With a little history, a lot of stories and a very rich ambience, Al Fatih Grand Mosque has much to offer for all who are visiting Bahrain.
When I was in New Delhi, India, I never got a chance to interact with many Muslims. Growing up, there were hardly any Muslims in my school or locality and what little I had heard of them from various news channels, was sadly not pleasant.
Hence there was a slight uneasiness whenever I found myself in a Muslim dominated area- a sentiment that was superficial and absolutely wrong.
Bahrain however has changed my attitude towards Muslims, to a large extent.
Due to more interactions with Muslims here, I have come to realize, that they are very warm and helpful. The more I am learning about their culture, the more I find myself respecting them for their values and conduct. It is truly unfortunate that their disruptive chronicles have gained more attention in the media, than their ethos.
The visit to Al Fatih Grand Mosque in Bahrain was yet another such experience where I somehow felt quite at ease.
ABOUT THE GRAND MOSQUE
Located in Juffair, next to the King Faisal Highway, in an area of 6500 square meters, the Grand Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world with a capacity to hold 7000 worshipers at a time.
Built in 1987 to honour Sheikh Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifa or Ahmed Al Fatih, (where “Fatih” in Arabic means “conqueror”) it costed around US $20 million to complete this project.
Before we entered the mosque, we were led into a tent where the ladies were requested to change into an Abaya (simple loose over garment commonly used among female muslims) and Hijab (a veil which usually covers the head and chest).
Men with outfits that did not seem appropriate for the place, were also advised to change into the traditional Thobe.
As we slowly walked into the mosque I couldn’t help noticing it’s huge dome, built entirely of fiberglass, as informed by our guide. He also mentioned that the floors were adorned with Italian marble and the tall majestic doors were made from Indian Teak wood.
We quietly entered what seemed like a courtyard enclosed by pillars all around. This area held various display boards that gave some basic facts about Islam and it’s relevance in the modern world. The information was quite interesting to me as it also stressed upon the commonalities between Christianity and Islam.
We then stopped for some time at the children’s corner, since we were a group with kids. There was face painting, colouring, balloons and other small distractions for the kids to have some noiseless fun.
Then, after a while, we stepped into the main hall of the mosque. What immediately drew my attention was the big bright chandelier enclosed by a circle of lights in the middle. We were told that it was brought from Vienna, Austria.
What was also remarkable about this arrangement of lights was that there were Japanese speakers hanging along with these lights, that probably ensured that the prayers were heard from every corner of the mosque.
With soft carpets from England, glass-painted windows from Iraq and some beautiful Arabic calligraphy all around, the hall in particular, looked truly grand and royal. The ambience was filled with a sense of peace and calm.
This actually felt familiar because it is the same feeling I get when I am in Church.
Once a little background was given, our guide advised us to listen to some of the orientations being held inside the hall at different corners. We approached the nearest- the Hajj Corner.
THE STORY OF ABRAHAM
Here, we were acquainted with the origin of Islam, the geneology of Abraham and the importance of the Kaaba in Mecca. As a Christian, this was very interesting, as it gave me an understanding of the Muslim version of the story of Abraham.
As Christians, we believe that Ishmael, the first son of Abraham along with his mother Hagar, were abandoned in the wilderness by Abraham because of Sarah’s fears and yet on God’s instructions.
Genesis 21:12-13 says- But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of your son and your maidservant. Whatever Sarah said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a great nation of the son of your maidservant, because he is your seed.”
So Hagar with her teenage son wandered in the wilderness for days and when all water and food had finished, she cried out to God for help. God had promised Hagar that her son would make a big nation, so He sent His Angel to help her find water.
That’s it. This is where the Christian version on Ishmael ends.
The Muslim version (according to our tour guide), though, is slightly different and more descriptive.
According to Muslims, when Abraham was deserting poor Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness, she questioned Abraham’s judgement and asked if God had led him to do this. Abraham answered in the affirmative. So Hagar replied “Then God will provide for us.”
She then struggled to find water and ran from one hill to the other in search of caravans who could help. She tried very hard and then cried out to God for help because she couldn’t bear to see her baby dying.
God sent Angel Gabriel who opened her eyes to the spring of water arising from her baby’s feet. She quickly made a well around it, so she could contain the water. This well is still present and is popularly known as the Zamzam well.
Hagar and Ishmael continued to live in that place (which is now Mecca) and started trading water for supplies. They were frequently visited by Abraham, throughout their life.
Ishmael returned to his father in his old age. He then helped Abraham on request, in building the House of God (Kaaba) in Mecca. Mecca thus became a site of pilgrimage for all Muslims.
So according to Muslims, Ishmael is the father of several known Arab tribes and is also believed to be the forefather of Prophet Muhammed. He eventually created a great nation, as promised by God.
After the small orientation, we were asked to have a taste of the water from the same Zamzam well in the story. It was great!
Although there were more corners to cover, our kids were all getting restless so we had to call it a day.
As we stepped out into the hallway again, we were offered some refreshments. There were Islamic books for interested people, laid out in a separate section as well. We also got our son’s name written in Arabic, in the Calligraphy Corner.
Heading out, we handed over our Muslim attires and left with a feeling of satisfaction.
THINGS TO NOTE
- General visiting time for Non-Muslims: Daily 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (except for Fridays)
- There is no visiting fee. It is free of charge.
- Both men and women are expected to dress appropriately.
- If you visit during the summer, know that it will be exceptionally hot in the area outside the mosque. The inside though is well air-conditioned and you will find pouches of cold water at every information counter, incase you get thirsty.
- The tour will roughly take an hour or two depending upon the number of orientations you would like to be part of.
I really liked my experience at the Grand Mosque. Not only did I learn many new things about Islam but it gave me a good reason to take all the prejudices away from my heart. The guides I must mention, were all passionate in their service and receptive to our queries, too.
So if you do get a chance to visit Bahrain, I recommend making one stop at Al Fatih Grand Mosque.
Take a look at this video for more pictures from our visit!
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Hi! My name is Rubitah. I’m a Content Writer certified Life Coach, Counselor, Social Work professional and the Founder of Being Rubitah. Over the years through my professional and personal life, I have realized that prayers and love can do wonders to family life once you come to terms with yourself and surrender to God. Do you relate to me? Then you may like what I post here! Read more about me
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Thanks for sharing this. It was informative, delightful and inspiring!
Glad you enjoyed reading it Juli! 🙂