Six days after our arrival, we finally braved the early morning hours to visit the Jumeirah Mosque. It was a really great introduction to the religion from which our new country is ruled.
We were blown away by the mosque's beauty and learned so much about Islam.
Here are some of our favorite pictures.
It's a miracle we got any pictures of the outside because we couldn't see a thing through our camera.
The inside is just as beautiful as the outside.
This mosque took three years to build.
Can't imagine why...
The most beautiful ceiling I ever did see!
Decorated to perfection.
No shoes allowed :)
Here's our amazing guide (and her trusty assistant below).
She was so kind and taught us so much. It was one of the most interesting hours of my life.
Some brilliant desert women invented this black leather mask to protect
their faces from the sun and sand, also worn completely by choice.
Sportin' my head scarf.
We learned SO much that we couldn't possibly write it all down, so here are our favorites.
TOP THREE THINGS WE LEARNED:
1. We all know that Ramadan is one of the biggest Islamic holidays, but it was interesting to hear the reasons for the month-long fast. Besides helping them "lose a kilo or two," as our guide explained, fasting helps Muslims grow closer to God through patience and empathy. They believe that by patiently awaiting food and water all day, they become more patient in all areas of their lives. They also become more empathetic with people who are struggling with hunger every day. It reminds them to give back when they can and help those in need.
2. Abayas, the long black dresses worn by Muslim women in the Middle East, are not part of Islam; they're part of the Gulf culture. The people here are genius, really. The loose black layers create a shadow around the body, blocking out the sun's intense heat. Our guide said it's actually quite cool underneath all the layers. Islam, as well as most other religions in the world, asks women to dress modestly, so some women dress in long skirts or pants and others choose to wear the abaya. It's completely up to the woman. Many women are wearing very fashionable clothing underneath the abaya, which they show off at home, and when they need to head out, they just throw on the abaya over their outfit. Also, different countries have different abaya styles and locals can tell where you're from just by what you're wearing! Can you tell I'm slightly obsessed with the abaya?! They're so interesting!
3. Muslims are called to make a pilgrimage to Mecca one time in their lives if they are healthy enough and financially able to make the trip. The trip is very taxing on the mind and body and can last for about a week. There are so many interesting things about this pilgrimage, but my favorite fact is that all men must wear the exact same outfit - two, unstitched white cloths draped around their bodies. This sounds strange, but they do it to take away differences. A king could be praying next to an average Joe and no one would know the difference. The point they're making is, we came into this world with nothing and we'll go out with nothing. The women, on the other hand, can wear anything as long as it covers them from head to toe.
2 to 3 million people make the pilgrimage each year!
Despite only getting four hours of sleep, we're really glad we visited the mosque today. We learned so many great things about Islam and its followers. The main thing I'm taking away from today is that Islam is not a violent religion that promotes suicide bombing and extremist behavior. It is a very peaceful religion, and Muslims are very kind and dedicated to their faith. Just like every other religion or culture throughout the world, there are extremists who do awful things like flying planes into buildings or killing their wives in the name of "honor," but they do not represent the vast majority of Muslims. The Koran does not teach violence nor condone such horrid acts of hatred, and it's a shame they use their holy book to justify their evil deeds. If you're ever in Dubai (or any other Muslim country...or just passing a mosque on the way to the grocery store in America), this is a great way to learn more about a culture and religion misunderstood by so many Americans.
