In the last days of December, seven years ago at the feast of Eid Al Adha, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque ceased to be a construction site and instead became a place of worship. The mosque is now an Abu Dhabi landmark, known across the world, and can accommodate around 41,000 worshippers, including over 7,000 in the main prayer hall. None of the mosques in the city in those days could hold the number of Eid worshippers, so the solution was to pray outdoors - this photograph was probably taken around 1966 during Eid Al Fitr, either in late December or January - with a series of concrete mihrab embedded in the sand to ensure everyone faced towards Mecca.
Those shown in this image include the great and the good of Abu Dhabi, including several sheikhs, as well as ordinary citizens, shoulder to shoulder before God. Women would also take part in these outdoor prayers sessions. A line of female worshippers can be seen in the background of the photograph.
The entire population of Abu Dhabi in those times could have comfortably fitted in the main prayer hall of today’s Grand Mosque, men and women included, under one roof.
* James Langton
