Kuwait's Grand Mosque, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture

Kuwait: Kuwait's Grand Mosque, located in the heart of the capital, stands as a remarkable Islamic structure adorned with intricate ornamentations and artistic shapes, overlooking the sea. Constructed under the direction of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the mosque was a collaborative effort of skilled architects. Construction commenced in 1979 and culminated in its inauguration in 1986, making it one of Kuwait's largest mosques, sprawling over a 45,000-square-meter plot opposite the Seif Palace.

The mosque includes 20,000 open-air spaces featuring water canals, lush green patches and tree-shaded areas. It is designed to accommodate an impressive 70,000 worshippers. Comprising three prayer halls – the main hall, the daily prayer hall and the women's section – along with the Amiri Hall, the mosque offers a comprehensive religious space. Ali Shedad, the mosque director, shared in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the main prayer hall can accommodate 10,000 people and is centred around a magnificent dome, 43 meters above ground level.

Central to the mosque's design is a dome adorned with Allah's Husna names in Kufi calligraphy, along with Quranic verses spanning 80 meters. The large dome is encircled by four smaller domes embellished with engravings crafted from Moroccan gypsum, complemented by four hanging chandeliers. Natural light illuminates the interior through 144 windows, supplemented by the radiance emitted by four large chandeliers, each adorned with 102 bulbs, as well as wall chandeliers. The grandeur extends to the four 22-meter-high columns surrounding the large dome, covered with Italian marble.

The lower section of the mosque features wooden oriel ventilation windows, adding to its architectural grandeur. The main prayer section includes several mihrabs (prayer niches) adorned with Moroccan zellij (mosaic tilework) and Islamic engravings, topped with Quranic verses. The mosque's 22 doors, made from Indian saaj wood, are intricately decorated with Quranic verses. Additionally, the women's prayer section, located above the main hall and surrounded by mashrabiyas, can accommodate approximately 1,000 worshippers, while the daily prayer hall caters to 500 individuals. The minaret, surrounded by four 72-meter-high columns, adds to the mosque's majestic appeal.

The Amiri Hall, constructed two years after the mosque's completion, serves as a space where the Amir receives well-wishers on religious occasions, highlighting the mosque's importance in Kuwaiti culture and religious life.