The biggest mosque in Dubai is scheduled to open on July 29, just days ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

Come the last Friday before holy month Ramadan, another landmark would be added to Dubai’s celebrated landscape matching the city’s ambition. The building’s Ramadan opening is considered auspicious and the centre has planned a month-long festival to mark the occasion. Named Al Farooq Mosque and Islamic Centre, the whole complex is built on 8,700 square metres and is inspired by the 17th century Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as Blue Mosque) in Istanbul, combining Ottoman and Andalusian architectural styles. It also plays a similar role to the historic Blue Mosque with its extended community centre, a public kitchen, a hospital, a bazaar and a madrassa.

The mosque can accommodate 2,000 worshipers.
Al Farooq Omar bin Khattab Mosque and Islamic Centre will host its first congregation with a Friday prayer on July 29. The rulers and sheikhs from across the emirates have received invitations to attend the opening ceremony. The mosque will cater to Al Safa area and its neighbourhoods.

While Dubai’s Blue Mosque complex won’t have a hospital or a public kitchen, it houses a madrassa that will facilitate learning of the Holy Quran and Islamic courses, a library with a collection of some 4,000 Islamic and other religious titles to help advance learning, and a lecture hall that will be host to inter-faith dialogue to forge better religious understanding.

The complex also has the customary residences for the Imam (prayer leader) and Muezzin (the caller for prayers).

“Our idea is to pass on the message of Al Farooq (the title of Omar bin Khattab, Islam’s second caliph and a beloved companion of Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him), who as a ruler extended his arm of benevolence to people from all walks of life. We want to spread the larger good of Islam rather than just being a player of worship. The centre and mosque would be open for people of all faith,” said Abdul Malek, who is the manager of the centre.

This means the mosque will be one of the three in the country and second in Dubai to open its doors for non-Muslims, the other two being the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and Jumeirah Grand Mosque in Dubai.

“Omar bin Khattab gave generally amnesty to the Christian and Jewish population of Jerusalem after it was peacefully occupied by Muslim troops, and we want to continue his legacy of peace and brotherhood,” he added.

As part of the legacy, the centre will host regular inter-faith dialogues and also host talks by non-Muslim scholars to dispel misconceptions about different religions

To begin the noble mission, the first prayer congregation in the mosque would be led by Kuwait’s renowned scholar and imam Shaikh Masharey bin Rashid Afasy and is expected to be attended by who’s who of the country’s elite and diplomatic circle.

“We have sent invitations to the Rulers and shaikhs of all emirates, including His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We have also invited many ambassadors and consul-generals, irrespective of their faith, and we hope a very good turnout on that auspicious day,” said Abdul Malek, as he guided us through the complex.

The tranquil, almost sleepy surroundings of the mosques seem to be a reflection of the hallowed place of worship, a world far removed from the fast-paced and noisy city of Dubai.