The Jumeirah Mosque is a dominant landmark of Dubai city, a stone structure built in the medieval Fatimid tradition, and a tribute to modern Islamic architecture. While strolling through the Mosque at sunset, the visitor is washed in shadows by this elegant formation.

The Fatimid traditional style, combined with modern building materials, ensures the Jumeirah Mosque is considered to be one of the most attractive mosques in Dubai. The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding organizes visits to the Jumeirah Mosque for non-Muslims, aimed at promoting cultural understanding and first-hand experience as an insight to the Islamic religion.

While normally photographs are not allowed at mosques, the rules have been relaxed in an effort to break down the barriers between Muslims and non-Muslims.

The Arabic word for mosque is `masjid’, i.e. place of prostration. The holy day of the Islamic week is Friday, `yaum al jum’a’, on which day all adult Muslim men are commanded to go to the Jumeirah Mosque for prayer (women can perform their prayers at home). The Jumeirah Mosque where Muslims gather especially for the Friday prayer is the `masjid jum’a’, the Grand Mosque.

Inside Architecture of Jumeirah Mosque

Qibla wall of Jumeirah Mosque, the wall, which faces Mecca, as this is the direction (Qibla), which a Muslim has to face while he is praying.

Mihrab, prayer niche in the center of the Qibla wall indicating the exact praying direction. It is also the `holiest’ place in the Jumeirah Mosque.

Minbar in Jumeirah Mosque , a platform to the right of the Mihrab from where the `imam’, the one who leads the prayer, delivers the `khutba’, the Friday sermon, which can deal with religious, social and political subjects.

Lord in Jumeirah Mosque

In the Jumeirah Mosque Islam it is forbidden to create any pictures of living beings except plants, which could be worshipped. Accordingly, it is very rare to find pictures in Mosques at all. Instead, the interior is usually decorated with rich ornamental patterns and Arabic calligraphy. Before entering the Jumeirah Mosque for Prayer, the ritual cleansing (wudu’) has to be performed. It starts with washing the right and left hand (3x), then the mouth (3x), the nose (3x), the face (3x), the right and left arm (3x), the head, the ears, and finally the right and left foot (3x).

Brief History of Jumeirah

Arabs have occupied Jumeirah areas for many centuries, and the main groups were fishermen, pearl divers and traders. After 1960, Jumeirah was the principal area for western expatriate residences of rich persons, but the huge expansion of the emirate since 1995 has seen a growth in housing developments across Dubai.

Jumeirah is generally agreed to be one of the most exclusive parts of Dubai and this has led to the use of the Jumeirah name as a brand which signifies exclusivity e.g. the “Jumeirah Beach Hotel” and the “Jumeirah Beach Club etc. The ruling family of Dubai has called their up market hotel chain “Jumeirah”, formerly known as “Jumeirah International”.

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