopping off at our next stop, the Palace.