What lies inside a Masjid
For me, one of the perks of traveling abroad is being able to experience things for the first time.
On September 16, 2012, before the IAEA 2012 Annual Conference officially started, I, together with my officemate, Jason, and our companion, Mam Debbie, got to tour around Astana, Kazakhstan. And during that tour, I was able to experience another first time - to get inside a mosque, or masjid. Thanks to our Muslim tour guide, Timur, who cordially invited us inside.
This is the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, the largest mosque in Kazakhstan and Central Asia according to Timur. Located at Sarayshyq Street, it can accommodate five to ten thousand faithfuls. The masjid is built in classic Islamic style with traditional Kazakh ornaments. It has four minarets in its four corners with a height of 77 meters each. The masjid also has the biggest dome in Kazakhstan - a height of 51 meters and width of 28 meters. It has just recently opened (July 2012) when we went there.
The picture below was taken inside the mosque. This simple picture paints a number of things about Muslim practices when inside the masjid. Here are some of them.
1. The shoe racks at the entrance of the mosque are where you would put your shoes before entering the prayer area. It is forbidden to wear hats, sunglasses and shoes inside.
2. This open cloak which covers the head extending to the wrist and ankle are worn by non-Muslim women in the mosque.
3. Women are segregated from men. The black rope behind me marks the border between men and women areas. Only Muslim men are allowed beyond that rope.
On September 16, 2012, before the IAEA 2012 Annual Conference officially started, I, together with my officemate, Jason, and our companion, Mam Debbie, got to tour around Astana, Kazakhstan. And during that tour, I was able to experience another first time - to get inside a mosque, or masjid. Thanks to our Muslim tour guide, Timur, who cordially invited us inside.
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| at the backseat with my officemate Jason and our tour guide Timur |
This is the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, the largest mosque in Kazakhstan and Central Asia according to Timur. Located at Sarayshyq Street, it can accommodate five to ten thousand faithfuls. The masjid is built in classic Islamic style with traditional Kazakh ornaments. It has four minarets in its four corners with a height of 77 meters each. The masjid also has the biggest dome in Kazakhstan - a height of 51 meters and width of 28 meters. It has just recently opened (July 2012) when we went there.
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| from IG photo featured on the gallery of Open Kazakhstan |
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| recently posted IG photo on the masjid's interior |
The picture below was taken inside the mosque. This simple picture paints a number of things about Muslim practices when inside the masjid. Here are some of them.
1. The shoe racks at the entrance of the mosque are where you would put your shoes before entering the prayer area. It is forbidden to wear hats, sunglasses and shoes inside.
2. This open cloak which covers the head extending to the wrist and ankle are worn by non-Muslim women in the mosque.
3. Women are segregated from men. The black rope behind me marks the border between men and women areas. Only Muslim men are allowed beyond that rope.
posted from Bloggeroid
When I went to Malaysia last 2012, I was also able to enter a mosque and just like you, we have to remove our shoes and wear the traditional muslim dress for women. my first time, a unique experience, really. :) keep traveling ms wanderlustsoltera, sarap ng work mo, I hope I have the same type of work. hehe...kidding. I love my work, actually. :)
ReplyDeletesyempre ngayon ko lang nabasa comment mo... I am glad to hear that we had the same experience, the perks of traveling dba? :D
Deletewell, wishing you the same thing, more travels to come :)