Zayed mosque to host exhibition on Hajj
abu dhabi — The UAE residents will soon have an opportunity to know the early spread of Islam at a unique exhibition held in Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC).
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the exhibition titled Hajj: Memories of a Journey will open to the public on September 19.
The SZGMC, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), is organising the exhibition in celebration of the centre’s 10th anniversary, and to further consolidate its cultural and enlightening role.
Telling the story and history of Makkah, and the rituals of Hajj, as one of the five fundamental pillars and practices in Islam, the exhibition will bring to life the profound significance of the sacred practices, while also underlining the evident attributes of tolerance, equality and the vast diversity to be found in Islam.
The exhibition will be held on the grounds of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the most prominent and leading landmarks of culture and intellectual exchange in the UAE.
The iconic mosque is widely visited by five million people annually, to explore its unique architectural aesthetics, the stories of its construction and its distinct collections; making it the world’s second favourite landmark in the world in 2016, according to a list compiled by TripAdvisor.
The exhibition derives its perception from the nation’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE’s own Hajj journey in 1979.
Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs and Board Chairman of the SZGMC, said the exhibition was inspired by the doctrines of the Islamic faith,
Millions of Muslims descend on Makkah to take part in rituals that bring them together in humility and unity.”
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of TCA Abu Dhabi
and the humanitarian and cultural virtues established by Sheikh Zayed.
“The centre’s emotive value by far exceeds its artistic and architectural value, making it one the most prominent landmarks in the world. It clearly expresses the profound place it holds in the life of each and every Muslim in the UAE and in the entire world.”
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “Millions of Muslims descend on Makkah every year from all around the world, to take part in rituals that bring them together in humility and unity, while reviving some of the deepest Islamic and cultural connotations.”
He noted that the significance of the exhibition stems from these qualities of solidarity and the wide cultural dialogue, fostered by the fifth pillar of Islam.