Inside Jumeirah mosque

Let's step inside.


First, here's a crudely stitched-together photo of the entire interior. Mosques are designed to maximize floor space, and the effect of all that carpet stretching away beneath such intricate dome and archwork is stunning. This photo is actually about 12 full-size photos sewn together with a primitive photo-editing program. It's obviously not perfect.

To help you visualize: The space you're looking at is a big square, and you're standing in the back left corner.


A slightly closer view of the arches on the left side of the interior square, with the altar in the background. The man in the pink shirt helps you keep your bearings.

Now imagine walking up to the man in the pink shirt, and standing where he is, underneath that arch. Now look straight up, into the very center of the mosque.


This is an even cruder merge of 12 full-size photos. But it gives you a sense of the grandeur of that central space. You're looking into the underside of the giant central dome. It's much, much bigger than it appears in this photo.

Now let's zoom in on that triangular corner underneath the dome.



I love how Arabic script is used decoratively. It reminds me of the enormous tapestry I saw, depicting three rearing horses in white, gold and silver. The images in that rug – big enough to have a decent pickup basketball game on – were composed entirely of tiny Arabic script. Hundreds of verses from the Qu'ran.*


And here's me lying on the floor under the dome, looking up.

More decorative detail:






Imagine walking down this aisle along the side of the mosque, until you're standing under the mini-chandelier at the far end, by the window. Now look up.




Here's the altar, which is not really an altar. There is no raised platform, and the imam faces the same direction as the worshipers – Mecca. His prayers are broadcast into the entire neighborhood via a microphone connected to speakers on the outer spires.


The imam of Jumeirah mosque collects clocks.


We got a prayer demonstration.

It was narrated by a woman who really reminded me, for some reason, of Princess Leia.


"Help me, Obi-Wan."


I couldn't help taking a picture of the enormous gaggle of westerners feasting their eyes – and cameras – on these exotic Muslims. They reminded me of the crowd at the zoo when the pandas suddenly make one of their rare ventures out of the cave.**

Kneel, kneel, bow, snap snap snap. Funny, right? Yeah, people taking all those photos – they sure do look ridiculous!! Ha, ha! Cough cough.


All the western women had to wear scarves, and these two ladies really pulled it off, I thought. Very Jackie O.

* This is not meant to suggest that I want to have a basketball game on the Qu'ran. It is merely a description of size. I clarify because I would feel terrible if my blog sparked riots in Afghanistan.
** I am not comparing Muslims to pandas!! I'm making fun of the westerners, not the Muslims, get it? And the irony is that I was just as bad -- worse, actually -- then everyone else, right? I'm sensitive because of this.