His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, opened on Friday the Sharjah Mosque in Al Tay area.

The mosque, which is the largest in the Emirate of Sharjah, can receive 25,500 worshippers.

In 2014, Sheikh Sultan ordered the construction of the mosque, and oversaw the work stages from the very beginning.

Engineer Salah Bin Butti Al Muhairi, Adviser to the Department of Planning and Surveying, Deputy Chairman of the Sharjah Urban Planning Council, and the manager of the project said the mosque was built and designed according to Sheikh Sultan’s vision of faith and aesthetics based on the style of Islamic architecture, reflecting the original Islamic values.

Muhairi pointed out Sheikh Sultan himself selected the design, location and architectural and artistic details of the mosque.

According to Muhairi, the construction of the mosque costs Dhs300m, with a total area of 2m square feet, with an inside capacity of more than 5,000 worshippers, 610 of them are women.

The front hall and side lobbies are of a capacity of more than 6,000 worshippers. The Open area can accommodate 13,5000 worshippers.

The parking and bus lot can accommodate about 2,260 cars and buses and there are 300 parking spaces inside the mosque building and 1400 outside besides 60 for buses, and 500 outside the mosque fence, in addition to 16 large sunshades in the outer areas.

The mosque will reportedly serve the areas of Tay, Seouh, Badea, Hawshi and Juwaiza, and passers through the main roads of the country such as Maliha Road and the Emirates Road, being located at the intersection of Maliha Road and the Emirates Road in Tay area.

Muhairi added the mosque has 6 gates and entrances, including 4 public entrances, two women’s entrances, one VIP and one for buses.

It is also equipped with 8 electric lifts, two ablution areas and 100 wheelchairs for the elderly.

In order to enhance the importance of cultural and Islamic tourism, Muhairi pointed out the mosque has been equipped to welcome non-Muslim visitors and lovers of knowledge from around the world. The mosque contains spaces and paths for non-Muslims, a museum, a gift shop, a cafeteria, an open yards, fountains and waterfalls.

The Central Bank of the UAE has issued two commemorative coins on the opening of Sharjah Mosque by H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

Designed and implemented by the Sharjah Islamic Bank, SIB, the first is a 9999 per cent gold coin weighing 60g, with 60 mm diameter, on which main side the holy verse “The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day” appears.

The other is a 9999 per cent silver coin weighing 60g, with 60 mm diameter inscribed with the holy verse “The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give Zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided”.

Writing on both commemorative coins appears in Al Thuluth calligraphy.

Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, Sewa, has distributed Ramadan’s food packages to 334 families with a total amount of Dhs100,000 in cooperation with the private sector.

Dr. Rashid Alleem, Chairman of Sewa, said that the authority is launching a number of initiatives aimed at helping needy and underprivileged families.

The Sharjah Press Club, an initiative of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, has released the agenda of the eighth edition of Sharjah Ramadan Majlis, to be held from 13th to 26th May, 2019, at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, stressed that the Sharjah Ramadan Majlis initiative, once again being hosted in partnership with the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority (Sharjah Radio and TV), is based on celebrated UAE traditions and values and is aimed at addressing a broad range of issues of interest to both individuals and society. It will also encourage meaningful dialogue and communication between various segments and members of society.

WAM