Muslims are known for their great views in life as well as their undying and unbreakable commitment to their religion, Islam. They are greatly devoted to their god t, and they build plenty of stunning and intricate mosques, each with special and unique architecture. It is, after all, their sanctuary as well as a place to worship their god, Allah.
One of the great and grand mosques that they built is situated in Bahrain – the famous Al Fateh Grand Mosque, where locals and tourists alike come to drop by. It is also referred as the Al Fateh Grand Mosque or Al-Fateh Islamic Center. The mosque is one of the world’s largest mosques, boasting a land area of 6,500 square meters and an impressive capacity to occupy a large mass of 7,000 people. It was named after the conqueror of Bahrain, Ahmed Al Fateh. The Al-Fateh was proclaimed the site of the National Library of Bahrain in 2006.
There are a lot of things you don’t know about the Al Fateh Grand Mosque, which is why you must certainly need to visit and explore this mosque.
1. Structure
Al Fateh Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Bahrain. It is situated near the King Faisal Highway in a town named Juffair. If you’ll search the mosque, you can see its superb structure and architecture with the striking huge dome that was built on the topmost area. It is made with fiberglass from bottom to top. With 60,000 kilogram in weight, the dome is the largest fiberglass in the world.
In addition to its awe-inspiring exterior, the mosque has a fine interior that will take your breath away. As you step inside the mosque, you will be able to see floors made from fine Italian marble as well as a dazzling chandelier from Austria.
All doors are made of teak wood which originated from India. And, you can also see ancient type of calligraphy writings in Kufic throughout the mosque. Trust me, you would really be amazed.
2. Library
The library is not a bore at all, especially since this library houses 7,000 books. The half is as old as 100 years or more and there are recent additions, too. The library of Ahmed Al-Fateh Islamic Center has also secured copies of the books of teachings of the Prophet Muhammad or referred to as the books of Hadith. You can also find the Al-Azhar journals (which were printed more than hundred years ago), the Global Arabic Encyclopedia, dozens of periodicals and numerous magazines. The library is the fresh addition to the Al Fateh Grand Mosque. So, for all you book lovers out there, this place is definitely for you.
3. Tourism
Al Fateh Grand Mosque is a tourist attraction in the country while it remains to be a place of worship. If you wish to roam around, they also conduct tours in different languages that the tourists may understand. It may be in English, Filipino, Russian, French, etc. The mosque is open from 9am until 5pm. Be warned, though, that the mosque is closed to tourists and visitors during Fridays and any other holidays.