Facebook continues to send me messages from my trip 5 years ago. Today it's the Qiblah sticker I discovered in the room I was staying in Riyadh. The arrow tells you in which direction you have to pray, because Mekka lies in that direction.
In my current room in the Tulip Inn Downtown, I have found a similar sticker on the ceiling and a prayer rug in the wardrobe.
On my agenda today is the Grand Mosque only. Since I didn't know about the opening times for visitors and was asked to return, I decide to get up early and dedicate all morning to it.
I will spare you with my knowledge and make it easy by quoting the Lonely Planet guide:
The mosque, which can accommodate 20,000 worshippers, including 750 women in a private musalla (prayer hall), is an active place of worship, particularly for Friday prayers. Visitors are required to dress modestly, covering arms and legs and avoiding tight clothing. Women and girls (aged seven and above) must cover their hair. Abayas and scarves can be hired from the mosque cafe and giftshop for OR2.500; some form of ID is required as a deposit. Tours are available. Mwasalat buses stop outside the mosque.
It is free to enter and you can visit also the women's side and vice versa. This is something you can't do in any normal mosque. Visitors have to follow the signs saying 'Visitors Entrance' which is across the bus parking lot. It also says 'Garden Entrance'.
The one on the side is for Muslims. No idea why there is a special entrance, it makes no sense. Once in, you can walk around the entire site. The only explanation I have is, that at the visitors entrance are the audio guides and there's a small shop/cafe.
What the guide doesn't mention, is that at the edge of the garden (right hand side with the mosque behind you) you will find a sign that says 'Islamic Centre'. Go there if you are in a chatty mood and want to know more about religion and life in Oman or the Gulf. Avoid if you are not interested or don't want to talk. They will call you from afar when they spot you. They choice is yours.
I am in a chatty mood and approach the people when one of them calls me. I am offered a bottle of water and some dates and I'm asked to sit down and an older man with a name tag comes and sits next to me. He starts with some small talk and a few minutes later he tells me who they are and what they do. Apparently they are volunteers and their mission is to inform people about islam and life in Oman and that we don't have to be scared of islam, because it's a good religion and we shouldn't believe what our media tell us.
Since I grew up with many Turks around me, later I lived in Saudi for a while and I have some Muslim friends and neighbours from various countries, I can say that I am well informed and that's why I sit down and talk to this man for over an hour. When he hears that I lived in Saudi, he is all ears and this becomes our topic. I tell him that I have visited other countries in the region and we talk about similarities and differences.
If you would like to read more by me, type Theodore Goumas into the Amazon search bar and the following two should appear:
In my current room in the Tulip Inn Downtown, I have found a similar sticker on the ceiling and a prayer rug in the wardrobe.
On my agenda today is the Grand Mosque only. Since I didn't know about the opening times for visitors and was asked to return, I decide to get up early and dedicate all morning to it.
I will spare you with my knowledge and make it easy by quoting the Lonely Planet guide:
Quietly imposing from the outside, this glorious piece of modern Islamic architecture was a gift to the nation from Sultan Qaboos to mark his 30th year of reign. The main prayer hall is breathtakingly rich. The Persian carpet alone measures 70m by 60m wide, making it the second-largest hand-loomed Iranian carpet in the world; it took 600 women four years to weave.
It is free to enter and you can visit also the women's side and vice versa. This is something you can't do in any normal mosque. Visitors have to follow the signs saying 'Visitors Entrance' which is across the bus parking lot. It also says 'Garden Entrance'.
The one on the side is for Muslims. No idea why there is a special entrance, it makes no sense. Once in, you can walk around the entire site. The only explanation I have is, that at the visitors entrance are the audio guides and there's a small shop/cafe.
What the guide doesn't mention, is that at the edge of the garden (right hand side with the mosque behind you) you will find a sign that says 'Islamic Centre'. Go there if you are in a chatty mood and want to know more about religion and life in Oman or the Gulf. Avoid if you are not interested or don't want to talk. They will call you from afar when they spot you. They choice is yours.
I am in a chatty mood and approach the people when one of them calls me. I am offered a bottle of water and some dates and I'm asked to sit down and an older man with a name tag comes and sits next to me. He starts with some small talk and a few minutes later he tells me who they are and what they do. Apparently they are volunteers and their mission is to inform people about islam and life in Oman and that we don't have to be scared of islam, because it's a good religion and we shouldn't believe what our media tell us.
Since I grew up with many Turks around me, later I lived in Saudi for a while and I have some Muslim friends and neighbours from various countries, I can say that I am well informed and that's why I sit down and talk to this man for over an hour. When he hears that I lived in Saudi, he is all ears and this becomes our topic. I tell him that I have visited other countries in the region and we talk about similarities and differences.
FB memories
Sticker on the ceiling
Prayer rug
The Grand Mosque
The women's side is quite basic.
The men's side is spectacular.
Can you read the figures?
Put your shoes here
and remember your number
In case you are wondering what this place is ...
Here's the answer
Men's toilets are down there
Directions
If you would like to read more by me, type Theodore Goumas into the Amazon search bar and the following two should appear:
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